Santa Cruz County, California, plays proud host to the finish of Stage 2 of Amgen Tour of California. The professional bicycling stage race attracts some of the best road bike racers in the world, including some who will also race in the Tour de France. The race returns here tomorrow, Monday, May 14, 2012 (after finishes in the City of Santa Cruz in 2009 and 2010). Here’s what the Santa Cruz Sentinel, the daily paper of Santa Cruz County, has to offer for pre-race stories about the Amgen Tour of California. 
Santa Cruz Sentinel stories posted on 05/13/2012
• Jacques-Maynes ready for Tour of California after rough year Jacques-Maynes is gearing up for the most important day of his season Monday, the day he and approximately 130…tackle the Santa Cruz mountains and finish Stage 2 of Amgen‘s Tour of California right here in his stomping grounds. similar results – By Brooke Wright – Sentinel correspondent
• Amgen Tour of California prompts ‘rolling’ road closures Monday in Santa Cruz County As acclaimed cyclists in the Amgen Tour of California speed through the county Monday afternoon, commuters will be brought to a standstill on the route. similar results – By Stephen Baxter
• In Amgen, Jamison Creek offers a winding test of nerves Throughout the Santa Cruz Mountains, there are roads you probably wouldn’t ride on a burro, let alone a bicycle. Yet organizers behind the 2012 Amgen Tour of California decided to similar results – By Jason Hoppin
• Tour of California: How much will it help the Santa Cruz economy? Check back next week. That’s the answer when you ask about the economic impact of the Amgen Tour of California Stage 2 coming through Santa Cruz County Monday. similar results – By Jondi Gumz
• Amgen’s a boon, headache for Cabrillo: Students, administrators have different views
Large crowds, thousands of fans cheering from the sidelines, racers dressed in sleek attire, the late-afternoon sunlight gleaming off their helmets, barreling toward the finish line — all of it captured in the international media’s eye. By Kimberly White
05/11/2012 07:04:27 PM PDT
• Tour of California field boasts world class experience, plus cycling’s next generation of stars – By Elliott Almond
04/30/2012 05:39:27 PM PDT
• Amgen organizers confident county is ready for May 14 race – By JASON HOPPIN — Santa Cruz Sentinel
And here’s a good overview of Amgen Tour of California Stage 2 finish in Santa Cruz County:
• The Race is On! Tour of California set to return
By Jason Hoppin – Santa Cruz Sentinel
Posted: 05/12/2012 03:00:31 PM PDT
APTOS — If you want to know happens when 144 very large, very powerful men engage in a fast-moving mosh pit on wheels, Monday afternoon just might give you the opportunity.
Months of local planning will come to a head when the Amgen Tour of California returns to Santa Cruz after a one-year hiatus. The second stage of arguably America’s greatest bike race is ending in our backyard, and many are expecting 117 miles of punishment to culminate in a breathtaking sprint to the Aptos finish line.
“If you want to see action,” said local cycling journalist Jim Langley, “watching the sprint is fantastic.”
Santa Cruz County’s connection to cycling runs deep, and many of the seminal figures in the development of recreational cycling have connections here, from Tom Cuthbertson to Ross Shafer to Keith Bontrager. Books that helped popularize bicycling in the 60s and 70s, the sport of cyclocross, carbon-fiber bike frames and mountain bike suspension all have local origins.
Yet it took members of the Santa Cruz County Cycling Club to bring the tour back, after local governments abandoned their official support. The group includes lead local organizer Maura Noel, who offered her retirement savings as a guarantee that they could raise the money needed to make the event work.
“All the big stuff is in place, it’s really just details now,” Noel said Friday. “I’m super excited and happy the way the community has supported us these past seven months. Now if everyone just buys a T-shirt, I’ll be ecstatic.”
This year’s race will include a health and wellness festival at the Cabrillo College finish line, and numerous local and national vendors will be on hand. Cabrillo plans to hold classes as usual, though Soquel High, also along the race route, is only holding a half-day of classes.
In past years, the fight for the right to wear the stage winner’s jersey was decided in Bonny Doon, previously the day’s only major climb. This year, race organizers added another long haul up Bear Creek Road, making observers wonder whether any members of the pack would be able to break free.
“They’re trying to tear their legs off this year with so many hills,” Langley said of this year’s race.
That means there could be a crowd barreling toward the finish line at Cabrillo. If so, teams will do just about anything to break their sprinters free, including bumping the wheels of other riders and even an occasional head-butt.
Many are happy to see the race return. Ryan Beauregard, owner of Bonny Doon’s Beauregard Vineyards, has seen his winery turn into a party during past races. This year, Beauregard is selling $60 tickets to a catered lunch and blues band fiesta that promises to again be a viewing hot spot.
“No one’s going to have more fun than us,” Beauregard said.
People interested in making sure they don’t miss the finish can buy grandstand seats from the Aptos Chamber of Commerce, with chamber representative Meggie Schuller saying interest is strong.
“It’s going good. We’ve sold about 160 tickets” of 220, Schuller said, saying she expects race-day sales as well.
Covering 733 miles, the race begins Sunday in Santa Rosa and ends eight days later in Beverly Hills. Organizers see it as a major precursor to the Tour de France, and it includes some of the best riders in the world.
Stage 2 begins at Marina Green in San Francisco in the shadow of the Golden Gate Bridge. Riders then come down Highway 1 before turning into the Santa Cruz Mountains just past Davenport.
From there, riders climb Empire Grade before a white-knuckle descent down Jamison Creek Road into Boulder Creek. From there, they climb again to Summit Road, where a timed sprint is held.
The last 17 miles of the race are either downhill or flat, which should make for excitement. Along Soquel-San Jose Road, riders should reach speeds approaching 60 mph.
Follow Sentinel reporter Jason Hoppin on Twitter: @scnewsdude
IF YOU GO
AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
WHEN: 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. Monday
WHERE: Various locations; Festival at Cabrillo College, 6500 Soquel Drive, Aptos.
DONATIONS: Organizers are still seeking donations. To help, visit: http://www.tourofcalifornia-santacruz.com/get_involved/contribute
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Tags: Amgen, Amgen Tour of California, Cabrillo College, California, Golden Gate Bridge, road bike racing, Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz finish, TOC Stage 2, Tour de France, Tour of California
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