South Lake Tahoe to be start and finish line for Amgen Tour women's race

Top women's cycling teams from around the world will converge on South Lake Tahoe for the Amgen Tour of California Women's Race title May 8-9. Fourteen teams will take part in the three stage cycling competition which will have both start and finish lines at Heavenly Mountain Resort's California Main Lodge

The race is sanctioned by Union Cycliste International, denoting the highest level for a non-World Cup event.

Stage 1 on Friday, May 8, consists of a 74-mile clockwise lap around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe, which people familiar with the lake know will provide a bit of everything: twisting descents, fast straights and stunning views. The race includes two challenging Queen of the Mountains which rewards riders who complete the climbs in the lowest cumulative time.

The debut as part of the 10th anniversary edition Amgen Tour of California, and the first three-day women’s stage race of its kind begins at 10 a.m.

As riders head back into South Lake Tahoe as they near day one's finish line, cyclists will leave Highway 50 at Lake Parkway and wind their way behind the casinos toward the finish line with the brutal climb up a 15 percent grade. This opening stage will produce a worthy winner from the international field.

Stage 2 on Saturday, May 9, begins at 10:30 a.m. The 50-mile two-loop race will take cyclists along Pioneer Trail, South Upper Truckee and state Route 89. After a descent from Heavenly they will ride off to the beautiful canyons of state Route 89. The second half of the course features the switchback Queen of the Mountain challenge followed by the climb up Ski Run Blvd. to the finish line, concluding two challenging days in Lake Tahoe.

Following the two stages in Lake Tahoe, the third and final stage of the competition is in Sacramento on Sunday, May 10.

“As one of the country’s most enthusiastic cycling destinations, Tahoe South and our partners look forward to hosting the event,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority. “It should highlight the talent and elevate the awareness of women cyclists and the Tahoe area.”

“North Lake Tahoe is recognized as a premier human-powered sports destination and is proud to partner with Tahoe South for the Amgen Tour of California,” said JT Thompson, tourism director, North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “Furthermore NLTRA is hosting the USA Cycling Amateur Road National Championships this coming June with over 1,000 cyclists that are expected to enter the competition.”

Local law enforcement, race and tourism officials created routes with the least impact to residents and visitors. Travelers should expect 20 minute delays along the courses on both days while the race is passing through a given point. Specific road information will be provided at a later date.

Powerhouse teams such as Velocio-SRAM (formerly Team Specialized-lululemon), which ranked second in the world last season, and Alé-Cipollini boast rosters with some of the most decorated women in the sport will compete in what many experts believe will be the best women’s cycling event ever to take place on U.S. soil. Several of the teams expected to put forward top contenders for the overall win are also mounting counterparts in the men’s race, including Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies, BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental (under the same management as Team SmartStop) and UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team.

The full list of teams that will race May 8-10 includes:
Alé-Cipollini
BMW p/b Happy Tooth Dental
Canada National Team
Colavita|Bianchi p/b Fine Cooking
Grassi Pro Cycling Team Mexico
Itau Shimano Ladies Power Team
Optum p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies
Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International
Pepper Palace Pro Cycling p/b The Happy Tooth
Team TIBCO-SVB
Twenty16 p/b Sho-Air
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
Velocio-SRAM
Xirayas de San Luis

Full rosters will be available in May.

As part of a multi-year partnership, Lexus will serve as a premier partner of the Amgen Tour of California women’s stage race and award the winner of the stage race with a two-year Lexus NX luxury compact crossover lease. The bold NX offers a utility-focused alternative to a sport sedan.