Road Closures for Amgen Tour of California bicycle race, Monday 2/16/09

[duckwrench13]

Just in case any of you were planning on taking Presidents' Day off to ride [moto], be advise that a large portion of Hwy 1, Tunitas Creek Rd, 35, 84, and Bonny Doon Rd. will be closed for the day's stage of the Amgen ToC.
Day: Mon, Feb 16

Start: Sausalito
Finish: Santa Cruz
Start Time: 8:30 AM
Miles: 115.9
KM: 186.6
End ETA: 12:52-2:03 PM

Here's the map with a general view of it all:

http://www.cycling.tv/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=20300&ATCLID=3656699

It will also be the first time in history that the Golden Gate bridge will have traffic lanes closed for a race. The route will use the southbound lanes, and both north and southbound traffic will be routed on the northbound side of the bridge. So be prepared for some traffic snarls in the morning.

Or better yet, go ride out and watch some of the stage! Enzo, Maria, and I did for last year's ToC, and it was a blast! There are two KOM points climbs along the stage, so it's sure to be good spectating.

I'll be in Sausalito (waaay too early  ) riding with Cannondale's VIP group to the first KOM on Tunitas Creek Rd, so I won't be taking the Duc out for this one.

[Popeye the Sailor]

Jesus-thanks for the info! I didn't realize it was so many roads-if they closed off alpine too I'd actually be trapped at my house.

[sugarcrook]

Damn peddlers...

[enzo]

That was a blast last year.  I'm up for doing it again on Monday.

[duckwrench13]

That was a blast last year.  I'm up for doing it again on Monday.

If you go, go up to King's Mountain, on Tunitas Creek Rd (just west of 35), that's the first KOM points climb. You can also heckle the sh*t out of me as I pedal up the road.  I'll be working with Cannondale's VIP group (see also: riding) that's doing a pre-ride of the stage ahead of the main peleton... provided we can maintain a pace ahead of them.

Yep, it's gonna hurt. Yep, I'm gonna suffer. Yep, I'm gonna love every second of it!!!

Edit:
Or if you want some food and bevs while watching, the race will go right down 35 and onto 84 at Alice's!!

[enzo]

Cool.  Will have to consider.  I forgot that the one week of the year that it rains in California is when the tour happens.

[duckwrench13]

Cool.  Will have to consider.  I forgot that the one week of the year that it rains in California is when the tour happens.

Just checked the forecast, and it's clear (for now) for Monday! Wind and showers in the evening, but clear during the day.

[sonofabike]

I will most likely be taking the moto to scoot around and watch at different parts of this stage.  Only unsure about the morning and whether/how long I'll have to be on hand at the start in Sausalito (I work for Floyd Landis' OUCH-Maxxis team).  A friend and I have been talking about catching the action @ Tunitas for a while, so I'll be keeping an eye on this here thread if you don't mind us tagging along.

EDIT:

Adding road closure advisory in Yolo/Solano/Sonoma counties for Sunday, February 15 during the prior day/stage of the same race.  Some roads affected include Hwy 128, Knoxville Rd (Spanish Flat, Lake Berryessa), Pope Canyon, Howell Mountain.

Day: Sun, Feb 15
Start: Davis
Finish: Santa Rosa
Start Time: 12 noon
End ETA: 3:56-5:01 PM
Map: http://www.cycling.tv/ViewArticle.dbml?&DB_OEM_ID=20300&ATCLID=3656859

[duckwrench13]

Ok, just to clear any confusion on this.... I'm going to be pedaling with a group from Cannondale, that will be riding the stage route from Sausalito to the 1st KOM on Tunitas Creek. I will not be on the moto.

For those of you that are thinking of watching the race, climbs are the best vantage points since the field is slowed by the incline. KOM (King of the Mountain) climbs are always goos spots, since there will be some fierce competition between the climbing specialists for KOM points. You will also get the chance to heckle me as I suffer my way up the Tunitas Creek stretch.

From Tunitas Creek Rd, the route turns south onto Skyline/35, and then west onto 84, right in front of Alice's. You can sit out on the deck, have some tasty grub and beers , and enjoy the spectacle of the riders in full swing!

The big plus for  [moto] on the race route, is if you can get on the roads about an hour or so before the peleton comes through, most of the traffic is gone and you'll have the road all to yourself.! just ask Enzo how much fun HWY 1 was last year!