AMGEN Tour of California"s Toughest Stages Highlight Destination Road Cycling in Carson Valley

CARSON VALLEY (May 4, 2018) – The 2018 Amgen Tour of California, America’s premier cycling road race, returns to host city South Lake Tahoe on Friday, May 18, 2018. The men's and women's stages run simultaneously with routes that take racers through some of the most scenic and challenging terrain of the U.S.’s only UCI WorldTour stage race. Both the Men’s Stage 6, a 123 mi. point-to-point stage, and the Women’s Stage 2, a 70-mile loop stage, include a high-altitude contest through Carson Valley and up the steep Kingsbury Grade before an exciting sprint finish in South Lake Tahoe.

Kingsbury Grade, or “The Grade,” was never attempted in previous Amgen Tours of California until 2017. This 8-mile, 2,700 foot climb is not for the faint of heart, but can be enjoyed by pro and recreational cyclists alike. In fact, Carson Valley boasts the scenic beauty and mountainous terrain that road cyclists dream of. With 300 days of sunshine, cyclists can enjoy three long seasons of riding weather in this gem tucked along the eastern foothills of the Sierra Nevada. Country highways, mountain passes and state routes loop and intersect through the region, providing many route options, all with spectacular views of the Lake Tahoe Basin and the scenic valley. World-class rides like Kingsbury Grade, Luther Pass, Monitor Pass and Ebbetts Pass can be ridden as part of routes all launching from Carson Valley.

“The climbs are challenging more so because of their length rather than how steep they are. You also have to consider you’re racing at altitude. It’s a shame we’re concentrated on racing and not able to take in the beautiful scenery that the climbs offer!” said Trixi Worrack, 2015 Amgen Tour of California empowered by SRAM winner and team member of CANYON//SRAM Racing.

Carson Valley’s rich Great American West history, 16 lodging properties and over 100 dining options make the area a wonderful destination basecamp for classic road riding and an authentic, laid-back après vibe.

Note: For additional details on road cycling in Carson Valley, visit visitcarsonvalley.org/road-cycling-carson-valley. For more information on Visit Carson Valley, visit online. For Amgen Tour of California 2017 in Carson Valley photos, visit here.