Press Release From the Office of
Supervisor Neil Derry

World famous cycling event
places international spotlight
on outdoor enthusiast mecca

SAN BERNARDINO, CA – The American equivalent of the Tour de France cycling road race will return to Big Bear in 2012 after garnering rave reviews by organizers of the Amgen Tour of California following the 2010 visit, which drew thousands of spectators to our region along with millions of watchers worldwide.

The race is conducted over eight stages with Big Bear hosting the finish of the sixth stage on Friday, May 18. The “Big Bear Climb” will begin in Palmdale and travel through a rigorous mountain ascent that decimated the 2010 field due to its incredible difficulty.

Although the event is presented by AEG, each stage is hosted and organized by local committees. This year the race will be hosted once again by the Big Bear Chamber of Commerce and its Events Resource Office who will be assisted by a financial partnership with Supervisor Neil Derry.

“The Chamber did a phenomenal job last time and I know that they will make this event even better in 2012,” said Supervisor Derry, who has agreed to contribute $25,000 towards the event. “This event produces millions of dollars in economic benefits to the region when you quantify exposure Big Bear gets to millions of people around the world and take into account the year round boost in tourism from this audience.”

In 2010, the race drew approximately 12,000 spectators to Big Bear and was broadcast on a national television network and across the world depicting the lush green forest and deep blue lake.

With Stage 6 finishing in Big Bear on a Friday, the Chamber of Commerce is working with the Big Bear Lake Resort Association to aggressively market overnight packages to keep out-of-town visitors on the mountain through the weekend.

“The overhead visuals depicted the majestic beauty of the region in a way that words simply cannot,” Derry stated. “This is our chance to introduce Big Bear to millions of people and continue our work to brand the region as an outdoor enthusiast and tourist mecca.”

Those seeking additional information about the tour should visit www.BigBear.com or www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.

“With the help and support of County Supervisor Neil Derry, the City, County, Resort Association and Big Bear Chamber of Commerce were able to bring the tour to our mountain community,” said Mayor Bill Jahn “and because of this collaborative partnership, we have seen many more cyclists on our local roads taking advantage of training at high-altitude. Big Bear is poised to be the next big mecca for highaltitude, high-adrenaline outdoor sports!”

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif./ November 3, 2011– Today AEG, the official race presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, announced its 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race. The seventh annual event will cover more than 750 miles in eight days from May 13-20, 2012. Big Bear Lake has been selected as the race’s Stage 6 Finish on Friday, May 18. The City of Palmdale will serve as the Host City and start location for Stage 6, which ultimately finishes with a demanding climb to Big Bear.

“While the detailed route of the race, including for Stage 6 from Palmdale to Big Bear, is not yet final, we can say that it will be one of our most challenging courses to date,” said AEG Sports Executive Director Kristin Bachochin.

This is the second time in three years Big Bear Lake has been selected as a Host City, which reaffirms the mountain resort as a world-class road cycling destination. Officials of Big Bear Lake are excited with the opportunity to present Big Bear’s mountainous terrain and natural assets to recreational outdoor enthusiasts throughout the world. The visibility includes 27 hours of total race coverage on VERSUS, broadcast exposure in 216 countries and territories worldwide. Last year there were 1.1 million visitors to the official tour website, more than 30,000 social media fans and more than 340,000 visitors to the online tour tracker.

Big Bear Lake

“Big Bear is honored to serve as a finish city for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California,” said City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Bill Jahn. “In 2010, we served as the first-ever mountaintop finish for the race, and it definitely put Big Bear on the international map for road cycling.”

The Amgen Tour of California is considered cycling’s most important and successful stage race in the United States. It is the largest annual spectator sporting event in California and largest cycling event in North America with more than 2 million spectators. The prestigious road cycling race features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world. Listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2. HC ranking), the Amgen Tour of California awards important, world-ranking points to the top finishers.

Next year will mark the seventh straight year Amgen Tour of California has brought the drama and excitement of professional cycling to California. The 2012 Amgen Tour of California will travel along a more than 750-mile course in eight days. The 13 host cities for the eight stages include: Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Livermore, Sonora (new city for 2012), Clovis, Bakersfield, Palmdale, Big Bear Lake, Ontario (new city for 2012) and Mount Baldy and Los Angeles.

For more information about the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. For more information pertaining to the Stage 6 finish, also known as “The Big Bear Climb” visit www.bigbear.com.

Amgen Tour of California

LOS ANGELES (November 3, 2011) – After reviewing more than 100 submissions from cities throughout California hoping to be named official start or finish locations, AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, has announced the 13 official Host Cities for the 2012 race. Considered America’s largest and most prestigious professional road cycling stage race, the seventh consecutive edition of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California will travel more than 750 miles from May 13 – 20, 2012.

“Our goal for the Amgen Tour of California has always been to create a route that not only provides a challenging race for the world’s top cyclists, but one that highlights the beauty and diverse terrain that make up the great state of California as well,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the Amgen Tour of California. “Every year we challenge ourselves to raise the bar once again and create a route more challenging than the last, but that’s the great thing about planning a race in California, there is so much from which we can choose. From epic climbs to fast and flat stages to rolling hills and thrilling finishes by the sea, California has it all.”

As announced earlier this year, Stage 1 of the race will start in Santa Rosa, hometown of three-time Amgen Tour of California Champion Levi Leipheimer. The race will then take the riders from San Francisco to Santa Cruz for Stage 2, starting with the Golden Gate Bridge as a backdrop and once again bringing the route back along the picturesque coast of the Pacific Ocean. Heading inland, Stage 3 of the race will begin in San Jose (the only city to be a Host City each of the previous six years of the event) and end in Livermore, traversing an entirely new part of the State not showcased in previous editions of the race. A new city for 2012, Stage 4 will start in Sonora and wind its way south, featuring several new climbs, before what’s sure to be a dramatic sprint finish in Clovis.

“I’m so proud to have the Amgen Tour of California coming back to Santa Rosa and Sonoma County in 2012,” said Levi Leipheimer, three-time race winner (2007, 2008, 2009) and Santa Rosa resident. “As host of the overall start on May 13, we’ll have a chance to show off our home town to the world, both on race day and in the days leading up to it as the teams and media gather here before the start. I’m looking forward to introducing some of the best cyclists in the world to some of the best cycling in the world – right here in my back yard. The 2012 Amgen Tour of California will be a hard fought battle as we march away from Santa Rosa towards the mighty Mt Baldy.”

The much-anticipated Individual Time Trial, Stage 5, will be held in Bakersfield, a city that has hosted the Amgen Tour of California before (although not the Time Trial specifically), likely proving to favor those who have more than just speed as part of their repertoire.

Stage 6 will start in Palmdale and head to Big Bear Lake, which was the site of a thrilling stage finish in 2010 when Michael Rogers (AUS) of HTC-Columbia secured his place as the race leader. For 2012, new challenges arise as a new climb is thrown into the mix.

Stage 7 of the race will start in Ontario, another new city for 2012, and once again include a grueling route to the top of Mt. Baldy. During the 2011 race, Mt. Baldy was the scene of an electric stage finish when American cyclists and RadioShack teammates Chris Horner and Levi Leipheimer crossed the finish line first and second respectively. Tacking on an additional 10 miles to the route with the start in Ontario, Stage 7 will likely prove to be the penultimate stage once again.

The final stage of the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, Stage 8 will take place in the heart of Downtown Los Angeles, sending riders in and around L.A. LIVE, the sports and entertainment district which includes STAPLES Center and Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE within its footprint, for an epic overall finish to a thrilling race.

“This race is special because it takes place in one of the most beautiful places in the world – California,” said Chris Horner, 2011 Amgen Tour of California champion. “The Host Cities are always so welcoming and the crowds are always great, not to mention, they provide some of the toughest racing terrain around! I’m looking forward to racing in California again and defending my title in 2012.”

In celebration of today’s announcement, each Host City created a short video introducing their town and the Stage they will be hosting. The videos feature iconic images from each city, and have been combined to create one exciting overview of the Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California.

“It goes without saying that our Host Cities play one of the most crucial roles in this race, so we are thrilled to have a group of extremely supportive cities as our partners,” continued Bachochin. “Each one of these cities is committed to not only promoting this race, but the sport of cycling overall.”

For 2012, Amgen will return as the title sponsor for the seventh consecutive year, continuing to leverage the race to raise awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer through its Breakaway from Cancer® initiative. A leading global biotechnology company with headquarters in California, Amgen’s invaluable support has helped to ensure the continued success of the race and impact beyond the sporting arena.

“Amgen stands ready to collaborate with this year’s Host City communities to spread awareness about our company, our mission to serve patients, and the incredible support services that are available at no cost to people affected by cancer through Amgen’s nonprofit Breakaway from Cancer partner organizations,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology.

Carrying an elite distinction, the Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2. HC, meaning “beyond category”), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers.

The Amgen Tour of California continues to draw global attention as one of the most anticipated cycling events of the year – one that attracts Olympic medalists, World Champions and the top Tour de France competitors.

“Everyone always looks forward to the Amgen Tour of California because it has it all – a challenging route, fierce competition, incredible fans and a beautiful setting,” said Christian Vande Velde, who placed fourth overall in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California. “I feel proud to be an American cyclist right now, when events like this race not only showcase the great racing that takes place here, but the amazing talent as well.”

The 13 Host Cities for the 2012 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Stage 1: Sunday, May 13 – Santa Rosa

• Stage 2: Monday, May 14 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz

• Stage 3: Tuesday, May 15 – San Jose to Livermore

• Stage 4: Wednesday, May 16 – Sonora (new for 2012) to Clovis

• Stage 5: Thursday, May 17 – Bakersfield (Individual Time Trial)

• Stage 6: Friday, May 18 – Palmdale to Big Bear Lake

• Stage 7: Saturday, May 19 – Ontario (new for 2012) to Mt. Baldy

• Stage 8: Sunday, May 20 – Los Angeles/L.A. LIVE

Assuming her new position as executive director of the Amgen Tour of California, 2012 will mark the first full year that Bachochin will take complete leadership of the overall production and management of the event. Bachochin, who has been involved with the Amgen Tour of California since its inception, will have the responsibility of overseeing everything from operations to marketing.

For further information on the 2012 Amgen Tour of California, and to view the 2012 Amgen Tour of California Host Cities video, visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2012 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, created and presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course from May 13-20, 2012.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures, and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe, effective medicines from lab to manufacturing plant to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease and other serious illnesses.

With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and vital medicines, visit http://www.amgen.com. Follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

About Breakaway from Cancer®

Founded in 2005 by Amgen, Breakaway from Cancer® is a national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship. Breakaway from Cancer is a collaboration between Amgen and four nonprofit partner organizations: Prevent Cancer Foundation, Cancer Support Community (formerly known as The Wellness Community), Patient Advocate Foundation, and National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship. These organizations offer a broad range of support services complementing those provided by a patient’s team of healthcare professionals. For more information, please visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com or follow us @BreakawayCancer on Twitter.

More about Amgen Tour of California;

• 2011 Tour of California: What We Learned at the 2011 Tour of … – Oct 4, 2011 … The 2011 Amgen Tour of California concluded Sunday in Thousand Oaks with HTC-
• Amgen Tour of California comes to Santa Cruz Mountains May 18 – Amgen Tour of California begins by Glenn Wallace. Tenerife island’s capital is
• Reno Tahoe USA Special Events Brochure 2011 – Amgen Tour of California, Lake Tahoe The Lake Tahoe stage of this premier American cycling race is the biggest sporting event to hit the region since the Olympics!

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. April 16, 2010 – One of the strongest and most talented fields ever assembled for a U.S. cycling race has been invited to the upcoming 2010 Amgen Tour of California. The 16-team field is comprised of the world’s best international professional cycling teams and a selection of top North American-based teams have there sights set to win Stage 6, which is the most challenging stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California eight-day event. The Queen Stage finishes in Big Bear Lake May 21, 2010.

Getting to the finish line in Big Bear Lake is no easy task. The grueling route consists of 135 miles and more than 12,000 feet of climbing through mountain passes. Stage 6, penned as “The Big Bear Climb,” should have a significant impact on the overall standings of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California.

The compelling set of teams invited to the fifth-annual race will be led by prominent UCI ProTour and Pro Continental teams, such as the three-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong’s team RadioShack; 2009’s No. 1-ranked Team HTC-Columbia, featuring sprint sensation Mark Cavendish; powerhouse Team Saxo Bank, featuring Tour of Flanders winner Fabian Cancellara and Tour de France runner-up Andy Schleck; Liquigas-Doimo, an exceptionally promising young Italian team; Colorado-based Garmin-Transitions; and BMC Racing Team, featuring current U.S. Pro champion George Hincapie.  The more than 800-mile, eight-day stage race, modeled after the Tour de France, will take the world’s top professional cycling teams from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village/Agoura Hills from May 16-23.

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 16 professional cycling teams:

• Bissell (USA)
• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Cervélo TestTeam (SUI)
• Fly V Australia (AUS)
• Garmin-Transitions (USA)
• Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda (USA)
• Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA)
• Liquigas-Doimo (ITA)
• Quick Step (BEL)
• Rabobank (NED)
• SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy (CAN)
• Team HTC-Columbia (USA)
• Team RadioShack (USA)
• Team Saxo Bank (DEN)
• Team Type 1 (USA)
• UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis (USA)

“These teams, with the riders we expect to compete, represent the one of the strongest fields we have had at the Amgen Tour of California.  Our move to May means that we will have Tour de France contenders in prime form racing here in the Golden State,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race.  “We also are pleased to have a selection of top North American-based Continental teams, who will have a chance to compete with some of the world’s best riders.”

Split between teams who compete on the UCI ProTour and those who race predominately in the United States, the field of 128 athletes will be one of the most diverse, accomplished groups of cyclists ever assembled for a stage race in the United States.

“In a few short years the Amgen Tour of California has become America’s Grand Tour, one of our country’s premier sporting events, and a showcase for the demanding and dramatic California landscape,” said Bob Stapleton, owner of Team HTC-Columbia.  “Team HTC-Columbia will contend for both the General Classification and stage wins with top riders Michael Rogers, Mark Cavendish and an exceptional supporting cast of athletes.” 

Along with ProTour and Pro Continental teams, the domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Bissell, BMC Racing Team, Cervélo TestTeam, Fly V Australia, Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda, Kelly Benefit Strategies, Team Type 1, UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, and new competitor, Canada’s SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy.

“The entire Fly V Australia team is looking forward to going head-to-head with the best teams and riders in the world in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Chris White, team director of Fly V Australia.  “This is the biggest race of the year for our team and a great test for our riders.”

For more information about the teams competing in the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Tour of California

Amgen Tour of California

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. March 25, 2010 – Race fans of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California can now purchase official merchandise specifically designed for the Stage 6 route from Pasadena to Big Bear Lake, known as the Big Bear Climb. Specially created merchandise for this leg of the tour, which includes an exclusive Big Bear Climb emblem, gives cycling enthusiasts and casual fans commemorative souvenirs for the Amgen Tour of California’s first-ever mountain finish.

Official Big Bear Climb goods for both men and women include clothing selections such as t-shirts, long sleeve ‘quick-dry’ athletic shirts and fleece jackets. In addition to exclusive Big Bear Climb merchandise, cycling fans can purchase official Amgen Tour of California gear including t-shirts, baseball caps, beanies, cycling socks and official 2010 Amgen Tour of California race jerseys. The official race jerseys include the newly designed 2010 Amgen Leader Jersey, 2010 Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Jersey and the 2010 King of the Mountains Jersey. These fine apparel products can be purchased online at www.thebigbearclimb.com. Items may be purchased in person at select retail locations in Big Bear  Lake including The Big Bear Chamber of Commerce, The City of Big Bear Lake City Hall, Northwoods Resort, Big Bear Vacations and Bear Valley Bikes. Also, select bike shops throughout the Inland Empire.

Listed are select retail locations throughout the Inland Empire…

Competitive Edge Cyclery – 7890 Haven Ave. #9, Rancho Cucamonga, CA 91730 (909) 466-5444

Palm Springs Cyclery – 611 S. Palm Canyon Dr., Palm Springs, CA 92264, (760) 325-9319
Palm Desert Cyclery – 77-780 Country Club Dr., Palm Desert, CA 92211, (760) 345-9096

Redlands Cyclery – 415 Tennessee St., Redlands, CA 92373, (909) 792-2444
Riverside Cyclery USA – 10000 Magnolia Ave., Riverside CA 92503, (951) 354-8444

Yucaipa Bike Center, 34844 Yucaipa Blvd., Yucaipa, CA 92399, (909) 790-1551