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Tour of California host cities unveiled

Showdown on Mount Baldy for men's and women's races

December 5, 2018
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The 2019 Amgen Tours of California are taking shape, with the host cities announced on Wednesday. The eight stage men’s WorldTour race will feature crucial finishing climbs to South Lake Tahoe and Mount Baldy while the three stage women’s WorldTour contest will tackle Mount Baldy on the second day. There are no time trials for 2019. Both races end in Pasadena on May 18.

The men’s race runs from May 12 to May 18. Recently, UCI head David Lappartient expressed a desire to move the Giro d’Italia a little closer to the Tour de France so that the Giro and the Tour of California don’t overlap. Starting in Sacramento, the stage race heads south, with the first key finish climb coming on Stage 2. The Mount Baldy summit finish caps off the penultimate stage.

Back in May eventual champion Egan Bernal (Sky/Colombia) won on the climb to South Lake Tahoe to take back the race lead from Tejay van Garderen (USA/BMC). Rob Britton of Rally was the top Canadian on GC at 16th.

The women’s race begins in Ventura on May 16, the same day the men race from Pismo Beach to Ventura. The two races have the same start and finish towns for their last two stages.

In the 2018 edition, American Katie Hall of UnitedHealthcare took the title. The top Canadian was Sara Poidevin of Rally in seventh–she also was the best young rider. Five Canadians were in the top 16. Hall joins Boels-Dolmans in 2019.

The 2019 men’s WorldTour kicks off with the Santos Tour Down Under on January 15. The Women’s WorldTour begins March 9 with Strade Bianche.

The 2019 Amgen Tour of California

Men’s race
Sunday, May 12: Stage 1 — Sacramento
Monday, May 13: Stage 2 — Rancho Cordova to South Lake Tahoe
Tuesday, May 14: Stage 3 — Stockton to Morgan Hill
Wednesday, May 15: Stage 4 — WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca to Morro Bay
Thursday, May 16: Stage 5 — Pismo Beach to Ventura
Friday, May 17: Stage 6 — Ontario to Mt. Baldy
Saturday, May 18: Stage 7 — Santa Clarita to Pasadena

Women’s race
Thursday, May 16: Stage 1 — Ventura
Friday, May 17: Stage 2 — Ontario to Mt. Baldy
Saturday, May 18: Stage 3 — Santa Clarita to Pasadena