“Race organizers really wanted to showcase Palmdale and all that we have to offer, and when they saw Marie Kerr Park they knew they had an incredible starting location,” said Palmdale Mayor Jim Ledford. “The route goes right through the heart of our beautiful city, passing residential areas, the region’s premier shopping location at the AV Mall and 10th St. West, past City Hall and up into the San Gabriel mountains. It will provide many opportunities for residents to see and experience this amazing race.”
Palmdale officials plan a series of events and activities leading up to May 18, in celebration of the race.
“The start of the race will be an event in and of itself,” Ledford said. “But we’ll be hosting several activities for people of all ages before the race. We’re inviting everyone to come on out to Marie Kerr Park for the start of the race, or to simply line the streets along the way to give these athletes a real good Palmdale cheering on!”
With the firing of the official start gun, riders will leave Marie Kerr Park and head east on Rancho Vista Blvd., a flat straightaway past the heart of Palmdale’s busy retail center and Antelope Valley Mall, under the 14 Freeway, and past iconic Joshua trees in springtime bloom, until taking a hard right onto historic Sierra Highway.
Formerly the El Camino Sierra Trail used by prospectors and adventurers in the 19th century, Sierra Highway is part of Historic Route 6. Riders will race along this nostalgic thoroughfare, passing Palmdale’s state-of-the-art Transportation Center, beautiful desert landscape, and picturesque Lake Palmdale at 2,980 feet above sea level before turning onto Pearblossom Hwy. As the riders veer left onto Angeles Forest Hwy. from Pearblossom Hwy., they will begin their arduous ascent into the San Gabriel Mountains, the first of two grueling uphill climbs of the day.
Zig-zag-ing their way towards Big Pines Rd., riders will pass the vicinity of Devil’s Punchbowl, a 1,310 acre park featuring natural beauty and unique rock formations, and the grounds of St. Andrew’s Abbey, a Benedictine monastery originally founded in China in 1929.
As soon as the riders intersect the Angeles Crest Highway, there will be a KOM.
The riders will then descend a mostly downhill stretch to the eastern end of Hwy. 2, where they will merge onto Hwy. 138 and sprint to the overcrossing of Interstate 15 on their way to the next half of the stage and the riders’ final climb to Big Bear.
Overall, the 2012 edition of America’s premier cycling race, which begins on May 13, features new cities, new challenges for the world-class group of teams and riders, and breathtaking California scenery while returning to some of the fans’ and riders’ favorite California landmarks, including Big Bear Lake and Mt. Baldy. The seventh-annual event will travel more than 750 miles over eight days from May 13 through 20, 2012.
Beginning in three-time race champion Levi Leipheimer’s hometown of Santa Rosa, the 2012 race will wind its way south through redwood-lined country roads and spectacular coastline drives before ending in the City of Angels, Los Angeles. Also, for the first time in race history, Stage 8, the final stage of the race, will begin on one of the most famous streets in one of the most recognized cities in the world, Rodeo Drive and Beverly Hills.
In celebration of the route announcement, each of the 14 Host Cities produced videos highlighting their respective stages which are now posted on the official race website at www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com. Each video includes specific route details, as well as individual city highlights, all of which combine to create an exciting first-hand look at what is sure to be a thrilling race.
“We take great pride in developing the route for the Amgen Tour of California, not only because it attracts the world’s elite cyclists, but because it puts an international spotlight on California for eight days,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “We spend countless hours poring over possible route scenarios and taking into account fan and rider suggestions before determining the final course; it is a true labor of love. We want to thank our Host Cities for creating the videos that highlight their stage route details and show what an amazing race this will be.”
Drawing the world’s top cyclists, including Tour de France competitors, Olympic medalists and world champions, the Amgen Tour of California is one of most anticipated professional cycling races on the international calendar.
