The 2009 Amgen Tour of California is a professional style bike race modeled after the Tour de France. The race is governed by the same international cycling federation, we follow the same rules, we have the same teams, the same riders as the Tour de France. The principal difference between the two events is that the Amgen Tour of California is the first race of the season so it is shorter and not as arduous a route. The race consists of 16 teams - each with eight riders. The race consists of a Prologue and then eight point to point road stages. Each stage is between 95 and 135 miles in length. The race begins in Sacramento on Feb 14th and concludes in Escondido on Feb 22nd.

The 2008 Amgen Tour of California drew over 1.6 million spectators along the 650 mile route and quickly became the largest sporting event in the history of California. We will have live TV coverage on every stage for 2009. We will also being streaming live video on the Internet for the entire race.

The race is self-contained. Aside from the 128 professional racers, we also have approximately 65 vehicles that travel within the race. This includes CHP, team cars, medical support, mechanical support, race officials, motorcycle marshals, TV crews, etc. The entire race moves as one entity at an average speed of approximately 26 MPH. From the lead CHP car to the follow CHP car is approximately 1 1/2 miles. It takes the race about 90 seconds to pass any given spot on the road.

We require total road closure that is managed by the CHP. There are four elements to the closure: cross traffic that flows across the course at an intersection, traffic moving the same direction and ahead of the race, traffic moving the same direction and behind the race, and traffic moving towards the race. CHP/Police will allow cross traffic and traffic turning onto the course and heading away from the race until approximately 5-10 minutes before the race reaches the intersection but will prevent cars from turning onto the road heading into the race. Traffic moving the same direction and ahead of the race will be allowed to flow until the race is approximately 10 minutes behind the traffic. Traffic that is behind the race will not be allowed to pass. Traffic that is moving into the race will be stopped approximately 20 minutes before the race reaches any given point. Of course, this will vary due to the volume of traffic and the nature of the road.

Traffic management is variable based on the type of road, the amount of traffic, and the type and number of opportunities where traffic can be pulled off the road for a short period. Where there are roads that are divided by medians, traffic will be allowed to flow on the side opposite the race. It may sound slightly onerous, but it is not as bad as it sounds. CHP has been able to perfect this type of closure and has worked closely with local PD and the sheriffs. For the 2008 event, that took place over eight days and 650 miles of roads, there was not a single complaint with the way the traffic was managed.

Stage 2 on February 16th will begin in Sausalito and finish in Santa Cruz. Coming into Santa Cruz, the race will climb Bonny Doon/Pine Flat and descend down Empire Grade into Santa Cruz. The race should reach Bonny Doon between 12:30pm to 12:45pm. If we have bad weather on race day, the time will likely be later.

Please be assured that any type of emergency situation will take priority over the race. There will be a command center in Santa Cruz that will be monitoring the race from the time we leave Sausalito. They will convey any pending emergencies to CHP and then to the race officials. Together, they will determine the best course of action.

The entire 775 miles of the route has been reviewed and approved by both Caltrans and CHP.

Drawing 1.6 million spectators raises a lot of eyebrows...and concerns. The vast majority of these crowds came in three areas: start cities, finish cities, and various long and steep climbs the riders encountered. Aside from some isolated areas, there were relatively few spectators along the course. Many people would watch from their driveway, but it was rare to find more than a few hundred in one location. We will be utilizing the same road closure and crowd control plans that have been effective the past three years.

We saw little to no trash along the route for the 2008 Amgen Tour of California. The fans along the way were well behaved and took whatever trash they may have generated; with them when they left the area they were viewing the race. We also have a crew that follows the race to collect our signs and any obvious trash that was left by a spectator.