Amgen Tour of California men's and women's stages return to South Lake Tahoe

Good news for South Lake Tahoe as the Amgen Tour of California has announced their 2018 race schedule. A favored site for the women’s race, South Lake Tahoe will once again host the men for the Stage 6 finish and welcome back the women for the fourth year in a row on May 18. 2018.

AEG, the world’s leading sports and live entertainment company, made the announcement Thursday.

Next year will be the 13th edition of America’s premier cycling stage race. The women's Stage 2 and the Men’s Stage 6 finish from Folsom to South Lake Tahoe will take place at Heavenly Mountain Resort. Both competitions will conclude in Sacramento, May 19.

The world’s best male cyclists will contest 600+ miles of roadways, highways and coastlines from Long Beach to Sacramento. The 2018 edition will mark the third time in race history that the peloton will travel the Golden State from south to north.

The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM, showcasing the top female athletes, will run concurrently May 17-19, covering upward of 150 miles over three stages.

The annual professional cycling events carry the distinction of being the only U.S. races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and attract some of the most renowned cyclists and teams in the world. With seven new courses between them, this is the 11th consecutive year the event has featured an international platform for both men’s and women’s racing.

“These elite athletes serve as an inspiration to our community, schools, young athletes and visitors alike while generating significant national/international media exposure year after year,” said Carol Chaplin, president and CEO of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “Tahoe South and our partners look forward to showcasing our home to cycling competitors and recreational enthusiasts as a ‘must-experience’ destination.”

2018 RACE SCHEDULE

Amgen Tour of California (Men’s Race)
Sunday, May 13 - Stage 1 - Long Beach
Monday, May 14 - Stage 2 - Ventura to Santa Barbara County (Gibraltar Road)
Tuesday, May 15 - Stage 3 - King City to Monterey County
Wednesday, May 16 - Stage 4 - San Jose (Time Trial)
Thursday, May 17 - Stage 5 - Stockton to Elk Grove
Friday, May 18 - Stage 6 - Folsom to South Lake Tahoe
Saturday, May 19 - Stage 7 - Sacramento

Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered with SRAM
Thursday, May 17 - Stage 1 - Elk Grove
Friday, May 18 - Stage 2 - South Lake Tahoe
Saturday, May 19 - Stage 3 - Sacramento

The 2018 Host Cities include the return of fan and race team favorites, long-time veterans like San Jose and Sacramento, and two first-time destinations: Ventura and King City. The peloton will revisit Stockton and Long Beach for the first time in 11 years, with the men’s overall start overlooking the beautiful Long Beach Waterfront. Folsom returns as a third-time host for an epic stage through the Sierra Nevada mountains. The exciting overall conclusion of both races on the same day in the State Capitol of Sacramento will provide spectators the opportunity to cheer on favorites across both fields.

“The 2018 Amgen Tour of California will captivate fans everywhere with all-star pelotons and new routes that showcase the incredible beauty of the Golden State,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “With a mix of Host Cities that highlight the diversity of California – from urban to remote, ocean to desert, forests to mountains – the race continues its tradition as a dynamic and anticipated event on the international calendar.”

The Amgen Tour of California is designed to cover a variety of terrain, allowing different types of specialists among the field of the world’s greatest cyclists to shine throughout the week. Highlights of the men’s race will include the Queen Stage from Ventura to the summit of Gibraltar Road in Santa Barbara County, a challenging mountain stage with an uphill finish at 6,500 feet elevation on day six, and the highly anticipated sprinter showdowns the race has become known for on many stages. Similar to 2017, the women’s overall will be contested on the high-altitude Queen Stage in South Lake Tahoe which features one of the biggest climbs in the UCI Women’s WorldTour, while the speedy sprinters will find their opportunities on the first and last stages of the race.

Tahoe South has been recognized for scenic splendor and reputation as a leader in outdoor recreation, entertainment and dining by national media outlets including Good Morning America, Travelocity, Orbitz, USA Today, ESPN The Magazine.

South Lake Tahoe is renowned for several summer biking events, trails and a new BMX bike park that opened summer 2015. The annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride circumnavigates the lake, early-June. The annual Tour de Tahoe Bike Big Blue Race, mid-Sept. 2017, offers another chance to circle Tahoe’s 72-mile shoreline also described as “America’s Most Beautiful Drive.”

For sponsorship or expo opportunities: amgentourofcalifornia.com/sponsorship. For real time updates on events, promotions, packages, conditions and events in Tahoe South visit http://tahoesouth.com.