Route Preview: 2014 Amgen Tour of California

Stage 1: Sacramento

120 mi / 193.1 km
3,900 ft elevation gain
The 2014 Amgen Tour of California will begin and finish at the steps of the State Capital on L Street. As the route heads north out of the city, it will hug the east bank of the Sacramento River. After passing through Pleasant Grove and a Sprint in Lincoln, the racers will head into one of the race’s favorite towns…Auburn. Here the race will contest the second sprint of Stage 1. After a fast decent to the American River, the peloton will be confronted with a difficult climb up Hwy 49 and the third Sprint of the day in the town of Cool. The riders then head south and west for a fast and flat run back into Sacramento for three finishing circuits.
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Stage 2: Folsom (ITT)

12.6 mi / 20.3 km
700 ft elevation gain
The 12.6 mile route will begin and finish in Folsom’s historic district. A start on Sutter Street will be followed by a left turn onto Riley and a short downhill run onto the Rainbow Bridge and over the American River. The riders will then head north towards Folsom Lake. A right turn onto Folsom Lake Crossing will take the riders past the main entrance of California’s second oldest prison. A turn onto Green Valley will lead the riders to an 180° turn and back on the same route to a finish in Folsom’s historic downtown district. This is a fast and flat course.
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Stage 3: San Jose — Mount Diablo State Park

108.5 mi / 174.6 km
10,900 ft elevation gain
While the racers can’t see the south face of Mt. Hamilton at the start, they know that they will feel the start of the climb just five miles into the stage. This will be the first time the race has gone this way to the summit of Mount Hamilton. It is long and steep climb with 22 switchbacks. The road is sure to be lined with thousands of spectators. The descent off of Mt. Hamilton is shorter than the ascent, but it is steeper and much more technical. Once off of Mount Hamilton, it is a long rolling road over San Antonio Valley Road. As the riders skirt the east side of Livermore, the race will hook into last year’s route to Danville and the approach to Mount Diablo. The race up Mount Diablo in 2013 will still be fresh in many of the rider’s minds. They will remember the initial climb, the flat run to “The Junction” and then the final relentless push to the summit.
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Stage 4: Monterey — Cambria

102.6 mi / 165.1 km
2,800 ft elevation gain
The City of Monterey will host the stage 4 start at Alvarado Street. With a spectacular backdrop of the Monterey Bay, fisherman heading out for the day’s catch, and the sound of harbor seals, the riders will head south on one of the most iconic roadways in the world … Highway 1. Along the way to Cambria, the riders will vie for one Sprint in Big Sur and three KOMs. The route will feature spectacular ocean vistas, crashing waves, lighthouses, state parks, elephant seals, herds of zebra, and Hearst Castle. Cambria is hosting the race for the first time.
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Stage 5: Pismo Beach — Santa Barbara

108.1 mi / 174 km
5,800 ft elevation gain
The race will actually start on the 1,200-foot-long Pismo Beach pier and head east past several vineyards and local ranches. Arroyo Grande will host the first Sprint of stage 5. As the route then heads south towards a finish along the beach in Santa Barbara, the racers will go past some of the most renown wineries in the U.S. As the race passes through Los Olivos on Highway 154, some of the riders might think it is just a flat run to the coast. The experienced riders will know the hors categorie climb up the San Marcos Pass is waiting just ahead. The descent into Santa Barbara is steep and fast.
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Stage 6: Santa Clarita — Mountain High

94.4 mi / 151.8 km
11,700 ft elevation gain
Stage 6 will start in the Newhall section of Santa Clarita. For those racers who came screaming down Bouquet Canyon to the finish of stage 3 in 2013, they will know that they have a long and steep climb up Bouquet Canyon. A left turn onto Spunky Canyon will see the route pass through the small town of Green Valley. The race continues through the familiar host city of Palmdale and onto the route used in 2010 to reach Big Bear. The climb of Big Pine Road. was the first of many on the 2010 route. It will be the final climb of Stage 6. As the riders reach the top of the climb and have Mountain High Ski resort in their sights, the leaders will find that the route makes a 180 degree turn up Table Mountain Road and another steep 1.2 mile climb to the remote finish at Mountain High North. This will be the second true mountaintop finish of 2014.
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Stage 7: Santa Clarita — Pasadena

88.7 mi / 142.8 km
7,700 ft elevation gain
The route will follow a high desert path to a Sprint in Acton and into the Angeles National Forest. A slight twist from the familiar route through the National Forest will be the addition of Upper Big Tujunga. This not only adds a second KOM, it also adds several miles on the picturesque Angeles Crest Highway. Passing the Mount Wilson Observatory, the riders will quickly begin a long, steep, and very technical descent into the town of La Canada Flintridge. The riders will pass by the Rose Bowl and across the iconic Colorado Street Bridge. After some quick turns in Old Town Pasadena, the leaders will see City Hall, the finish line, and three laps to go. The three mile circuit will follow many well known streets in Pasadena, including the main route of the famous Rose Parade on Colorado Blvd.
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Stage 8: Thousand Oaks

83.5 mi / 134.4 km
8,800 ft elevation gain
As it did in 2010, Thousand Oaks will host an overall finish to the Amgen Tour of California. The final stage will be contested over the same circuit used in 2010. Yes, that means four ascents up the infamous Rock Store climb on Mulholland Drive. Each 20-mile circuit will pass through Westlake Village, Agoura Hills, past the Rock Store at the foot of the climb, and then a very technical descent of Westlake Boulevard.
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