Amgen Tour of CaliforniaMay 12 - 18

Mt. Hamilton -- featured more than any other climb in Tour of California history.

PJAMM Cycling has summarized all of the details for all climbs listed on the Tour of California route maps.  For each of these climbs there is a link to more detail on that bike climb’s respective Climb Page.  We have included the most significant climbs as “Featured Climbs” (see photo strips above).  You can also assess current weather and get a seven-day forecast for the start and finish of each climb on our Climb Pages.

Interesting Tour of California facts:

• The ToC has been every year since its inaugural race in 2006.
• The Tour was held in February from 2006 to 2009.
• In 2010, the Tour moved to May for several reasons:  

• Better weather permitted the race to move inland and up into the mountains, making it much more diverse and challenging.
• The May start features riders reaching peak form in preparation for the Tour de France, making for better viewing and competition.
• The Tour organizers’ hope was that by moving the ToC to May, it would become a preparatory race for the Tour de France.  This has become the case.  

• In 2017, the UCI granted the Tour of California World Tour Status, thus elevating it to one of that organization’s premier events, although not in the same league as the Three Grand Tours or some of the more established European Stage Races (10 in addition to the three Grand Tours), or the five Monument one-day races (Milan-San Remo [first edition 1907], Tour of Flanders [1913],  Paris-Roubaix [1896],  Liège–Bastogne–Liège [1892 - oldest of the monuments], and Giro di Lombardia (1905).  
• The first winner of the Tour was Floyd Landis (his victory has not been stricken by the ToC as it has that year by the TdF).
• Levi Leipheimer (USA) is the only multi-race winner (2007-2009).  
• Bradley Wiggins (GBR) is the only Tour de France champion (2012) to have won the Tour of California (2014).

• The only other Grand Tour winner to also win the ToC is Chris Horner (USA), who won the Vuelta a España in 2013 and the Tour of California in 2011.

• Peter Sagan (SVK; 2015 winner) has the most stage victories (16) followed by Mark Cavendish with 10.  
• Sagan, not surprisingly, has by far the most overall Sprint Classifications (seven -- 2010-2014, 2016-2017).
• There have been no repeat KOM winners.
• Best Rider was awarded three years running to Robert Gesink (NED; 2007 [at the age of 21] to 2009; he won the Tour 2012).
• Tadej Pogačar (SVN)  was the youngest winner of the ToC at 20 years of age in 2019.

Stage 2  

SIERRA NEVADA MOUNTAIN RANGE

Rancho Cordova > South Lake Tahoe

May 13;  120.9 miles gaining 14,522’

Official Stage 2 Map.

Expected outcome:  Select Group.

Official Course Preview:

“After starting the 2019 Amgen Tour of California in a familiar locale, Stage 2 begins in the new host city of Rancho Cordova, fifteen miles upstream along the American River. Rancho Cordova may be a new partner for the race, but the peloton’s journey to the slopes of South Lake Tahoe’s Heavenly Ski Resort is well-known and feared by local cyclists and the peloton. From the start, the route gradually prods uphill. Over the next 122-miles, the peloton will climb over 14,500 feet and three KOMs -- even finishing uphill to the mountain’s ski lifts. The race’s Queen Stage comes later in the week, so the overall contenders can go for the General Classification lead here but they would be well-advised to save their legs.”  More

Stage 3  

DIABLO MOUNTAIN RANGE

Stockton > Morgan Hill

May 14; 128.6  miles 9,667’

Official Stage 3 Map.

Expected outcome:  Field Sprint.

Course Preview:

“From Stockton to Morgan Hill, Stage 3 of the 2019 Amgen Tour of California cements a connection between two of the race’s most recent favorite host cities. The last time that the peloton headed west from Stockton, however, was way back in 2007 when fan favorite Jens Voight arrived ahead of American Levi Leipheimer to win the stage. At 126-miles, this year’s route is quite a bit longer than a decade ago and includes more climbing – nearly 10,000 feet. A notable addition to the 2019 route is the KOM atop Mt. Hamilton (4,265 feet) before a quick descent to the finish.”  More

Stage 4  

CENTRAL PACIFIC COAST

WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca > Morro Bay 

May 15; 137 miles, 11,758’

Official Stage 4 Map.

Expected Outcome:  Field Sprint

Course Preview:

“Stage 4 of the 2019 Amgen Tour of California returns the pro peloton to arguably the most scenic stretch of road in the world. From its start at the WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca, the race embarks on a breathtaking 138-mile journey through California’s spectacular Big Sur coast to Morro Bay’s monolithic rock. This is a route that has also become synonymous with the Amgen Tour of California. The first three iterations of the race back in 2006-2008 included stages from Monterey/Seaside to San Luis Obispo. After a lengthy hiatus, the AmgenTOC again returned to this stretch of road in 2014 and then in 2016, the latter being a reverse of the me traditional north-south route. In May 2017, an immense landslide closed Coast Highway 25-miles north of Hearst Castle and only re-opened on July 18, 2018. Such a mammoth effort enabled the Amgen Tour of California to triumphantly return to this classic stretch of highway.”   More

Stage 5

SOUTHERN PACIFIC COAST

Pismo Beach > Ventura 

May 16; 135.8 miles, 10,375’

Official Stage 5 Map.

Expected Outcome:  Group sprint.

Course Preview:  

“The Amgen Tour of California’s Stage 5 is a hilly meandering that begins and ends in two iconic beach towns. In between, the peloton tours the best of Santa Barbara County, “America’s Riviera.” This is 138-miles of undulating hills with a few KOMs in the middle and nearly 10,000 feet for the day before a last-minute short but steep climb of 10% within the last three miles. It’s this climb that could split the leaders and propel a rider to victory in Ventura.”  More

Stage 6 - Queen Stage

SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS

Ontario > Mt. Baldy 

May 17; 78 miles, 14,040’

Official Stage 6 map.

Expected Outcome:  Select group or individual.

Course preview:  

“The Queen Stage of the 2019 Amgen Tour of California brings us to the fabled slopes of Mt. Baldy. The route is a trek through the San Gabriel Mountains just north of the Los Angeles Basin. Mt. Baldy is the showstopper for the day, but it certainly is not the only obstacle. In total, the stage features several KOMs for 12,000 feet of climbing. Only just outside Los Angeles’s northern suburbs, this is a beautiful ride that will make the peloton forget about the city bustle. For any rider, this is a refreshing detour.”  More

The Mt. Baldy/Glendora Mountain Road route is the same used in all four previous ToC’s to include Baldy/GMR. The first climb is 12.8 miles from Ontario to the town of Mt. Baldy (gain 3,525’ at 5.2%) and the second is Glendora Mountain Road to Mt. Baldy Ski Resort upper parking lot (25.5 miles at 4% to 6,412’’).

Stage 7

SAN GABRIEL MOUNTAINS

Santa Clarita > Pasadena 

May 18; 87 miles, 8,506’

Official map Stage 7

Expected Outcome:  Field Sprint.

Course Preview:  

“The final stage of the 2019 Amgen Tour of California is anything but a tranquil parade to the finish. Following a harrowing uphill finish to the slopes of Mt. Baldy the day before, this journey from Santa Clarita to Pasadena passes through the rugged San Gabriel Mountains before making a final descent into the City of Roses and a finish at the iconic Rose Bowl. Among the race’s former finishes in southern California, Pasadena is among the race’s favorite stops. It has been on the itinerary on five previous occasions. Yet with a challenging route through the mountains, this stage could shake up the standings just as it did in 2015 when Peter Sagan squeaked by Julian Alaphilippe for the General Classification win by three seconds. That year saw a bunch sprint to the finish, unlike this year’s eighty-mile trek over nine thousand feet and several KOMs before plunging back down to the San Gabriel Valley where the race to the finish will be fast and furious.”  More