Facing Palomar: “It’s One of the Hardest Stages for Sure”

Thousands of San Diegans will cheer on Lance Armstrong and other top cyclists in the North County.

The Tour of California's eighth and final stage starts Sunday at noon in Rancho Bernardo. Competitors will climb up Palomar Mountain, finally finishing the 97 mile ride in downtown Escondido.

Saturday night, teams filled the parking lot at the Rancho Bernardo Courtyard Marriott Hotel.

Crew members were busy repairing bikes, making sure everything was in mint-condition for the following day.

“We basically go through the pivot points, always go through the gears make sure the gears work. It takes about a half hour for each bike between washing and checking it,” Andy Stone with the BMC Race team said.

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Rory Sutherland, who's been riding professionally for 8 years is originally from Australia, but now calls Carlsbad home.

“I am tired like everyone else, but the feeling of coming home is a good one and keeps you going that's for sure,” Sutherland said. He says Sunday's Sunday's final leg, is the toughest. “Palomar Mountain itself is a huge thing. It's the elevation and all the climbing before and after makes it one of the hardest stages for sure.”

More than 40,000 people are expected to line the streets in North County just to cheer the competitors on. Preparations have been under way all weekend.

Businesses on Grand Street in Escondido are ready for the cyclists and the crowds. For the first time in 36 years, Champion's Family Restaurant will be open on a Sunday.

“ I have on my sign we are going to be closed Monday and Tuesday to recover. I think we're going to need it to recover,” Annette Champion, owner of Champion's Family restaurant laughed.

Business owners are hoping the tour will give them a needed boost in this tough economy, and a chance to experience something special.

Champion said, “It's going to be fun, its going to be an adventure. It will be cool, all these amazing athletes riding down our street in little Escondido. How cool is that?"

Bike Race Finish With Much Fanfare:

Fans of the Amgen Tour of California will find more than a bicycle race Sunday in North County.

Activities ranging from a beer garden at the summit of Palomar Mountain to a children's fair at the finish line in Escondido are planned in conjunction with the race, which begins at noon in Rancho Bernardo.

For a complete list of activites visit nctimes.com.

Viewing Suggestions:

There is a more direct route to travel from Rancho Bernardo to Escondido, but the final stage takes the world's best cyclists on the scenic route to Palomar Mountain.

Start line: On Bernardo Center Drive near Bernardo Plaza Court will feature Autograph Alley with food and entertainment.

Palomar Mountain: Pat Brown is calling for temperatures in the low 60's. The climb covers nearly 12 miles at a seven-percent grade with 21 switchbacks.

Lake Wohlford: You can see the riders twice, coming and going.

Along the finish in Escondido. A lifestyle festival is planned along Grand Ave. near the finish at Broadway.

The finish is estimated to be sometime between 3:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.

Expect Delays, Road Closures

Some downtown Escondido streets near the Tour of California's finish line will be closed for the race, and other roads along the route will be closed just long enough to let cyclists pass.

Go to nctimes.com or a full list of closures.

Sprinter and Breeze Bus Services:

The North County Transit District will run extra service on the Sprinter to get fans to and from Escondido to see the racers cross the finish line.

The finish line is about a six-block walk from the Sprinter station at the Escondido Transit Center.

Trains are scheduled to run both directions every half hour until approximately 7 p.m. In addition to regularly scheduled Sprinter trains, the 6:03 p.m. westbound train from Escondido Transit Center and the 7:03 p.m. from the Oceanside Transit Center will operate.

A day pass on the Sprinter costs $5 and includes unlimited rides all day long on the Sprinter and Breeze bus system. A single trip (or one-way) ticket is just $2 and are half priced for seniors age 60 and over.

All tickets can be purchased from ticket vending machines at the Sprinter stations with cash or credit cards.

Throughout the weekend, several Escondido Breeze bus routes will experience detours due to road closures and riders can expect delays due to traffic congestion and heavy pedestrian presence in the area. The following routes are affected: 350, 351/352, 354, 356, and 388/389.
All bus stops on Grand Ave. between Center City Parkway and Juniper St. will be closed during the event. There will be special event bus stops located on 2nd Ave. at Escondido Blvd. and Broadway for patrons traveling east into Escondido. All bus stops on Valley Parkway will remain open during the event.

Complete schedule and route information is available on every Breeze bus and complete Sprinter and Breeze schedules are available on NCTD's website at GoNCTD.com.