The first mile of Stage 5 will be along the Pacific Ocean in Santa Barbara. (Presidio Sports File Photo)
The time has come for the Amgen Tour of California’s almost-annual trek through Santa Barbara. The professional cycling race begins its fifth stage on Thursday on Cabrillo Boulevard.
The race will take shape through Montecito and Carpinteria before heading towards Ojai on Highway 150, past Lake Casitas, and on to the finish line in Santa Clarita. [FULL COURSE MAP]
Stage 5 is 95.7 miles from start to finish. The top cyclists are expected to finish in just under four hours, averaging almost 25 miles per hour despite 7,100 feet of total elevation gain. The riders don’t get all of that back as Santa Clarita sits at 1,200 feet above sea level.
This year is the 10th Amgen Tour of California. Santa Barbara has participated in six of the last 10 years as either a start, finish or both.
RACE-DAY INFORMATION:
When: Thursday, May 14
11:45 a.m. Rider Call-Up
11:50 a.m. National Anthem
11:55 a.m. Start of Stage 5
12:00 p.m. Riders pass through Montecito
12:15 Riders pass through Carpinteria
Where: Start of State 5 is at Cabrillo Boulevard between Garden Street and Calle Cesar Chavez Street. Race heads southeast into Montecito and onto East Valley Road. The riders will be on Foothill Road through Carpinteria before hitting Highway 150 to Ojai. [FULL COURSE MAP]
Who: Cycling enthusiasts, visitors and locals are all invited to observe the race’s official ceremonies and Stage 5 start. It’s free and open to the public.
What: The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California’s iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions. Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2 HC, meaning “beyond category”), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers.
