Amgen Tour of California organizers unveiled course details about the 2012 race Wednesday, and Stage 4 between Sonora and Clovis has a familiar look.
That's because the 130.2-mile stage, longest in this year's event, traces much of the same route into Old Town Clovis as when the Tour of California last visited the Fresno area in 2009.Three years ago, a crowd estimated at 48,000 watched a thrilling sprint finish as Mark Cavendish of Great Britain edged Tom Boonen of Belgium for the stage win."We're hoping for a similar finish to 2009," said Mike Shuemake, technical director of the Clovis organizing committee. "It ought to be a very interesting stage and extremely tough. Not mountaintop-finish tough, but extremely hard."The seventh annual Tour of California begins May 13 in Santa Rosa and concludes May 20 in downtown Los Angeles. The 750-mile course, spread over eight stages, winds through tree-lined country roads, takes in spectacular coastline and includes mountain finishes at Big Bear Lake and Mount Baldy.Riders and teams won't be announced until the weeks leading up to the race, but American Chris Horner is expected to defend his title against a field that should include three-time winner Levi Leipheimer.The Sonora to Clovis stage takes place on Wednesday, May 16, and features six categorized climbs and two intermediate sprints in Mariposa and Oakhurst. The next day, the race moves to Bakersfield for an 18.4-mile individual time trial that could prove decisive in the overall standings.After leaving Sonora, the Stage 4 route follows Highway 49 south through the Sierra foothills and over two categorized climbs. The riders will pass through Mariposa and get over three more categorized climbs before reaching Oakhurst.The route then turns onto Crane Valley Road, gaining 1,600 feet in 7.5 miles to a bump in the ridge called Teaford Saddle.From there, it's nearly all downhill or flat on North Fork Road, O'Neals Road and Road 206, which crosses the San Joaquin River in Friant. Once the riders hit Clovis Avenue heading south, they'll make what Shuemake called a "paper-clip turn" around Old Town Clovis before reaching the finish line just south of Pollasky and Bullard."Anywhere downtown is going to be pretty cool for spectators, as long as you're close to the finish," Shuemake said. "The last corner turning from Sierra onto Pollasky, it's a long sprint but that's where [riders] are going to want to position themselves up front."Because the finish line is more than 40 miles from the last major climb at Teaford Saddle, Shuemake said it's unlikely a breakaway will spoil the afternoon for the sprinters."The sprinters want to make it a bunch sprint in the end, so their teams will chase down any breakaways," he said.Clovis already has several special events planned in the days leading up to its stage, highlighted by the Clovis BikeFest and a century ride (100 miles) and half-century slated for May 12.On race day, Old Town Clovis will host the Amgen Lifestyle Festival featuring a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling vendors, family activities, food booths and entertainment.Clovis officials already are encouraging spectators to "take the day off" on May 16."Amgen brings in a traveling show," said Clovis organizing committee chairman Greg Newman. "There are lots of festivities. It's definitely the experience of a lifetime to view this."