O
n May 16 th , the City of Morgan Hill
will make its debut as host to Stage
4 of the Amgen Tour of California—
the Men’s Time Trials. World-class
cyclists will speed along a scenic
21.6-mile course that begins and
ends in downtown Morgan Hill.
For the riders it’s a test of strategy, physical
conditioning, and skill as they race against the clock.
For spectators it’s a rare opportunity to meet world-class
athletes and enjoy a first-class experience of the race.
In this year’s “Race of Truth,” riders will depart from
downtown heading West on Dunne Avenue, taking
Dewitt Avenue to circumnavigate the City’s iconic
El Toro peak. The peloton will journey northward
along Oak Glen Road past Chesbro Reservoir, climb
about 800 feet along McKean Road, then head east on
Bailey and south on Santa Teresa-Hale, catching a bit of
downhill before the final eight miles to the finish back
in downtown Morgan Hill.
The tour lineup includes two pro competitive teams
In Their Wheelhouse
Amgen is the Title Sponsor and a race partner
since the tour’s inception. The Bay Area-based
company is a biotechnology industry pioneer and
world leader.
The Amgen Tour of California, and the Amgen
Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with
SRAM, are created and presented by AEG, a world
leader in sports and entertainment productions.
Morgan Hill’s invitation to host the Time Trial
originated with the San Jose Sports Authority
(SJSA), a nonprofit that works to increase the City
of San Jose’s economic development through sports
events and programs.
SJSA Executive Director John Poch said that
when Amgen Tour organizers approached the
Authority late last year to host the Stage 4 Time
Trial, “We immediately thought of Morgan Hill.
Knowing Edith Ramirez and others on the City of
Morgan Hill staff are working to attract sports tour-
ism to Morgan Hill, we invited them to split the
race between our two cities. Together we have a
large population of cyclists, and Morgan Hill offers
a great locale with a strong downtown core to sup-
port this event.”
“For the riders, Stage 4 is very exciting,” Poch
said. “They’ll enjoy the terrain and the challenge of
the course. They’re competing for positioning on
the leaderboard as individuals, for their teams, and
for their sponsoring brands.”
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
sponsored by Specialized Bicycle Components of
Morgan Hill.
According to Sam Benedict, General Manager of
Specialized, “It’s hard to measure just how important the
Amgen Tour of California is for Morgan Hill, but smaller
cities that host stage races can see a big influx of tourism.
The Specialized teams have very fast riders including
Peter Sagan, a three-time world champion. They’re usually
traveling and competing all over the world, so it’s exciting
to have them here in our home town.”
The overall tour begins in Long Beach on May 13 th
and concludes on May 19th at the base of the Capitol
Building steps in Sacramento. The tour covers 832 miles
of California terrain (645 for men, 187 for women) and
traverses three mountain ranges, including an assault on
8,580-foot Carson Pass. That’s one heck of a lot of time to
spend perched on a tiny saddle, legs pumping, burning
6,000-plus calories a day.
To get an idea of the popularity of cycling and the
prominence of this event, the Amgen Tour of California
will be broadcast in over 200 countries and territories.
Meet “Fast Freddie”
Freddie Rodriguez is
a former American
Professional Road
Cyclist and four-time
USA Pro Road National
Champion. A native of
Colombia and now a
Berkeley resident, he
launched his career in
the U.S. Junior Devel-
opment Program and
raced his way into the
European peloton. His
ability as a sprinter led
to a second-place fi nish in the Classic Milan-San Remo
and a stage win at the Giro d’Italia. Currently in his
second year as an offi cial ambassador for the Amgen
Tour of California, he visits schools and attends events
to talk about cycling and promote healthy living
to youth.
“This is something I’m passionate about,” Rodriguez
said. “Going into schools, talking about