The annual two-wheeled frenzy that is the Amgen Tour of California returns to San Diego this weekend. For the first time the race’s opening stage will be run through America’s Finest City.
The race, which features some of the most accomplished cyclists on earth like Tour de France champion Bradley Wiggins and reigning Tour of California champion Peter Sagan, begins at 11:30 on Sunday morning at Mission Bay’s Ski Beach (Vacation Rd., San Diego, CA 92109) and finish back in Mission Bay at Marina Village (1936 Quivira Way, San Diego, CA 92109). The finish time is expected around 3:40 in the afternoon.
Between the start and finish the riders will pedal themselves 108 miles through several parts of San Diego County. They first head south to the first of two sprint locations in Imperial Beach before heading east towards the lone major climb of the opening stage, a trek up Honey Springs Road to see who is King of the Mountain.
They’ll continue out past Lawson Peak before heading northwest through El Cajon and La Mesa. The second sprint of the stage happens at Navajo Road before heading the Friars Road and back to the beach for what’s expected to be a close, group sprint finish.