Big Bear Lake, CA November 2, 2016 – Big Bear Lake has been chosen as the site of Amgen Tour of California’s first ever high-altitude Time Trial for its Stage 6 race on May 19th, 2017. This marks the fourth time that Big Bear Lake has been named a host city for the Amgen Tour of California, which reaffirms the mountain resort as a world-class road cycling destination and the “Cycling Capital of Southern California.” Peter Sagan, the 2015 overall Amgen Tour of California winner and record holder with 15 stage victories since riding for the first time in 2010, will headline an all-star peloton when America’s most prestigious cycling stage race. The 2017 Amgen Tour of California men’s competition is set to begin in Sacramento on May 14, 2017. Big Bear Lake is excited to again present Big Bear Lake’s mountainous terrain and natural assets to recreational outdoor enthusiasts throughout the world. This world tour cycling event includes two hours of live TV coverage on 24 media outlets worldwide, including NBC Sports, which together will broadcast Big Bear Lake to over 11.3 million households in more than 200 countries and territories worldwide.
“This race will once again put Big Bear Lake on the international stage with the opportunity to shine to millions of viewers” said City of Big Bear Lake Mayor David Caretto. “This event brings a large number of cycling race fans for the weekend around race day, which supports our athletic outdoor recreational visitor base and our local economy for race weekend and the TV exposure around the world provides for visitors in the years to come.”
Previous events presented by the Amgen Tour of California Big Bear Local Organizing Committee made very strong impressions on the local Big Bear Lake economy. Big Bear Events Resource Office reported the 2010 and 2012 Amgen Tour of California races combined had an immediate $1.2 million dollar impact toward the local economy and also noted that through its surveys 36 percent of the spectators in 2010 were first-time visitors to Big Bear Valley and 28 percent in 2012. The Big Bear Lake Visitors Bureau also noted an immediate 15% increase in international visitors to Big Bear Lake and that number has increased every year since with no international advertising.
Amgen Tour of California has had a substantial influence on the local community including the birth of both local cycling club, Big Bear Cycling Association, and the annual Tour de Big Bear which attracts almost 2000 riders annually. This success has created many cycling related projects and activities including trail signage within the forest area south of Big Bear, improving the 2.5 mile Alpine Pedal Path along the north shore of Big Bear Lake and weekly community rides and major events such as the Big Bear Triathlon and the Big Bear Cycling Festival, the ONLY week long cycling festival in the United States!
Amgen Tour of California (Men’s Race)
Sunday, May 14 Stage 1 Sacramento
Monday, May 15 Stage 2 Modesto to San Jose
Tuesday, May 16 Stage 3 Pismo Beach to Morro Bay
Wednesday, May 17 Stage 4 Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita
Friday, May 19 Stage 6 Big Bear Lake (Individual Time Trial)
Saturday, May 20 Stage 7 Mountain High to Pasadena
“The Amgen Tour of California has long been the most esteemed cycling race in America. Its designation as a UCI World Tour event will continue to expand its international exposure and attract the best teams
Also returning to California in 2017 is 2016 Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease 2017 Amgen Tour of California Host Cities Revealed Women’s Race Empowered with SRAM defending Champion and current UCI Womens World Tour Champion Megan Guarnier racing for the Boels–Dolmans team.
