The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will engulf Lake Tahoe in the weeks ahead, as it becomes the site of the overall start, stage 1 finish, and stage 2 start for the largest cycling event in North America.
 
After months of planning, Lake Tahoe’s first-ever involvement in the race as the official Overall Start is Sunday, May 15, beginning at South Lake Tahoe at elevation 6,300 feet, the highest start elevation in the six-year history of the competition. Stage 1 wraps up the same afternoon in North Lake Tahoe at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort, and the Stage 2 start takes place at Palisades Tahoe USA on Monday, May 16.
 
On Sunday morning, May 15th, cyclists will begin at MontBleu Resort Casino & Spa on the California/Nevada border in South Lake Tahoe. The peloton will loop past Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course, around Heavenly Village, past the starting line again and onto Lake Tahoe Boulevard (Highway 50). From there it will head through the casino corridor, and then east towards Emerald Bay for a clockwise loop around the 72-mile perimeter of Lake Tahoe.
 
Riders will quickly gain 700 feet in elevation as they wind up switchbacks on the West Shore as they ascend towards scenic Emerald Bay, one of the most photographed places in the world and the first of the event's three King of the Mountain finishes. Along the West Shore, they will descend 500 vertical feet while exceeding speeds of 40 miles per hour down to lake level and the flats of Homewood, home to Lake Tahoe’s oldest marina. Athletes will then continue north along the historic West Shore, turn east through downtown Tahoe City and head through North Lake Tahoe's Carnelian Bay, Tahoe Vista, and Kings Beach.
 
After a short, steep incline, cyclists will leave the California side of the lake and enter Nevada at Crystal Bay, marking the first out-of-state course element for the Tour. After passing through Incline Village, the group will speed south down the East Shore past spectacular Sand Harbor State Park and the legendary Thunderbird Lodge before a long and steady 1,000-foot ascent to Spooner Summit at an elevation of 7,150 feet.
 
From Spooner Summit, speeds will increase to 45 miles per hour as the riders descend back toward the lake along Highway 50 and through the tunnel at Cave Rock. Racers will then pass Zephyr Cove Resort and returning to Stateline, Nevada, the scene of the overall start earlier that morning.
 
After crossing the state line and back into California at South Shore, the peloton returns to Emerald Bay with its remarkable views and the second King of the Mountain finish. At this point, some riders may gain separation from the pack before their second descent towards the West Shore.
 
After passing through the North Shore's Tahoe City for a second time, climbing the short ascent over Dollar Point and heading towards Kings Beach, the pack will turn left on Highway 267 and head up to Brockway Summit at 7,000 feet. This stretch will offer riders one last chance to dictate the race outcome with the third and final King of the Mountain finish. After cresting Brockway Summit, the lead group will plunges down a rapid descent into a hard left turn onto Northstar Drive, where both sprinters and climbers will set-up for a high-speed blast to the stage one finish line at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort.
 
Upon completing Stage 1, competitors will have ridden a lap-and-a-half around Lake Tahoe, the largest alpine lake in the country, conquering 119 miles and three mountains passes in approximately five hours and a total elevation gain of 5,500 feet.

The spectator-packed finish line at Northstar is also home to the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival, which will feature a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food and entertainment. During the day, Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will also host a Break Away from Cancer Walk.
 
Stage 2 Start - Palisades Tahoe USA
On Monday morning, May 16th, North Lake Tahoe will host the Stage 2 Start of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California at Palisades Tahoe USA, home of the 1960 Winter Olympics. The action will start directly under the historic Olympic rings in the Village at Palisades Tahoe at the base of the mountain with riders peddling around the cobbled corridors before turning onto Palisades Tahoe Road and heading out of the valley and past the Tower of Nations for a left-hand turn north onto Highway 89.
 
The peloton will follow the picturesque Truckee River corridor as the riders make their way toward Truckee and through the two roundabouts near the Interstate 80 overpass. Riders will then turn left onto historic Donner Pass Road, over Interstate 80 and past Donner Memorial State Park.
 
The pack will continue along the northern shoreline of Donner Lake as they make their approach to the steeps and turns of Old Highway 40 on their way to Donner Summit and Stage Two's first King of the Mountain finish. With some of the best views of the approaching riders and Donner Lake far below, this spot is sure to jammed-packed with enthusiastic spectators.
 
At the top, athletes will speed pass Sugar Bowl Ski Resort, Donner Ranch Ski Resort and Soda Springs Ski Resort and descend into California’s Gold Country via Highway 20 headed toward the finish line for Stage 2 at California's State Capitol in Sacramento.

Tahoe Pulls Out All The Stops
The North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority are spearheading local efforts for the Lake Tahoe Stage 1 Start, Stage 1 Finish and Stage 2 Start. Stage 1 of the race is presented by Michelob Ultra, and Stage 2 is presented by the California Travel & Tourism Commission (CTTC).

“Lake Tahoe is pulling out all the stops to provide cyclists and spectators with an unforgettable experience,” said Tourism Director Andy Chapman of the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association. “This is a golden opportunity to make our mark on the cycling community, and businesses and organizations are eager to welcome the thousands of visitors who will be traveling to the lake, many for the first-time ever.”

“Hosting the overall start in South Shore will not only provide economic impact this year and beyond, but it will also further brand Lake Tahoe as a ‘must ride’ biking destination,” said Carol Chaplin, executive director of the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority.

Ten Days of Pre-Race Events
Beginning on Thursday, May 5th, a ten-day, lakewide series of events, activities, and parties is planned leading up to the actual Stage 1 Start on Sunday, May 15th. 

Scheduled events include nightly live music and entertainment at numerous venues around the lake, special cycling events and races, street dances, bike festivals, and the 2011 Race Opening Gala and Official Team Introduction on Friday, May 13th.

One of California's Largest Sporting Events
Beginning with the inaugural race in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California quickly became the most successful race in the United States with economic benefits to the state, global recognition and the level of competition. The race also set records in attendance for a single sporting event in California, as well as any cycling event ever held on U.S. soil, with more than 2 million spectators in previous years.
 
In previous years, the race has drawn some of the world's most recognizable and respected riders, such as top Tour de France competitors, world champions and Olympic medalists including Lance Armstrong, Tom Boonen, Oscar Freire, Paolo Bettini, Fabian Cancellara, Carlos Sastre, Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Mark Cavendish and Andy Schleck.
 
The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will cover 800 miles and visit 15 Host Cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling.  Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:
    •    Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort
    •    Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Palisades Tahoe USA to Sacramento
    •    Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto
    •    Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose
    •    Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside toPaso Robles
    •    Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial
    •    Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy
    •    Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks
 
For best viewing points, where to catch the riders up close, lodging and a complete list of events (including the Tahoe 10-Day Countdown leading up to the race), visit www.TahoeAmgenTourofCalifornia.

For details about the entire Tour, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.