Amgen Tour comes to Avila Beach

Visitors and residents of Avila Beach will get to experience the thrill of seeing one of the nation’s largest sporting events when the Amgen Tour of California arrives on Thursday, May 16th. Avila Beach was successful in its bid to host the Stage 5 finish of this classic cycling race.

The Amgen tour of California is America’s most successful cycling race. It all began in 2006 when AEG Sports, a California-based sports and entertainment business got together with managing and cyclist specialists Medalist Sports and Amgen to produce a world class cycling event in California. Ever since cycling teams have signed up to pedal a variety of routes from northern California to southern California.

This year the tour is changing things up a bit and 16 of the world’s top professional cycling teams will compete on the challenging course, but will begin in Escondido in southern California and advance through eight stages ending in Santa Rosa, an hour north of San Francisco. The teams consist of nine teams from the USA and seven professional continental teams including those from Italy with cyclist, Peter Sagan, Belgium with cyclist Tom Boonen, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Denmark, Germany, and a USA team that is sponsored by Switzerland with World Champion, Philippe Gilbert. (See list of teams in Sidebar).

For local people the most exciting part of the race will be the finish of Stage 5 on May 16th. That day cyclists start along the beach in Santa Barbara ascending to the top of steep and windy San Marcos Pass on Route 154 and then descending to Lake Chumash Recreation Area.  Riders then go through the Santa Maria Valley Wine Area on Foxen Canyon Road, but won’t have any time to stop and do some tasting as they pedal on to Santa Maria and Highway One to the little coastal town of Guadalupe. Then they sprint through the Arroyo Grande area and head for Avila Beach. Cycling fans should be able to view the race from a variety of areas along this route. The Stage 5 finish will have the cyclists storming down the last 200 meters of Front Street to the finish line and spectators will be able to line that part of the course.

Amgen offers a variety of special packages for the ultimate cycling race experience. VIP Experiences include riding in an official race vehicle right along with the cyclists. There are also Private Hospitality Suites for groups of 50 or more that are situated along the finish line in themed tents with seating, flat screen TVs with live feed of the race, and a gourmet catering package. Amgen Tour of California also offers VIP Hospitality passes. The primary Hospitality area is located along the finish line, providing fully catered food and beverage served in a premium location in close proximity to the announcer’s and awards stage. VIP guests are able to watch live coverage on the flat screen televisions, as well as the dynamic viewing experience of the Tour Tracker. The Lifestyle Festival is located at the end of each stage finish where there will be cycling vendors as well as food and beverages, and cancer awareness education booths. Avila Beach’s Lifestyle Festival will take place in the large city parking lot on First Street.

Visitors to Avila Beach will find many accommodations and dining establishments with special packages available. “All the area hotels will offer VIP passes to area wineries,” commented Charles Crellin, Chairman of the Avila Beach Tourism Alliance. “There will also be a free concert held at the golf course the night before the race,” he said.

The day after the race visitors can participate in a city-wide Wine Walk and will get to experience the wines from 10 local wineries. Visitors of course can also enjoy the Friday Night Fish & Farmers Market in town.

One tasting room that is particularly interested in the cycling tour is Peloton Cellars on Front Street. Owners Trish and Bill Kesselring, along with their two partners, are cyclists themselves and love the sport. “We’ll have a TV in the tasting room throughout that week for people to view the race, “Trish said. “We’re overjoyed that the Amgen Tour is coming here!”

The people at the Amgen Tour and AEG are committed to presenting this free sporting event to promote the sport of road cycling and to encourage people about bicycle safety and maintaining healthy lifestyles.

Ruth Ann Angus - Local writer and photographer

Amgen Tour cycling teams
Cannondale Pro Cycling – Italy
Omega Pharma-Quick Step Cycling Team – Belgium
Orica Green Edge Cycling – Australia
Vacansoleil-DCM Pro Cycling Team – The Netherlands
Radio shack Leopard Trek – Luzembourg
Team Saxa Tinkoff – Denmark
Team Net App-Endura – Germany
BMC Racing Team – USA team sponsored by Switzerland Bike Manufacturer BMC
Garmin- Sharp-Barracuda – USA
5-Hour Energy by Kenda – USA
United Healthcare Pro Cycling – USA
Bissell Pro Cycling – USA
Champion System Pro cycling – USA
Optum Pro Cycling – USA
James-Hagens Berman - USA