ESCONDIDO: Rolling into spotlight

Escondido selected as finishing line for prestigious Tour of California cycle race

By GARY WARTH - Staff Writer | Tuesday, July 29, 2008 6:54 PM PDT ∞

ESCONDIDO --- The nation's biggest cycling road race will hit the finish line in Escondido next February, and local officials anticipate unprecedented exposure for North County as worldwide sports enthusiasts watch the American version of the Tour de France.

The Amgen Tour of California, a 3-year-old professional cycling race, begins Feb. 14 in Sacramento and continues in nine legs throughout the state. The race will conclude Feb. 22 with the final leg --- starting in Rancho Bernardo before a grueling ride up Palomar Mountain and the sprint to the finish in Escondido at an as-yet undecided location.

The race was watched by about 1.6 million spectators this year, a record for a single sporting event in the state and for any cycling event ever held in the United States, according to race officials. They said the race has generated $100 million in economic growth for the state over the last three years.

This year's race was held Feb. 17 to 24, beginning in Sacramento and ending in Pasadena.

Escondido Mayor Lori Holt Pfeiler said Tuesday the city has never had a single event quite like the Tour of California. She called the chance to watch the finish in Escondido a powerful and exciting opportunity for residents, adding that the international attention will be a great boost for the city.

"Escondido is going to look beautiful in February," Pfeiler said.

The Amgen Tour of California, a professional race considered by many to be the most important and successful in the nation in terms of attendance and economic benefits, is similar to the Tour de France and features many of the same riders.

Next year's race will include teams from Luxemburg, France, Denmark, Germany, Belgium, Spain, the Netherlands and the United States.

The 2009 race has been expanded to cover more than 800 miles, with new host cities Davis, Santa Cruz, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Rancho Bernardo and Escondido. The race also will include original host cities Sacramento, Santa Rosa, Sausalito, San Jose, Modesto, Solvang, Santa Clarita and Pasadena.

Cami Mattson, the chief executive officer of the San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau in Escondido, said she lobbied race promoter AEG, owner of the Staples Center and other sports facilities, to bring the race to North County after hearing the group was interested in San Diego County.

"We went back and forth in negotiations, what we needed, what was wanted, and what would be good for different stages of the races," she said. "A critical component was Palomar Mountain."

The Rancho Bernardo-to-Escondido route was chosen as a way to end the race with a challenge that would identify the strongest rider, Mattson said.

The race will be broadcast to 80 countries on the Versus network, and 5 million people are expected to tune in sometime during the nine-day race, with about a million watching on the final day, she said. Up to 50,000 people may line the roads to watch the last leg in person, Mattson said. A large screen will be set up at the finish line for people to watch the race live, and festivities are planned for spectators after the awards ceremony.

As with past races, a Lifestyle Festival already is planned with health screenings, a bicycle stunt show, live music, food and other entertainment.

Mattson said the San Diego North Convention and Visitors Bureau will work with chambers of commerces and AEG to create a local committee to coordinate services and organize festivities on the day of the race.

The race is named after the biotechnology company Amgen.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740-5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

JAMES wrote on Jul 29, 2008 7:39 PM:this is great! finally escondido gets exposure for something positive.

Concerned wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:29 PM:Cool, should be a great event.

Larry wrote on Jul 29, 2008 9:37 PM:SAY WHAT?? The dates given for this annd last years events are all for FEBRUARY! Could this please be corrected? Thank you very much. God Bles you and all you do. LAH

Jaque wrote on Jul 30, 2008 6:00 AM:Mexcondido has a lot of cleaning up to do before any kind of coverage like this occurs!

I agree with Jaque wrote on Jul 30, 2008 7:25 AM:You going to show Escojuna to the world???? Better start cleaning it up now or we are going to look like slumsville to the world.

Man Club wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:27 AM:The only good think about cycling is when there's a really big crash down the side of a mountain. I'm thinking the hill from Valley Center into Escondido would be a great spot for a 40-bike pile up. Keep your fingers crossed!

Louie wrote on Jul 30, 2008 8:56 AM:Breaking News...CNN interviews Mayor Pfeiler: "Pay no attention to the gun shot victom on Quince. Oh, those are our 'special' apartments. Diablo, West Side, oh, those are local youth clubs. Can you please focus on me, and no, I do not inhale helium; and yes, I have considered doing voice work for cartoon characters."

To Louie wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:26 AM:If you hate Escondido and Pfeiler so much, why don't you move? I'll help you pack your whole trailer...

French Guy wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:29 AM:Ooo la la. I'm going to shave my legs and use my 10-week vacation this year to train. Then, during the race, I'll just give up.

the real image problems wrote on Jul 30, 2008 9:55 AM:are those making some of the idiotic and even cruel comments on this blog thus far. These are the people I'd like to keep out of the world's sight when the race finishes here. Please stay in your holes and burrows next February, along with the other groundhogs and rodents.

I fully agree wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:24 AM:with "the real image problems". You are all the same boring, negative, and nasty bloggers that sit in front of your computers all day. Get a life. You are all completely over exaggerating.

Christine wrote on Jul 30, 2008 10:54 AM:How exciting! Escondido is a beautiful city and now we will get some exposure. Hope they see our downtown area and our new Sprinter.

Lance ... wrote on Jul 30, 2008 11:11 AM:If you don't want the cyclists passing out, don't tell them how much the SPRINTER fiasco actually cost the region!

To Loiue wrote on Jul 30, 2008 11:14 AM:Actually, I love Escondido, born and raised. Never owned a trailer. I don't dislike Pfeiler personally. She is nice - too nice - and that is her problem. She is becoming more and more of a politician and tries to please everyone instead of doing the right thing.

AResident wrote on Jul 30, 2008 12:21 PM:Are they going to ride past all the abandoned property's on Center City?
They should have the route come up Mission or Washington Avenues. Better yet, why not come up Valley Parkway to Midway then over to Mission or Washington. This way Escondido can advertise the Business's. There are Tatto Parlors, Pawn Shops,99cent stores, Check cashing places and alot of Junk Food Places.

ESCO wrote on Jul 30, 2008 4:35 PM:ESCO for life

bella wrote on Jul 31, 2008 8:24 AM:I just want to know why we have to wait for something like this to come to our city for it to be looking beautiful. Why arent we doing something to make it beautiful right now?
To, To Louie, alot of us that are hating Escondido right now probably would move if the city hadnt allowed our property values to decrease so much.

to bella wrote on Jul 31, 2008 9:34 AM:The city hasn't brought property values down. Maybe you haven't heard, but property values are down throughout Southern California. There's this little mortgage crisis going on...

So who will be wrote on Jul 31, 2008 10:03 AM:...covering the bill for this? Is the City expected to pick up the tab for the additional costs?

At least they may finally pay attention to the numerous pot holes around town!

Native Californian wrote on Jul 31, 2008 11:12 PM:Typical...people complain when nothing happens in their town, then they complain when something actually does happen. Maybe it's time to stop being a critic and put your energy toward something positive. Get out and volunteer to clean up the city. Maybe some positive press and good will might help people realize that we are lucky to live in such a beautiful part of the world!

JAMES wrote on Aug 8, 2008 11:44 AM:any idea yet on where the race will end?

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