Tour of California will take cyclists from Pismo to Avila — in 107 miles
The Central Coast route of the 10th annual Amgen Tour of California bicycle race will include a winding loop that passes through several South County communities, according to route details announced Thursday.
The May 13 stretch, Stage 4 of the eight-day race, will start at 11:30 a.m. at the Pismo Beach Pier, where it began last year, and make a big circle through the Santa Maria area and back to Avila Beach.
The 107-mile stretch of the race also will pass through Grover Beach and Arroyo Grande.
The route finishes at Front Street and San Antonia Street in Avila Beach.
The tour will take place from May 10 to 17, starting in Sacramento and finishing in Pasadena.
More than 140 cyclists will participate in the race that will cover 724 miles of California roadways, highways and coastline.
The Central Coast route will lead riders south through Grover Beach down to Guadalupe and continue along Highway 1 through Orcutt before circling north.
“A right turn onto Thompson Avenue, and many of the riders will realized they are on the same route into Avila Beach that they raced on in 2013,” said Michael Roth, the vice president for tour communications, in a statement. “Arroyo Grande will against produce a great crowd at the final sprint of the day. Spectators will again line the narrow roads in Avila Beach awaiting another amazing finish.”
San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill, whose district includes Avila Beach, and Pismo Beach Mayor Shelly Higginbotham have said they don’t expect the 2015 race to cost their respective municipalities any more than in past years.
After wrapping up Stage 4, the riders will resume their journey in a Stage 5 stretch from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita.
“We’ve reached a milestone this year with the tenth edition of the race, and we want everything to reflect that cache, from the best lineup of teams we’ve ever had to an unbelievably beautiful and exciting route,” said Kristin Bachochin Klein, executive director of the Amgen Tour of California, in a statement.
This story was originally published February 19, 2015 at 5:25 PM with the headline "Tour of California will take cyclists from Pismo to Avila — in 107 miles."