KING CITY — For the first time, King City has been selected as a host city for the May 15 stage race start of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California, an annual professional cycling event featuring the world’s best cyclists competing along a course that traverses hundreds of miles of the state’s roadways.
“The City of King is honored to be chosen to host one of the starts of the Amgen Tour of California,” said Mayor Mike LeBarre in a news release. “It will help show visitors what a special place King City is, but most importantly, it will provide an opportunity for many people in our community to participate in an exciting event that they normally would not have access to.”
Presented by AEG, the 2018 tour welcomes 11 host cities across the state for the 13th edition of America’s premier cycling stage race May 13-19.
Throughout seven stages over seven days, world-class cyclists will contest more than 600 miles of highways, byways and coastlines from Long Beach to Sacramento.
The race start for the May 15 stage takes place in downtown King City in the 200 and 300 blocks of Broadway Street, providing an opportunity for residents to view professional athletes up close. Past race participants have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions.
The May 15 stage will end in the afternoon at the Mazda Raceway Laguna Seca in Salinas.
According to City Manager Steve Adams, the race will also “serve as a great emphasis for the City’s efforts to promote local cycling and bicycle safety.” The City of King will provide more information in the coming weeks on ways for residents to get involved, including becoming a sponsor or volunteer.
First held in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California is the only U.S. race on the UCI WorldTour circuit and attracts some of the most renowned cyclists and teams in the world. The 2018 edition will mark the third time in race history that the peloton will travel the Golden State from south to north.
In 2016, millions of spectators followed the race worldwide on several international networks.
“The 2018 Amgen Tour of California will captivate fans everywhere with all-star pelotons and new routes that showcase the incredible beauty of the Golden State,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “With a mix of host cities that highlight the diversity of California — from urban to remote, ocean to desert, forests to mountains — the race continues its tradition as a dynamic and anticipated event on the international calendar.”
For more information about the 2018 Amgen Tour of California, visit the website amgentourofcalifornia.com, which includes a page dedicated to King City under the tab “Host Cities.”
