President's Day in San Francisco Bay

Faster than a speeding bullet, more colorful than a rainbow, able to climb steep hills in the blink of an eye...it is the world class professional cyclists of this year's Amgen Tour of California cycling road race. This year brings an expanded Tour of California stopping in 16 host cities over the course of nine days from February 14-22. Cycling's most important and successful road race in the United States, (call it our Tour de France) the event's fourth running will cover more than 800 miles over the nine days (stages). Traveling almost the entire length of California, the race will begin in the state's capital, Sacramento, and end in San Diego County.

If you happen to be in the San Francisco bay Area on President's Day February 16, 2009, lucky you, Stage 2 of the Amgen Tour of California will begin in Sausalito at 8:30 AM. The Tour will cross the Golden Gate Bridge and spectators are invited to line the bridge to view and cheer the racers, this is the first time since the bridge opened in the 1930's that the Tour of California or any race has crossed the bridge. A special fundraising event in conjunction with the Amgen Tour of California called a Ride to Remember is being organized this year. 75 VIP bike riders (who pay 500 dollars) will be allowed to ride across the bridge behind seven times Tour de France winner and cycling legend Lance Armstrong and the peloton of the Amgen Tour of California at the start of Stage 2 of the race.

If you aren't up early enough to cross or get onto the Golden Gate Bridge, have no fear, the riders will cross the bridge and race through the streets of San Francisco before heading south on Highway One along coast of California. This coastal stage will have two long climbs, one on Tunitas Creek Road and another on Bonny Dune Road. The uphill part of these climbs are a good spot to watch the race if you want to have a good look at your favorite cyclists, this is about as slow as they will be going in this stage. If speed is your thrill then these climbs have long and fast downhill sprints that will witness some of the fastest speeds of the day. Santa Cruz is the finish line and race officials estimate the majority of the riders will be crossing between 12:50 -2:00PM.