Amgen 2010 Volunteer Handbook

Want to see some of what happens behind the scenes? We’ve loaded the Amgen 2010 Volunteer Handbook to this blog. Please follow this link to download:

http://www.thebigbearclimb.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/amgenvolunteerhandbook.pdf

This is a short video of the volunteer meeting at Best Western.
The sound quality isn’t the best, the treble in the sound system was off.

Finish Line Amgen Tour of California

STAGE 6 ROUTE

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. April 7, 2010 – Today AEG Sports released a statement that the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 route will change due to severe road damage on Angeles Crest Highway (Hwy. 2) above La Cañada Flintridge. The stage will no longer start in Pasadena. However, the Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake will continue as planned, and will not be affected by the change. More information about the route change will be announced at a later date.

The statement released by Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, regarding a change to the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 Start and Host City is as follows…

 “Due to severe road damage on the Angeles Crest Highway (Route 2) above La Cañada Flintridge caused by the recent winter storms, we have been forced to change the route for Stage 6 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.  This change is being made at the direct request of Caltrans, which has notified us that due to the potential safety hazards, the road will be unable to accommodate our race.  Stage 6, scheduled for May 21, 2010, will no longer start in Pasadena and we are working to secure a new stage start, which we are hopeful of announcing in the coming days.

Stage 6 will still finish in Big Bear Lake as planned and we look forward to a challenging stage in the San Gabriel and San Bernardino Mountains.

As long-term partners with Pasadena, we appreciate how graciously they have handled this difficult situation.  We look forward to returning to Pasadena soon.”

– Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports

Today officials of the Amgen Tour of California announced the Stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake. On Friday, May 21 the world’s top professional cyclists including Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer, Dave Zabriskie and George Hincapie will battle it out on the Tour’s most challenging route known as the queen stage. The route from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake consists of 135 miles and more than 12,000 feet of climbing. The grueling queen stage is specifically designed to challenge cyclists, and should have a significant impact on the overall standings of the Amgen Tour of California (ATOC).

“The May timing of the 2010 edition of the AMGEN Tour of California is going to allow us to visit some challenging new areas of California that previously were not possible due to the weather,” said Andrew Messick president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “The Stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear is the perfect example, with our first-ever mountaintop finish at a 7,000 foot elevation.”

Stage 6 begins in Centennial Square, directly in front of Pasadena City Hall at 9:45 a.m. The cyclists will make their way through Old Pasadena as they head east on Colorado Boulevard and over the historic Colorado Street Bridge. The racers will drop into Arroyo Seco and pass by the iconic Rose Bowl, where the competitive portion of the race begins.

The first of four main climbs along the route takes place as the riders ascend into the San Gabriel Mountains on the Angeles Crest Highway (Highway 2) to an elevation of 3,700 feet. The cyclists will encounter a number of climbs on Highway 2 as they strive to reach Dawson Saddle, the highest point of the entire tour at 7,900 feet. From Dawson Saddle the racers will have their first sprint to Wrightwood at an elevation of 5,960 feet.

The peloton of riders will cross Interstate 15 on an overpass, and make their push east onto a curvy Highway 138 to Silverwood Lake. In the distance the cyclists will see mountain vistas that surround Big Bear Lake, which looks quite intimidating from afar. From Silverwood Lake a steep and windy climb into the San Bernardino Mountains begins on their way to Crestline.

The race then moves onto Highway 18, which is known as the Rim of the World Highway, because of its narrow stretch of road that sets on the edge of the San Bernardino Mountains. This portion of the race goes through the mountain communities of Sky Forest, Running Springs and Arrowbear.

Just outside of Arrowbear the racers will encounter the last long sustained climb of the day. The riders will have a steep climb all the way to Lakeview Point, which tops out at 7,112 feet. At this point the cyclists will be treated to a stunning view of Big Bear Lake, the jewel of the San Bernardino Mountains.

From Lakeview Point the racers will sprint along a portion of Highway 18, known as the Arctic Circle. The racers will kick it into high gear as they give it their all on this final sprint to Big Bear Lake. The race route enters Big Bear Valley at Big Bear Dam, but rather than crossing the dam and heading through the City of Big Bear Lake, the riders will continue on the north shore of the lake and race along the shoreline for about three miles. The cyclists will ride through the quaint mountain town of Fawnskin and pass by some of Big Bear’s most recognizable locales, such as the Big Bear Discovery Center, Serrano Campground and the East Boat Public Launch Ramp. The cyclists will cross over Stanfield Cutoff to the City of Big Bear Lake and make a mad dash for the finish line at the base of Snow Summit Mountain Resort at an elevation of 7,000 feet.

The race is expected to end in Big Bear Lake sometime between 3:20 p.m. and 4 p.m. By the end of stage the race the riders will have climbed more than 12,000 feet. The Amgen Tour of California’s first-ever mountaintop finish in Big Bear Lake could very well be a determining factor in the outcome of the final standings.

Which Way Will They Go?

The Local Organizing Committee of the AMGEN Tour of California is proud to present an exclusive sneak preview video of the tour’s Stage 6 route announcement on Wednesday, February 10 at 6 p.m. at Nottinghams Restaurant. The free event is open to all ages.

Officials of the AMGEN Tour of California granted Big Bear special privilege to show its video of the tour’s Stage 6 from Pasadena to Big Bear, which is known as the queen stage. This sneak preview event is exclusively for residents and guests of Big Bear Valley.

On Thursday, February 11 the route along with the video will be released to the rest of the world. Be the first to see the video one day prior at Nottinghams Restaurant located at 40797 Lakeview Drive.

After the video presentation Derek Hermon of Bear Valley Bikes will present gold sprint contests. Whether you choose to participate or watch, these high-energy contests are fun for everyone.

For more information about the exclusive sneak preview video viewing call 909-866-4607.

The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the worlds top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 16-23. Stage 6 on Friday, May 21, is The Big Bear Climb, the first-ever mountaintop finish in Big Bear Lake.