Amgen Tour Reveals Morgan Hill On Course, $100,000 For Camp Fire

SAN JOSE, CA -- The Amgen Tour of California organizers are gearing up for another year of professional, competitive cycling by announcing this week the 13 host cities selected for the 14th edition of America’s premier race set for next May 12 through 19. Along the way, organizers have also revealed monetary support in Camp Fire relief.

Throughout seven stages over a full week, the world’s elite cyclists will cover more than 750 miles of roadways, highways and coastlines from Sacramento to Pasadena in a high-stakes, often photo finish bike race.

The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM showcases the world’s best women cyclists. It will run concurrently from May 16 to 18, ripping through 180 miles over three stages.

Life's challenges are those that Amgen Tour organizers know all too well. They're offering a sum to the tune of $100,000 to aid in the recovery for victims of California's deadliest, most destructive wildfire known to have killed 88 people, demolished almost 20,000 structures of mostly homes and incinerated the towns of Paradise and Magalia.

To help with relief from the devastation, the Amgen Tour of California, in partnership with the Los Angeles Kings and AEG Sports, are donating the funds to the American Red Cross.

“The recent fires have caused our community and our state incredible and unimaginable damage. AEG continues to thank those who have worked tirelessly to help combat the fires. Our hearts go out to those who have suffered hardships. We are making this donation to the American Red Cross in honor of the first responders and all who have been impacted. We are also encouraging our fans and our supporters to help by making donations as well,” said Dan Beckerman, president of AEG and alternate governor of the Kings.

The sentiment was far reaching.

“The devastation has severely impacted the entire state of California, including many of our past and upcoming host cities of the Amgen Tour of California,” said Kristin Klein, president of Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “We’re not just a state but a collection of communities that come together to support each in time of need, and we are proud to support the relief efforts undertaken by so many of the first responders and the American Red Cross.”

Red Cross volunteers are supporting evacuation centers to provide safe refuge for people impacted by these devastating fires. Additionally, they are also providing meals, health services, spiritual care, comfort and other support for affected residents.

Amgen organizers have a history of aiding in philanthropic efforts.

With title sponsor Amgen as a partner since the race's inception, Amgen has launched Breakaway from Cancer, its national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship. Amgen expanded its platform in 2016 to launch Breakaway from Heart Disease, aimed at encouraging Americans to have a game plan to tackle heart disease by understanding the risk through diagnostic screening and by taking charge of their heart health through diet, exercise and appropriate treatment options. To learn more, visit breakawayfromcancer.com and breakawayfromheartdisease.com.

Professional cycling has come a long way in the United States in trying to capture the same spirit as its counterparts in Europe where the sport is a big part of life.

Both the men's and women's Amgen races next year will conclude with same-day finishes in the preferred city of Pasadena for maximum exposure. The annual Amgen Tour of California carries the distinction of being the only U.S. men’s and women’s races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and has helped launch some of the sports well known and most decorated international cyclists. At the same time, the race series continues to attract the most talented competitors and teams in the world.

Like Camp Fire victims, some of those athletes have known the challenges of of overcoming insurmountable odds.

Peter Stetina, for one, competed in 2016 after enduring a near career-ending crash the year before. The athlete who splits his time between homes in Santa Rosa and Tahoe City shattered his knee cap, cracked his tibia, tore his ACL and broke five ribs when he hit a metal pole on the course during the Tour of the Basque Country.

That same year, San Francisco rider Megan Guarnier whizzed around three competitors in the grueling wind at South Lake Tahoe up to Heavenly Mountain Resort to secure her win amid 55 mph gusts.

With seven new courses between them, the event’s legacy as an international platform for both men’s and women’s racing will hold special significance this year as Olympic hopefuls gear up for Tokyo 2020.

The 2019 race schedule starting for the men on May 12 in Sacramento winds from Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe through Stockton to Morgan Hill. The coastal section features Morro Bay, Pismo Beach and Ventura before heading inland to Ontario and up Mt. Baldy. From there, stage 7 takes the athletes into Santa Clarita then on to Pasadena.

For the women's race, some of the greatest names in the sport start May 16 in Ventura, go inland to Ontario and also up Mt. Baldy, follows a route into the valley in Santa Clarita to the finish in Pasadena.

Some sections of the courses are subject to change as the weather can dictate whether the outside elements are too harsh, among other obstacles that may arise. One year, the men woke up to a few inches of snow on the ground in South Lake Tahoe. Also there, the women have endured horrendous windy conditions that either helped or hindered the athletes.

More information and a video are available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com or https://youtu.be/9EumaLheLe8.

This year’s course will highlight the distinct beauty of Northern, Central and Southern California.

The 2019 host cities include the return of fan and race team favorites such as Sacramento, which wrapped around the Capitol downtown in laps that offered spectators more than one glimpse of the riders.

The 2019 Amgen Tour of California will cover a variety of terrain, showcasing many of California’s most well-known and iconic settings and landmarks and allowing different types of specialists in the peloton to shine throughout the week.

Several fast and flat sections on tap in Sacramento, Morgan Hill and Pasadena will cater to sprinters -- not to mention a section featuring WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca motor speedway.

Climbers will also face challenges in the high-elevation riding in South Lake Tahoe's thin air and the menacing Diablo Mountain Range outside Stockton. More multiple climbs between Pismo Beach and Ventura will also tax the cyclists.

Fans and teams alike will count down to the men’s and women’s Queen Stages from Ontario to Mt. Baldy, which will involve a grueling 26-mile fan-favorite climb to the summit. The finish is sure to mark a day that will shake up the leader board -- one that can make or break the quest for the overall victory.

A traditional stage for the Amgen Tour of California, the final race day for both the men and women is one that highlights the beauty of long-time race partners: Santa Clarita and Pasadena. Past overall finishes in Pasadena have consistently been dramatic and exciting, with fans from across Southern California lining up to cheer on the fast-and-furious sprints to determine the ultimate champions.

“The Amgen Tour of California continues to serve as an international postcard for the state, showcasing the beauty and diversity of California – and the 2019 host cities certainly reflect that,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “We look forward to hosting another truly dynamic and engaging race, which will feature an all-star peloton, continuing the tradition of delivering one of the most exciting sporting events in the country.”

In addition to lining the race course, fans of all ages will once again have the opportunity to experience the race from an all-inclusive hospitality tent. To learn more, visit: https://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/vip-experiences.

VIP Hospitality Passes go on pre-sale to American Express cardholders December 5 to 10 at 9:59 a.m., and the public sale begins Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. To purchase visit, https://www.axs.com/amgen2019.

For questions, please contact sales@amgentourofcalifornia.com.

--Images via Sue Wood, Patch; Kathryn Reed