The largest cycling event in America, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, is a Tour de France-style cycling road race presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding, recently expanded, 750-mile course from Sacramento to Escondido.
The course is divided into 8 stages with the last day, Sunday, Feb. 22, starting in Rancho Bernardo and traveling to Escondido.
Lance Armstrong, thought by many to be the greatest cyclist of all time, is going to race in San Diego County.
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.
