Amgen’s ‘Ride the Route’ brings out
the locals
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With
an orange juice toast and a lot of fanfare, more than 200 Santa Ynez Valley
dignitaries and local residents donned their helmets and climbed on their
bicycles to Ride the Route with officials and team members on Dec. 6 as a
preview of Stage Five for the third annual Amgen Tour of California. The main
event is scheduled for February, 17-24, 2008.
With
short speeches and challenges by such dignitaries as Santa Barbara County
Supervisor Brooks Firestone, Solvang Mayor pro tem Jim Richardson, and Santa
Barbara Mayor pro tem Das Williams, the group met at Solvang Park on Mission
Dr. in Solvang to discuss the 15-mile route and prepare for the ride.
Special
guest for the event, representing the professional cyclists, was Tony Cruz,
formerly with the Discovery Team, who spoke to the crowd at the park about the
challenges of the race. He also visited with fifth and sixth grade students
from Solvang School at the park before the event began.
Danish
treats, fresh fruit and water were available for participants before the ride,
which began on Mission Dr. and continued with police escort up Alisal Rd., and then to Alamo Pindado
Rd. Less ambitious dignitaries and the media were able to ride the route in a
media van provided by the sponsors, which included the City of Solvang, Solvang
Conference & Visitors Bureau, and the Santa Barbara Conference &
Visitors Bureau.
A
Tour de France-style cycling road race scheduled for Feb. 17-24, the 2008 Amgen
Tour of California will challenge the world’s top professional cycling teams to
compete along a demanding 650-mile course. The full seven-stage route includes
the Santa Ynez Valley at Stage 5 and Santa Barbara at Stage 6. Other cities are
Palo Alto-Stanford University, Modesto and Pasadena, all new in 2008;
Sausalito; Santa Rosa; Sacramento; San Jose; Seaside; San
Luis Obispo; and Santa Clarita.
The
2007 race drew more than 1.6 million spectators, surpassing the inaugural
year’s turnout and setting records in attendance for a single sporting event in
California, as well as for any cycling event ever held in the United States.
Carol
Petersen and Max Hanberg, co-chairs of the Solvang
Local Organizing Committee have planned local events to raise funds for the race,
including a movie night at Solvang School on Feb. 2, 2008; and the second
annual Solvang Celebration Gala at the Royal Scandinavian Inn on Feb. 22.
The
program will feature a wine tasting reception courtesy of Andrew Murray
Vineyards, silent and live auctions, gourmet dinner, and guest Dave Shields,
author of Tour de Life, The Race and The Tour.
The
evening will include music by Debby White and Pureheart.
Tickets are $100 per person, with reserved tables of eight for $1000.
Barney
Berglund, chair of the Santa Barbara Local Organizing Committee, has organized
two festivities, beginning with Movie Night at Cabrillo Arts Pavilion on Jan.
17, 2008, at 6 p.m. with the screen of “American Flyers,” starring Kevin
Costner. Suggested donation is $12.
The
second event, Feb. 22, 2008, will be a pre-party at the pavilion at 7 p.m.
where attendees can mix and mingle with local dignitaries and race officials
prior to the start of Stage 6. The event will be $100 per person and includes
gourmet food, beverages and entertainment.
Area
residents and businesses are encouraged to contact organizers for volunteer
opportunities at each stage as well as sponsorship options. Thousands of
spectators are expected to enjoy the race, creating outstanding promotional
opportunities.
For complete details on all aspects of the
race, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com; www.tourofcalifornia-solvang.com;
and www.TourSB.com.
For
information about the Solvang Celebration Gala, call (805) 588-5942, or visit
www.tourofcalifornia-solvang.com to purchase tickets online.