Amgen Tour of California 2015 local stages

Route Information: May 15, 2015 – Stage 6 Time Trial

People from all around the globe can easily grasp Big Bear Lake’s universal language of numbers including 320 days of sunshine each year, an evergreen forest that spans 360 degrees of panoramic beauty, and an impressive seven-mile long lake with 22 miles of shoreline. Big Bear Lake, elevated at 7,000 feet above sea level, offers ideal weather conditions for all four seasons. In the summer daytime temperatures average 77 degrees. In winter more than 120 inches of snow falls annually. The breathtaking mountain resort is just 99 miles east of Los Angeles and 150 miles north of San Diego.

All of these numbers added together equals Southern California’s premier destination where outdoor enthusiasts, thrill seekers and weekend warriors alike LIVE. IT. UP. Big Bear Lake is a recreational mecca where people of all nations elevate their game from high altitude training to fun-filled activities and wilderness explorations.

In winter, Big Bear Mountain Resorts offers first-rate skiing and snowboarding at one single rate with interchangeable lift tickets to both Snow Summit and Bear Mountain. Together, the two resorts provide more than 435 developed acres, 26 lifts, 4 high-speed chairlifts, 1,800 vertical feet, and more than 200 park features packed with thrilling jumps, rails and fun boxes. Other winter sports in Big Bear include sledding, cross-country skiing and snowshoeing.

In the spring, summer and fall it’s all about the lake! The centerpiece picturesque lake teems with just about every aquatic sport imaginable including boating, fishing, wakeboarding, jet skiing, parasailing, stand-up paddleboarding and kayaking. The lake is surrounded with towering pine trees and more than 100 miles of trails perfect for hiking, mountain biking and horseback riding. Big Bear of course is well known within the circuit of cyclists as a must visit cycling destination because of its diverse climbs and peak to peak rides.

Big Bear Lake is where all cultures speak the same language of leisure and outdoor recreation. Elevate your next trip to California and LIVE IT. UP. in Big Bear Lake!

“Big Bear is honored to serve as a time trial for the 2015 Amgen Tour of California. In 2010 and 2012, we served as a mountaintop finish and the Tour helped put Big Bear on the international map for cycling.” — Mayor Jay Obernolte

“Road cycling continues to grow into the cornerstone of our signature outdoor sporting and athletic events. Our unique location and environment make Big Bear the ideal high-altitude venue for training and competition!” — Mayor Jay Obernolte

Route Information: May 16, 2015 – Stage 7 Start

Built and owned by the City of Ontario, the Arena opened on October 18, 2008. Citizens Business Bank Arena is a state-of-the-art facility that hosts Ontario Reign ECHL ice hockey and a variety of other sporting competitions, concerts, family shows, special events, and community activities as well as private events. The venue is the biggest and most modern arena within the Inland Empire.

Citizens Business Bank Arena was built on a 37-acre footprint between Haven Avenue and Milliken Avenue and Fourth Street and the I-10 Freeway. Citizens Business Bank Arena includes 9,500 fixed seats with additional “portable” seating risers to accommodate capacities of 11,089 for concerts, 9,736 for ice hockey and 10,832 for basketball. The 225,000 square foot venue will also feature 36 suites located on two levels and a continuous concourse hosting a variety of refreshment stands and merchandise kiosks, a VIP club and other fan amenities.

Route Information: May 16, 2015 – Stage 7 Finish

The climb up to Mt. Baldy is an integral part of the Amgen Tour of California’s nine-year history. Since 2011, when it was first introduced as the race’s first true mountaintop finish, the steep switchbacks up to the Mt. Baldy Ski Area at 6,500 feet elevation have served as the deciding factor in crowning the overall champion. Due to overwhelming demand from the fans, Mt. Baldy is back for the Amgen Tour of California 10th Anniversary after a two-year hiatus!

Mt. Baldy is located 45 miles from downtown Los Angeles and is a popular location for hikers, sightseers and cyclists. During autumn, spring, and summer you will find hundreds to thousands of outdoor enthusiasts traveling Mt. Baldy every week to summit the tallest peak in Los Angeles County, Mt. San Antonio (Elevation 10,068 feet), which is accessible from a trail network originating at the Mt. Baldy Ski Area. For those who prefer a two-wheeled adventure, cyclists from far and wide visit Mt. Baldy to climb the challenging switchbacks, which ascend over 2,000 in only 4.3 miles (9% average gradient). In the winter months Mt. Baldy is known for it’s steep ski terrain and easy access from the big city below.

Whether it’s the local bighorn sheep or world-class cyclists, fans should have plenty to see when the fierce competition unfolds on this legendary mountain on Saturday, May 16!

“The Amgen Tour de California has done so much to put Mt Baldy and its world class climb in the cycling world spot light. We are honored to be part of the race in 2015 and many others to come.” — Robby Ellingson, General Manager, Mt Baldy Ski Lifts

For more information: amgentourofcalifornia.com/host-cities?utm_source=Host+City+Announcement+&utm_campaign=Crush+Challenge+&utm_medium=email

Author: Greg Raven

I may be slow, but that’s only because I’m so old and fat.