Big Bear Lake, CA. May 9, 2012 – The Amgen Tour of California returns to Big Bear after a one year hiatus on Friday May 18th, 2012. The race will feature 16 of the world’s best teams battling it out over more than 750 miles of picturesque California highways, roadways and coastline. In addition, the Amgen Tour of California will be the last race on U.S. soil before the 2012 Summer Olympic Games in London. This year’s climb to Big Bear will be no less monumental and, in fact, it will be even greater because the following day will be another extreme climb from Ontario to Mount Baldy. What makes the Big Bear climb on May 18th the hardest or “Queens Stage” of the race is that it will cover 115 miles and will rise and fall 12,000 feet in the mountains in the thin air. The entire tour may be won or lost during Stage 6 on the climb to Big Bear. The teams will need to strategize how to best use the long and steep day in the saddle. If a rider fails to be smart they may not survive Stage 7’s shorter but, perhaps, more intense climb on the steep narrow roads to Mount Baldy, a destination with only one way in. The best place to view Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, is from the finish area at Snow Summit. The race will get worldwide TV coverage on NBC Sports and it can be seen from start to finish on the jumbotron TV’s at Snow Summit’s finish area. The Amgen Tour of California is the biggest professional cycling race in North America and because many of the American teams are headquartered in California this race is very important to every tour rider as well as their sponsors. The Amgen Tour of California Stage 6, the Big Bear Climb, leaves Palmdale at 10:50 am on May 18th and arrives in Big Bear about 4 and a half hours later. Rolling closures may affect certain locations around Big Bear Lake as the race finishes at Snow Summit. Volunteers are needed to help for many aspects of the race. If you have interest in journalism and public relations and would like to work in the Press Room call Dan McKernan at the Big Bear Lake Resort Association at 909 866 6190 extension 235 or email him at DMCKERNAN@bigbear.com
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