January 29/16 10:02 am - 2016 Amgen Tour of California Route Announced

Posted by Editoress on 01/29/16
 

The 2016 Amgen Tour of California route was released on Thursday, revealing a scenic but challenging course across nearly 1300 kilometres (men) of California's most beautiful terrain where some of the world's most accomplished cyclists will compete for the overall title on May.

Beginning May 19th, an international field of women will compete for four days, with similar stage starts and finishes to the men's course, doubling the racing excitement for many of this year's host cities. The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM is the first North American stage race of the inaugural UCI Women's WorldTour and features the first Team Time Trial in race history.

For only the second time in Amgen Tour of California history, the men's race will progress south to north, beginning in San Diego and traveling through 10 additional host cities (four new this year) before a new champion is crowned in the state capital of Sacramento. The peloton will endure nearly 20,000 metres in height, including the race's first ascent up the infamous Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara County. This year's route will offer varied scenarios, where sprinters, but also punchers and even climbers will have the opportunity to be seen.

For the men, the first day of racing will begin and end in first-time host city San Diego, the birthplace of California and the state's second largest city. Then the sprinters will have another opportunity in stage 2, in Santa Clarita. But the day after, the queen stage will offer a perfect profile for the best climbers of the peloton. Fans and teams have long requested a finish at Gibraltar Road, and road conditions have finally made it possible this year. With each turn toward what is sure to be an epic finish, the peloton will experience magnificent views of Santa Barbara and the beach below.

The punchers will have several opportunities in the following stage, notably in the finish of stage 4 in the famous Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, a venue known worldwide for motorsports competitions. Stage 5 for the men will also mark the beginning of the competition for the women. Both men and women will race in an Individual Time Trial around South Lake Tahoe. It will probably be decisive for the final classification, which will be known on Sunday, May 22nd, in Sacramento, the capital city of California. But, like last year with the final victory of World Champion Peter Sagan for the men and Trixi Worrack for the women, the winner could be decided in the last moment of this very last stage

The stages of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California (Men):
• Sunday, May 15th, Stage 1: San Diego - San Diego, 170.5 km
• Monday, May 16th, Stage 2: South Pasadena - Santa Clarita, 148 km
• Tuesday, May 17th, Stage 3: Thousand Oaks - Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road), 167.5 km
• Wednesday, May 18th, Stage 4: Morro Bay - Mazda Laguna Seca Raceway, 215 km
• Thursday, May 19th, Stage 5: Lodi - South Lake Tahoe, 213 km
• Friday, May 20th, Stage 6: Folsom Time Trial, 20.3 km
• Saturday, May 21st, Stage 7: Santa Rosa - Santa Rosa, 175.5 km
• Sunday, May 22nd, Stage 8: Sacramento - Sacramento, 150 km

The stages of the 2016 Amgen Tour of California (Women):
• Thursday, May 19th, Stage 1: South Lake Tahoe - South Lake Tahoe, 117 km
• Friday, May 20th, Stage 2: Folsom Time Trial, 20.3 km
• Saturday, May 21st, Stage 3: Santa Rosa - Santa Rosa, 111 km
• Sunday, May 22nd, Stage 4: Sacramento - Sacramento, 66 km