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Organizers of the 2018 Amgen Tour of California on Thursday formally announced the news that has excited local cycling enthusiasts, city officials and tourism proponents for several weeks—the statewide cycling tour will sweep through Morgan Hill on May 16.
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“The Amgen Tour of California is the most important cycling race in the United States, one of the most prestigious and most watched races in the world,” Morgan Hill Mayor Steve Tate said on Feb. 8. The city held a press conference to welcome the event in front of the Morgan Hill Community and Cultural Center, just in front of where the May 16 time trial starting line will be located.
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Morgan Hill will partner with San Jose to host the Stage 4 Individual Time Trial during the race, put on by owner and presenter AEG for the 13th year in a row. This is the 12th year San Jose has hosted the Amgen Tour of California since the race started in 2006.
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“We’re delighted once again to be part of it,” District 10 San Jose City Councilman Johnny Khamis said during Thursday’s press conference. “We have a very large and growing bicycle culture in San Jose. There are many bicycle enthusiasts and we are building bicycle infrastructure all over our city.”
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The cycling stage race covers 645 miles of California roadways, highways and coastlines during seven stages that stretch from Long Beach up to Sacramento from May 13 to 19.
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Cyclists will come to Morgan Hill on Wednesday, May 16 for Stage 4, which spans 21.6 miles.
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This will be the third Time Trial contested race on the outskirts of Silicon Valley. Morgan Hill will host the start and finish of the “Race of Truth,” where riders take off individually in a time trial. The 21.6-mile route will feature one moderate climb, with the start and finish within a few feet from each other on Monterey Road. Wind could be a factor on the route.
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The course will head out of Morgan Hill on Dunne Avenue and then pick up on Oak Glen Road around the north side of Chesbro Reservoir to McKean Road to Bailey Avenue to Santa Teresa Boulevard. From there, riders will head due south onto Hale Avenue and finish on Monterey Road.
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“For a rider, the time trial is the hardest event because you can’t give a second away,” said Amgen Ambassador Freddie Rodriguez, a former professional cyclist and four-time U.S. Pro Champion. “It’s a 21-mile race and you can lose a lot of time if you’re not ready and prepared for it.”
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Stage 4 is a valuable day in the statewide cycling race where the leader board can see dramatic changes and every second counts. Riders with top times coming out of the day will still have to defend their positions over the next three stages as the event leaves the local region.
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“Our community has totally embraced this event, bicycling fits so well with our culture and is part of what we do,” Tate said. “If only we could declare May 16 a holiday for all Morgan Hill residents, so they can partake as firsthand observers.”
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Morgan Hill is locally hailed as a community that values health and fitness. Cycling is part of the community with Specialized Bicycle Components, a titan in cycling technology, headquartered in Morgan Hill.
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“Here at Specialized, we love cycling and we love Morgan Hill,” CEO Mike Sinyard said. “We are super excited to watch Peter Sagan and the best riders in the world right here in our beautiful hometown.”
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On Dec. 20, the Morgan Hill City Council unanimously approved expenses up to $55,000 for local costs associated with the May 16 time trial. Most of these costs will cover traffic control, road closures and related public safety expenses, but a portion (up to $15,000) will go toward efforts to market and promote Morgan Hill during the event’s worldwide broadcast.
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Cities that agree to host the Amgen Tour are required to cover these expenses, according to organizers.
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Residents and visitors to the event can sign up to be notified and updated on the event at morganhill.ca.gov/atoc.
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