Francesco Chicchi Takes the Stage Win Before Thousands of Fans in Modesto

MODESTO (May 19, 2010) – Stage 4, one of the longest stages of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, took the cyclists from San Jose to Modesto on a beautiful ride through the open land of California. After a fast and furious start to the race, which began with immediate attacks, Francesco Chicchi (ITA) of Liquigas-Doimo celebrated a narrow victory to take Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California. American David Zabriskie (USA) of Garmin-Transitions was able to retain the overall lead and will wear the Amgen Leader Jersey for the second consecutive day heading into Stage 5 of the race.

“This was a great day. There were big crowds in Modesto and it was a nice course to be in this jersey,” said Zabriskie. “I’m an excited individual to be in the Amgen Leader Jersey in the Amgen Tour of California. I’ve never done it before and I’m very happy. I’m really enjoying it.”

Fans of the Amgen Tour of California may have recognized part of Stage 4 from the 2009 race when the cyclists traveled from San Jose to Modesto; however, in 2010, the racers encountered a longer and more challenging route. Stage 4 ran 121.5 miles/195.5 km and included two King of the Mountains (KOM) competitions and two sprints. After a two-lap neutral start in San Jose the cyclists were faced with a climb that is synonymous with cycling and the Amgen Tour of California, Sierra Rd. (Cat.1 – 1,930 ft.), only 8.1 miles into the stage. Prior to the climb, just after the neutral start, Rabobank didn’t waste any time and launched an immediate attack. With Lars Boom (NED) of Rabobank leading the charge, there was soon a strong breakaway heading into the first KOM of the day. As the breakaway of Boom, Jurgen Van de Walle (BEL) of QuickStep, Robert Britton (CAN) of BISSELL, Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Kelly Benefit Strategies and Jeremy Powers (USA) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda crested the summit of Sierra Rd., Anderson took the KOM, followed by Britton and Boom. Not far behind, a chase group of three formed that included Davide Frattini (ITA) of Team Type 1, Max Jenkens (USA) of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis and Scott Stewart (USA) also of Team Type 1.

After completing the Sierra Rd. climb, the riders faced fast and flat roads full of twists and turns (Calaveras Rd. alone has more than 40 switchbacks) before visiting downtown Livermore for the first time. Heading into Livermore for the first sprint of Stage 4 with an amazing showing of fans along the route and a beautiful sunny day in the background, Boom took the sprint, followed by Powers and Anderson. After passing through the feed zone, the cyclists were faced with their second and final climb of the day, Mines Rd. (Cat. 4 – 1,512), where the riders faced nearly 30 miles of a narrow, twisting road, climbing most of the way before a long descent into Patterson. Anderson took the KOM, putting him in the lead in the KOM competition and securing the jersey, followed by Van de Walle, Britton and Boom, as the three chasers were swallowed up by the peloton, which had Team RadioShack and Garmin-Transitions riding tempo for most of the day, about five minutes behind.

About half way into the stage, Anderson fell off the back of the break and waited for the field to catch up. With only about 25 miles to go, the riders headed towards the second sprint of the day in Patterson, which was won by Boom, followed by Van de Walle and Britton. Reaching speeds of 55 mph during the stage, the sprint was followed by a decent sized crash, but all the riders recovered and continued on to the finish in Modesto.

Heading into the final stretch of the race Boom launched an attack, but was caught by Van de Walle and Britton, and soon after the entire breakaway was absorbed by the pack. For the second consecutive year, the stage finished with two circuits in downtown Modesto. In what was a photo-finish bunch sprint Chicchi took the win, with Juan Jose (J.J.) Haedo (ARG) of Saxo Bank in second and Mark Cavendish (GBR) of HTC-Columbia in third.

“I’m dedicating this win to my teammates who worked incredibly well for me today and this season,” said Chicchi. “I’m really proud to win again in the U.S. This is a great race – I love to race hard and win in America. To me, today felt just like the Tour de France.”

For Stage 4, Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey was awarded to Boom. Anderson took the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey. The other jersey winners remain unchanged with Zabriskie in the Amgen Race Leader Jersey, Peter Sagan (ITA) of Liquigas-Doimo in the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey and Cavendish in the Herbalife Sprint Jersey.

“Under sunny skies, Stage 4 of the Amgen Tour of California proved to be another remarkable day, with an impressive effort from the cyclists and amazing crowds along the route,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The sprint to the finish today gave the fans a chance to witness professional cycling at its best. We still have four stages to go and it’s anybody’s race right now.”

As part of Amgen’s effort to honor and celebrate cancer survivors everywhere and to raise awareness about its Breakaway from Cancer® initiative, the Modesto finish featured a Breakaway Mile. Modesto breast cancer survivor Sandy Howard participated in the one-mile honorary walk as Breakaway from Cancer Champion, an honor for which she was selected because of her self-published book, “Life After Chemo” that serves as a resource for women in San Joaquin Valley.

Howard was joined by approximately 150 community members – cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and advocates – and Dineli Wickramasinghe, director of research for Amgen, who plays a crucial role in developing innovative medicines to treat cancer and other serious illnesses.

“Amgen is committed to helping those with cancer,” explained Phyllis Piano, vice president, corporate communications and philanthropy at Amgen. “Amgen discovers, develops and delivers vital biotechnology medicines, and has a deeply held mission to serve patients battling serious illness. It is inspiring to hear the stories of the Breakaway from Cancer Champions and see the difference they are making for those affected by cancer.”

Amgen created the national Breakaway from Cancer initiative in 2005 as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California. Breakaway from Cancer represents a partnership between Amgen and four nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope.

For access to resources or to learn more, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

STAGE 5 TOMORROW:
Thursday, May 20 – Visalia to Bakersfield (121.5 mi/195.5 km)
Start Time: 10:30 a.m. PT**
**Start time adjusted to 15 minutes earlier than previously published
Estimated Finish Time: 3:15-4 p.m. PT
Satellite Feed Time: 4:50 – 5 p.m. PT
(Coordinates can be found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/media-info.html)

The Amgen Tour of California returns to Visalia for the start of Stage 5, sponsored by Rabobank, a stage that will take the riders through the heart of California’s San Joaquin Valley and into the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. After departing Visalia, the race will head due south through the towns Farmersville, Exeter Lindsay and Porterville. The route then heads further inland and tackles the narrow and twisty Old Stage Rd. into the town of Woody. Continuing on to Bakersfield, the route heads into the Kern River oil field, the fifth largest in the United States, where the riders will encounter several short, steep climbs. From the apex of the final climb, the cyclists will be able to look down onto the finish at Bakersfield College. The final obstacle is a 10 percent climb up China Grade, part of two finishing circuits in Bakersfield.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race website at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

In addition to the website, fans can view the race on the daily VERSUS broadcasts. Stage 5 will air live on VERSUS tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.

• Diary of a Manxman, Cavendish Storms Sacramento – 2010 Amgen Tour … – Sacrameno, CA – The poster boy for the Amgen Tour of California last year, Mark Cavendish (Team HTC-Columbia) continued his winning ways in the Golden State by …
• The Adobe Tour Tracker – real time bicycle race info | FlexDaddy – The AMGEN Tour of California … how cool is this, The Adobe Tour Tracker 2.0! The 8 day, 700 mile race has a multitude of information viewable in real-time.
• Top 10 for Team SpiderTech in their Amgen Tour of California debut … – Attentive Boivin slots in seventh after a crash-marred finish Sacramento, CA – Team SpiderTech powered by Planet Energy made a strong debut today during the opening stage of the fifth Amgen Tour of California with the Canadian squad’s …

Grand Prize Winner: Sora C, 9th grade, Big Bear High School

As part of its efforts to welcome Amgen Tour of California cyclists and race fans, the Local Big Bear Organizing Committee held a Student Cycling Art Contest for local K-12 students. Close to 300 students in the Big Bear Valley submitted artwork showing local cycling scenes to celebrate Big Bear’s upcoming Stage 6 race finish.

For their artistic efforts, the Grand Prize winner received a Specialized mountain bike from Bear Valley Bikes. Twelve total winning entries among  each grade group (K-2, 3-6, 7-8, 9-12) received a custom calendar showcasing their art. Approximately 65 top Finalists are displayed in businesses and organizations around the Valley. Each of the 300 submitted entries also receives a limited edition silicon wristband.

To preview or order the the Contest Calendar, visit:
http://www.lulu.com/product/calendar/big-bear-student-cycling-art-contest-2010-11-calendar/10985314?showPreview

Grand Prize Winner:
Sora C., 9th grade, Big Bear High School
Winners:
Lathan E., 4th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School
Ashley W., 5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School
Sara S., 9th grade, Big Bear High School
Daron W., Kindergarten, Baldwin Lane Elementary School
Kenli S., 4th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School
Fatima M., 1st grade, North Shore Elementary School
Brandon M., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School
Lindsay H., 10th grade, Big Bear High School
Marc R., 5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School
Kiersten N., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School
Taylor W., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School
Emma C.,  5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

(The 13 top winning artists above are displayed at the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce in the Village at 630 Bartlett Road.)

Lathan E., 4th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Ashley W., 5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Sara S., 9th grade, Big Bear High School

Daron W., Kindergarten, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Kenli S., 4th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Fatima M., 1st grade, North Shore Elementary School

Brandon M., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School

Lindsay H., 10th grade, Big Bear High School

Marc R., 5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Kiersten N., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School

Taylor W., 7th grade, Big Bear Middle School

Emma C., 5th grade, Baldwin Lane Elementary School

Stage 2 2009

Defending Champion Levi Leipheimer Takes Second Place in the Stage and Moves Up in General Classification to Third Place Overall 

SANTA CRUZ (May 18, 2010) – In a stage that exemplified the beautiful scenery and challenging terrain of California that make the state the perfect setting for a professional cycling race, Stage 3 of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California covered 113.3 miles/182.3 km of scenic California roadways. In an epic battle for the stage win along a picturesque route that began in iconic San Francisco and ended at the famous beach boardwalk in sunny Santa Cruz, David Zabriskie (USA) of Garmin Transitions took the stage win and also secured the overall lead heading into Stage 4 tomorrow. 

The picturesque route took the riders south down the California coastline on Highway 1, flanked by the Pacific Ocean on one side and Redwood forests on the other. This coastal stage included three long, but moderate climbs on Tunitas Creek Rd., La Honda Rd. and Bonny Doon Rd. packed with local cycling fans, which was followed by lengthy and fast descents. The sprint to the finish followed W. Cliff Dr. along Monterey Bay to an exhilarating conclusion to Stage 3 at the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. 

As the morning fog burned off in San Francisco to reveal blue skies l day, the riders lined up at the start line on The Great Highway and got Stage 3 off to a great start. After a few failed breakaway attempts at the start of the stage, the peloton approached the first sprint in Pacifica, which was taken by Stage 1 winner Mark Cavendish (GBR) of HTC-Columbia, putting him in the lead in the points competition. The first hour of the stage was marked by little attacks, mainly from QuickStep and HTC-Columbia, but the riders weren’t able to get anything to stick. 

The next sprint in Half Moon bay was taken by Karl Menzies (AUS) of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, followed by Alexander Kristoff (NOR) of the BMC Racing Team and Cavendish. As the riders continued on from the sprint a five-man break formed, which included Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA) of BISSELL), Will Routley (CAN) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda, Eric Boily (CAN) of SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy, Davide Frattini (ITA) of Team Type 1 and Ryan Anderson (CAN) of Kelly Benefit Strategies. With fans lining the street shoulder-to-shoulder on the lead up to the first King of the Mountains competition (KOM) on Tunitas Creek Road (Cat. 2 – 1,562 ft.), Frattini took the KOM win, followed by Anderson. 

After going through the feed zone, the riders were quickly hit with another climb, Highway 84 (Cat. 3 – 1,427 ft.), which provided identical results to the first KOM – Frattini in first and Anderson is second. After a quick descent, the cyclists faced the third KOM of the day, Pescadero Rd. (Cat. 4 – 1,053 ft.), which, once again, saw Frattini take the KOM, followed by Anderson. 

Team RadioShack, with assistance from the Cervélo TestTeam, drove the field for most of the day and eventually swallowed up the break en route to the final climb of the day. With the end of the race drawing near, several teams began to make their move and created a breakaway that consisted of three riders – Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack, Michael Rogers (AUS) of HTC-Columbia and Zabriskie. With just under 20 miles to go on the route to Santa Cruz, the riders faced the largest climb of the day, Bonny Doon/Pine Flat Road (Cat. 2 – 2,135 ft.). After many unsuccessful attempts by several teams to pull the break back, Zabriskie took the stage win in an all out sprint to the finish before thousands of fans at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk. 

“I’ve been a runner up, but I’ve never won a stage here,” said Zabriskie. “I’ve never touched the Amgen Leader Jersey since the Amgen Tour of California started. Just to touch this jersey is quite an honor.” 

In the awards ceremony for Stage 3, Zabriskie took the Amgen Race Leader Jersey; Cavendish claimed the Herbalife Sprint Jersey; and Thomas Rabou (NED) of Team Type 1 took the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey. Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas retained the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey for the second consecutive day. And for his performance in the main breakaway of the day Routley was awarded Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey. 

“Today proved to be another competitive day of racing in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The level of competition was impressive, the views were breathtaking, the crowds were enthusiastic and the stage finish was as good as they come. As we head into Stage 4 tomorrow, the riders are going to continue to face challenging terrain that showcases the beauty of California, and we all are looking forward to seeing how it unfolds.” 

Continuing its partnership for the fifth year, Amgen utilizes the race to raise awareness for the Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. 

In honor of cancer survivors everywhere, today Marilyn Luma was recognized and celebrated as the Breakaway from Cancer Champion for her involvement in the group Tutus for Tatas which raises funds for and participates in the annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure event. 

Luma led Amgen’s Breakaway Mile – a special one-mile walk that crosses the finish line to honor the millions of cancer survivors worldwide. During the event, Luma was joined by approximately 150 community members – cancer survivors, patients, caregivers and advocates – and Amgen’s Steve Young, executive director, research, who plays a crucial role in developing innovative medicines to treat cancer and other serious illnesses. 

“When I first heard about receiving this honor, it reminded me of what John F. Kennedy said when asked how he became a war hero,” explained Luma. “Kennedy said, ‘It wasn’t voluntary. They sank my boat.’ I didn’t willingly choose to be diagnosed with cancer, but rather looked within myself to handle my diagnosis with dignity and grace. Now, I aim to do something each year to help make a difference. It’s my humble honor to be part of the Breakaway from Cancer effort.” 

Today’s Breakaway Mile was the first of four Breakaway Miles that will take place during the Amgen Tour of California in support of Amgen’s national Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which was created in 2005 as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the inaugural race. The Breakaway from Cancer initiative is designed to empower patients by connecting them to education, resources and hope. Modesto, Bakersfield and Thousand Oaks will also host Breakaway Miles. 

For access to resources or to learn more, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com. 

STAGE 4 TOMORROW:
Wednesday, May 19 – San Jose to Modesto (121.5 mi/195.5 km)
Start Time: 11 a.m. PT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:30-4 p.m. PT
Satellite Feed Time: 4:50 – 5 p.m. PT
(Coordinates can be found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/media-info.html) 

Fans of the Amgen Tour of California may recognize part of Stage 4, sponsored by Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative, from the 2009 race when the cyclists traveled from San Jose to Modesto; however, in 2010, the racers will encounter a longer and more challenging route. Beginning with a climb that is synonymous with cycling and the Amgen Tour of California, the cyclists will head up Sierra Rd. (1,930 ft.) within the first five miles of the stage. This epic climb is destined to be a defining moment in this year’s race. After completing the Sierra Rd. climb, the riders will face fast and flat roads full of twists and turns (Calaveras Rd. alone has more than 40 switchbacks) before visiting downtown Livermore for the first time. The peloton will then turn on to the very difficult Mines Rd., where the riders will face nearly 30 miles of a narrow, twisting road, climbing most of the way before a long descent into Patterson. For the second consecutive year, the stage will finish with two circuits in downtown Modesto. 

SANTA ROSA (May 17, 2010) – The second stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California brought excitement to the thunderous crowds at the finish in Santa Rosa, home to the BMC Racing and three-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack, who is currently in 12th place overall. After a challenging day of cycling through stormy conditions, Brett Lancaster (AUS) of Cervélo TestTeam took the stage win, as well as the overall lead in the General Classification.

Covering 109.5 miles/176.2 km and beginning in the city of Davis, which recently was named the best cycling town in the United States by Bicycling Magazine, the Stage 2 route included evenly spaced climbs and spectacular views. Proudly boasting no withdrawals after yesterday’s crashes, the peloton gave the enthusiastic crowd in Davis something to cheer for as they lined up at the start. The stage began with a series of attacks with little result until mile 12 when the first break formed and included Karl Menzies (AUS) of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) of Fly V Australia, Andrew Randell (CAN) of SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy, Thomas Rabou (NED) of Team Type 1 and Michael Friedman (USA) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda. With the break of five riders, which would end up leading the race for the majority of the day, pulling away to create a minute-and-a-half gap over the pack, Menzies took the first sprint in Winters, followed by Rabou and Randell.

After 20 miles of flat roads while building a six-minute gap, the break headed into the first King of the Mountains (KOM) climb of the day, a short, but steep section leading to the Monticello Dam on Highway 128, and Rabou emerged victorious. Another long, flat section along Lake Berryessa, and the official feed zone, took the riders to their second climb up Howell Mountain Rd. (Cat. 2). Seizing the opportunity, Rabou attacked the break as Thomson and Friedman fell behind, but was soon caught by Menzies and Randell and the group of three crested the climb four minutes ahead of the peloton, with Rabou taking the KOM. Shortly after, the original breakaway of five reformed on the fast descent into Napa Valley.

“It didn’t get cold at all today. There were many crowds, especially on the climbs, and that made me feel warm inside,” said Rabou.

As the riders steadily approached the Oakville Grade (Cat. 3), the third KOM of the day, at 84.1miles/135.4 km and 1.9 miles long, Friedman once again dropped off the pace, leaving four riders to lead the breakaway. With weather conditions working against them, this proved to be a decisive climb for the riders, splitting apart the bunch with challenging circumstances and several crashes. With the end of the stage drawing near, a group of 12 riders, including Leipheimer, pulled away from the pack to form a chase group. After tackling the final KOM of the day, Trinity Grade (Cat. 2), the original break, the chase group and additional riders came together to form a lead group of approximately 25 riders, led by Team RadioShack. In a competition that came down to a very close finish in Santa Rosa, Lancaster took the stage win to the cheers of thousands of fans.

“In the rain, there are times when you just have to close your eyes and go for it. You just have to watch out for the white lines and the cat eyes on the road,” said Lancaster. “Honestly, I didn’t think I would be in the Amgen Leader Jersey, but today I felt fantastic. It was my special day.”

After a long, hard day of racing, Lancaster claimed the Amgen Race Leader Jersey and the Herbalife Sprint Jersey. The Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey went to Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas. Rabou, whose mother is currently battling cancer, took Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey and the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey.

The top-three general classification leaders after today are Lancaster in first, Sagan in second and Menzies in third.

“Now that we have moved past the only day of rain anticipated for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, we are looking forward to clear skies and beautiful weather for the rest of the race,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Davis and Santa Rosa have been such great partners and the record crowds on the course today really prove the enthusiasm and appetite there is for professional cycling in California. We are looking forward to another great day tomorrow as we return to two iconic cities that really embody the spirit of the state – San Francisco and Santa Cruz.”

Continuing its partnership for the fifth year, Amgen utilizes the race to raise awareness for the Breakaway from Cancer® initiative.

“For nearly 30 years, Amgen has tapped the power of pioneering science and innovation to discover and develop vital medicines,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “That’s why Amgen is proud to sponsor the Amgen Tour of California and to continue the Breakaway from Cancer initiative as a vehicle to raise awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship.”

Amgen created the national Breakaway from Cancer initiative in 2005 as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen and its four nonprofit partners are dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope.

Today’s activities featured cancer survivor Sharon Cucinotta who fired the official start gun to begin the ride from Davis to Santa Rosa, and cancer survivor Miss Sonoma County Alison Levie had the honor of awarding Rabou with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider Jersey.

For access to resources or to learn more, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

STAGE 3 TOMORROW:
Tuesday, May 18 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz (113.3 mi/152.3 km)
Start Time: 11:15 a.m. PT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:30-4 p.m. PT
Satellite Feed Time: 4:50 – 5 p.m. PT
(Coordinates can be found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/media-info.html)

Starting at Ocean Beach, Stage 3, sponsored by The Home Depot, will cover nearly 120 miles from San Francisco, which hosted the Prologue for the inaugural year of the Amgen Tour of California, to Santa Cruz. The route will take the riders south down the California coastline on Highway 1, flanked by the picturesque backdrops of the Pacific Ocean on one side and Redwood forests on the other. This coastal stage will include three long, but moderate climbs on Tunitas Creek Rd., La Honda Rd. and Bonny Doon Rd., which will all be followed by lengthy and fast descents. The sprint to the finish will follow W. Cliff Dr. along Monterey Bay to an exhilarating conclusion to Stage 3 at the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race website at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

In addition to the website, fans can view the race on the daily VERSUS broadcasts. Stage 3 will air live on VERSUS tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.

Boaters on the Lake this Weekend

We asked a few people what they thought about Big Bear Lake hosting the sixth stage of the Amgen Tour of California. Everyone is so positive and there are a large number of volunteers from this small community.

Here are a some of the response we received:

“The thrill of world class cycling has returned to the San Bernardino mountains. It has always been a lot of fun over the year seeing the Best in the world from Ned Overend, Tinker Juarez, and Brian Lopes among many other cyclist in the Big Bear mtb Nationals. Now the best of road racing will take over our area to compete in front of the world spotlighting our area once again. The last couple of years I can remember catching a couple of stages of the Amgen Tour on tv, and am now thrilled to be able to mark my calendar to go out my front door and see the action live. The only problems is deciding which climb to pick as my viewing area.”

Brian Menge

“Being new residents of this truely beautiful city, and now be part of the largest event ever in Big Bear is truely a honor for both of us and we hope the entire City comes out to support this historic event and makes it for many more years to come. Now when our friends watch this event on TV, they will also see how Beautiful a area we live in and enjoy every Day.“

George Costa

“no one can believe that the world’s greatest cyclists will be here in the greatest mountain town around.. Big Bear Lake! we can’t wait to be in awe, to be amazed, to be inspired to get out and ride! thanks for bringing it all here”

Lynn Zander

“Chance to see the worlds best cyclists ,in one of the most beauitful places in Souther California.”

“I am very excited about the Amgen climb to Big Bear! I live in Moonridge and ride just about every day, 150-200 miles per week, including a ride down to and around Lake Arrowhead and back, usually on Wednedays. I would love to mingle and talk with some of the riders and see how they feel about the climb, and to meet Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer in person would be quite a thrill! I plan to volunteer for the race and then to find a place close to the front in the local race, the next day. I was fourth in Ride the Bear last fall and hope to improve on that. Not bad for over 50!”

Christian A. Mortensen

“As a Big Bear local I am excited about the Amgen Stage 6 tour to Big Bear as this International race will put Big Bear on the map  for the world to see .  I love living here in Big Bear and the Amgen tour will bring world class athletes and their families and friends as well as the media and visitors to our beautiful little neck of the woods.  The Amgen stage 6 tour will help to stimulate our local economy immediately as well as leaving behind long term potential for increased tourism.”

Wendy Diemert

Sky Chair Big Bear Lake- Panoramic Views of the Valley

Cavendish Takes Stage 1

Enthusiastic Crowds in both Nevada City and Sacramento
Welcome Pro Riders Back to California for Fifth Year

SACRAMENTO, CALIF. (May 16, 2010) – Under sunny skies, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California kicked off to the roaring cheers of cycling fans from around the world in the picturesque town Nevada City. In an exciting sprint to the finish, Mark Cavendish (GBR) of HTC-Columbia took his third stage win in the history of the race after three high-speed circuits around the State’s Capitol building in Sacramento. Cavendish was followed by Juan Jose (“J.J.”) Haedo (ARG) of Team Saxo Bank in second and Alexander Kristoff (NOR) of the BMC Racing Team in third.

Cavendish beat out top cyclists, including nine past world champions, 11 current national champions and six Olympic medalists to take the win. The enthusiastic crowd, comprised of shoulder-to-shoulder fans, cheered on the cyclists as they made their way through downtown Sacramento.

The 104.3-mile/167.8 km stage, which also will be celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Nevada City Classic, to Sacramento took the riders through Grass Valley and across the Auburn-Foresthill Bridge, the tallest bridge in California and the third highest in the U.S. A mostly downhill stage, which certainly favored the sprinters, the route also included a grueling climb from the American River to the town of Cool. The point-to-point race from Nevada City to Sacramento was a change from the previous edition’s opening prologue.

In the first big move of the day Maarten Tjallingii (NED) of Rabobank, Chad Beyer (USA) of the BMC Racing Team, Mark De Maar (NED) of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis and Paul Mach (USA) of BISSELL broke away from the pack and quickly gained a one minute gap on the field. In a short-lived attempt to catch the breakaway, three riders formed a chase, but were quickly swallowed up by the peloton. After only 20 minutes, the breakaway’s lead grew to more than two and a half minutes and eventually expanded to more than five minutes, giving the group a considerable lead over the pack, which was led for the majority of the race by HTC-Columbia.

“Our strategy was to ride aggressively and try to get in the breakaway. That was goal number one and it worked out,” said Mach.

The first sprint at Meadow Vista was won by Tjallingii, ahead of Mach with DeMaar in third. At 1 km from the KOM climb on Highway 49, De Maar and Mach attacked the other two riders in the break and then Mach soloed away to take the KOM, followed by De Maar. After a descent of four miles at an average speed of 38 mph and a mostly downhill finish into Sacramento, the break of four riders came back together, but was swallowed up as they head for the three finishing circuits around the State Capitol building.

Two crashes during the finishing circuits took some of the race favorites out of contention for this stage, including Tom Boonen (BEL) of QuickStep, leaving Cavendish in the perfect position to take the stage and the overall lead heading into day two of the race. “The Amgen Tour of California is a hard race,” said Cavendish. “This is a big thing for us. It’s always an important race. Hopefully we can win more stages.”

After an amazing performance, Cavendish claimed not only the Amgen Race Leader Jersey, but also the Herbalife Sprint Jersey. California native Mach claimed the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey. Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey went to Tjallingii and the Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey was awarded to Kristoff.

“In only one day, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California has already exceeded our expectations with regards to fans, host cities and overall enthusiasm,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “We’ve already seen an amazing degree of competition from these world-class cyclists and we’re looking forward to seeing how the race unfolds.”

Title sponsor Amgen is continuing its complementary Breakaway from Cancer® initiative in 2010.

“Amgen is proud to join AEG for the fifth year as the title sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California. This race provides Amgen the opportunity to be part of the top cycling event in the U.S. that attracts the interest of millions of people while promoting health and wellness in Amgen’s headquarters state of California,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology.

“Our involvement allows Amgen the opportunity to raise awareness of our company, our mission to serve patients and the promise of medical breakthroughs through biotechnology,” Arbuckle added. “It also allows us to support those impacted by cancer through the Breakaway from Cancer initiative.”

Amgen created the national Breakaway from Cancer® initiative in 2005 as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California. Breakaway from Cancer represents a partnership between Amgen and four nonprofit organizations dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope. The Breakaway from Cancer partners – Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (formerly The Wellness Community), Patient Advocate Foundation and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship – collectively offer people affected by cancer a broad range of support services, complementing those provided by a patient’s team of healthcare professionals.

For access to resources or to learn more, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

More News Amgen Tour of California;

• Amgen Tour Of California 2010 Stage 1 | Mixx Buzzers – Mark Renshaw have been rocket by Brit Mark Cavendish. Mark is Brit Mark’s HTC/Columbia lead out man, Mark Renshaw to take opening stage of the 5th edition of the Amgen tour of California victory, over saxo bank’s Argentine sprinter …
• Amgen Tour of California Stage 1 » Cyclelicious – My random thoughts on today’s finish in Sacramento. The crowds were huge and amazing enthusiastic. There was a ton of energy both for the earlier Grand.
• Amgen Tour of California – California news | USA News – U.S. national champion George Hincapie and Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff will hunt for stage wins while the BMC Racing Team will look to Hincapie and Swiss Steve Morabito for the overall at the Amgen Tour of California. …

Nigel Ready to Ski

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. May 14, 2010 – Eight-year-old Nigel Holland was diagnosed with cancer nearly two years ago. His courage and sheer determination to beat cancer is recognized at this year’s Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake Friday, May 21. Nigel will ride in a procession on the final stretch of the race course during opening ceremonies as part of the Amgen Tour of California’s Breakaway from Cancer® national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship.

“Nigel has truly become a beacon of hope for anyone fighting cancer or any other type of illness,” said City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Liz Harris.

Directly following the race is an awards ceremony; Nigel Holland will present the official Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey for Stage 6. The jersey is awarded to the cyclist who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer — courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination and perseverance. 

 “Amgen is proud to honor individuals like Nigel, who inspire others in the fight against cancer,” said Kathryn West, director of advocacy at Amgen. “Breakaway from Cancer was founded on the knowledge that it takes a team to overcome this disease and the Big Bear community exemplifies the commitment to helping others.”

Opening ceremonies for Amgen Tour of California’s Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake begin Friday, May 21 at 1 p.m., two hours before the pro cyclists cross the finish line. The location of the ceremonies is at Summit Blvd. near the finish line between Big Bear Blvd. and Snow Summit Mountain Resort. The schedule of events includes a pep rally featuring local presenting sponsor Big Bear Vacations and other local businesses. Miss Big Bear will parade to the finish line, followed by Nigel Holland in a decorated Breakaway from Cancer vehicle. Opening Ceremonies close with an exclusive glory ride that gives participants of Tour de Big Bear an opportunity to ride through the finish line. To learn more about the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake log onto www.thebigbearclimb.com or visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.