With time constraints related to network television demands in mind, officials for the 2013 Tour of California cycling stage race announced a straightforward route through Marin County on Tuesday.
Thanks to pressures from NBC network ? which needs the leg from San Francisco to Santa Rosa to finish no later than 11:45 a.m. on May 19 ? the route won't be able travel through Sausalito as anticipated. Neither will the route include any roads near the top of Mount Tamalpais or travel near any of the cycling-crazed towns in the county.
"We have a live television window we have to hit," said race director Jim Birrell, noting that the leg through Marin is the only stage
2013 Tour of California map of Stage 8 from San Francisco to Santa Rosa through Marin County. (Provided by Tour of California)
to be televised on NBC's broadcast network channel rather than the NBC Sports cable channel."This course could have been 125 miles long. But we would have had to start in the middle of the night. We couldn't include Sausalito, we couldn't include Panoramic Highway and we couldn't include (popular Sonoma County cycling spot) Coleman Valley."
What is included are the backdrops of the Golden Gate Bridge, Marin's western border along the Pacific Ocean and the Sonoma County's Occidental Road.
"Look at some of the imagery we will be able to capture once we get up through the headlands," said Birrell, noting that the Marin and Sonoma portions of the route are mirrored by the southbound Stage 1 of the inaugural 2006 Tour of
California. "The diversity of the terrain and the fauna makes for gorgeous scenery. What a picturesque way to start with the Golden Gate Bridge, followed by the coastal cliffs in Marin County and the vineyards of Sonoma County."The final day of the eight-stage event starts at Chrissy Field in San Francisco. The 8:15 a.m. kickoff means cyclists cross the Golden Gate Bridge before 8:30 a.m. Bridge district spokeswoman Marie Curry said two lanes will be reserved for cyclists while keeping two lanes apiece open for automobile traffic. The walkways will be open for spectators. Riders won't be allowed to go to full speed until crossing the bridge.
The race continues up Highway 101 through Waldo Tunnel, bypassing downtown Sausalito and taking the Highway 1 exit west towards Muir Beach. Once the cyclists get to the top of the road, they skip Panoramic Highway in favor of taking the direct route to the coast.
After that, the racers move along Highway 1 up to Point Reyes Station for a sprint premium portion of the race. The riders continue through the northwest corner of Marin through Tomales and Marshall before crossing over into Sonoma County and a ride through Occidental en route to a big finish in downtown Santa
Rosa."For all the Sausalito businesses sake, I was hoping it would go through town," said Tony Tom, owner of A Bicycle Odyssey cycling shop on Bridgeway in Sausalito. "It seems kind of a shame. I'm sure they had their reasons, but that's too bad."
Skipping any serious hill climbs near the top of Mt. Tam is significant, according to Marin County Bike Coalition board member Chris Hobbs.
"That makes this a sprint stage. There is plenty of elevation in the stage, but it's mostly rolling hills," said Hobbs, who lives in Corte Madera. "It would have been nice to include Panoramic. It would have been nice to include some of the Marin towns we ride through. But I understand the logistics they face and I understand that the tourism board is a major sponsor. There are going to be some amazing views for spectators."
Contact Dave Allen via email at dallen@marinij.com
TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
Eight-stage professional cycling race, starting in Southern California, begins May 12.
? Final stage: May 19, 86.2 miles from San Francisco to Santa Rosa by way of Highway 1 through Marin County
? On the Web: www.amgentourofcalifornia.com
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