The upcoming Amgen Tour of California Stage One and Stage Two will cover all of Lake Tahoe and offer numerous exceptional viewing spots for spectators.
 
Key Festivities & Locations
The most festive venues will be the Stage 1 Start in South Lake Tahoe on the morning of Sunday, May 15th, the Stage 1 Finish at Northstar–at-Tahoe Resort that afternoon, and the Stage 2 Start in Palisades Tahoe USA, site of the 1960 Winter Olympics, on Monday morning, May 16th.

Below are some insights and ideas for those planning to set up camp at a specific course-side location around the lake, or who want to catch some of the action along the first loop around the lake and then head to the finish.

For a map of where to park, viewing locations and the course routes, click here. 
 
West Shore Plan: South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort
The first option is following the peloton from the start (at 10:30 a.m.) in South Lake Tahoe, or to pick a spot along the west or north shore as it makes its way around the lake.

Approximate times for the Northbound peloton:

Emerald Bay Road (between 11:09 a.m. - 11:16 a.m.)
West Shore - Tahoma, Homewood, Sunnyside (11:30 - 11:50)
Tahoe City (11:49 a.m. - 12:03 p.m.)
Kings Beach (12:11 p.m. – 12:29 p.m.)

From Kings Beach, the riders will continue east on Highway 28 and around to the East Shore. Here, spectators headed to the finish will turn north onto Highway 267 (Brockway Summit) and head to the finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe to await the racers (estimated finish at 3:12 p.m. - 4 p.m.)

East Shore Plan: South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort

The second plan has spectators taking in the start in South Lake Tahoe and experiencing the festivities at Lake Tahoe Expo at the Horizon Casino Resort after the riders have left. Spectators may then head onto Highway 50, heading to the East Shore and catching the riders along their route south along the East Shore.

Approximate times for the Southbound peloton:

Crystal Bay (12:15 p.m. - 12:34 p.m.)
Incline Village (between 12:21 p.m. - 12:40 p.m.)
Zephyr Cove (approx 1:30 p.m.)
 
Turn north onto Highway 267 and gettting to the Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort for the finish (3:12 p.m. - 4 p.m.).
 
Lake Tahoe’s King of the Mountain Climbs
According to the region’s cycling gurus, some of the best spots are on a steep climb or at the bottom of a precipitous descent.
 
1) Iconic Emerald Bay is one of Lake Tahoe’s most photographed areas and a fantastic spot to watch the racers, predicted to top the summit between 11:09 a.m. and 11:16 a.m. This is the first of three Kings of the Mountain race finishes for Stage 1. Parking here, on the West Shore, is tight with only two parking lots available: Eagle Falls Trail Head and Vikingsholm Visitors Center. Spectators’ best bet is to get there early. 
 
2) Spooner Summit on the northeast corner of the lake, where Highways 50 and 28 intersect. It’s also where the cyclists will make the long and steady ascent to an elevation of 7,150 feet around 12:50 p.m. - 1:15 p.m. This is the second King of the Mountain finish. There are three parking lots here: Spooner Lake State Park, Snow Park and the Tahoe Rim Trail Access Road.

3) Brockway Summit on Highway 267 to 7,000 feet and is the last King of the Mountain finish, which is expected to take place between 3:03 p.m. and 3:52 p.m. Per the California Highway Patrol, Brockway Summit (Highway 267) will close 20 to 30 minutes before the race passes. Spectators who are interested in viewing the finish should be over the summit before the racers come through. Parking is extremely limited with just a few pull out stops
and hiking trails parking. 

And for those that just can’t get enough action during Stage 1, the descent of Emerald Bay on the West Shore has riders reaching speeds of 40 miles per hour into the flats of Homewood (11:30 a.m. - 11:40 a.m.). The Spooner Summit descent has cyclists going even faster – 45 miles per hour – as they descend back toward the lake to the tunnel at Cave Rock. After cresting Brockway Summit, the lead group will plunge down a rapid descent into a hard left turn onto Northstar Drive (3:09 p.m. - 4 p.m.), where both sprinters and climbers will set-up for a high-speed blast to the finish line at Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort (3:12 p.m. - 4:03 p.m.).
 
4) As part of the Stage 2 route from Palisades Tahoe USA to Sacramento, May 16, the 1,000-foot climb up Old Highway 40 to scenic Rainbow Bridge (10:55 a.m. – 11:02 a.m.) offers spectacular views and close ups of the riders. Please note, however, there is only one parking lot at this summit. 
 
The Stage 2 Start at the Village at Palisades Tahoe (10:15 a.m.), under the Olympic Rings, might be a better option, especially as racers make a celebratory one-and-a-half laps around the village before departing onto Palisades Tahoe Road. Spectators can also see cyclists fine tune their bikes before checking in with race officials, and after the start they can enjoy leisurely meals at nearby cafes and restaurants.
 
Other Ideal Viewing Venues – Special Viewing Parties
Lake Tahoe’s many commercial cores are perfect for viewing the Stage 1 peloton and many are hosting special viewing parties.

• South Lake Tahoe’s MontBleu Resort, Casino & Spa, the official start of the race (10:30 a.m.), as well as Heavenly Village and Embassy Suites; Ski Run Blvd. (10:39 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.)
• The “Y,” where 89 and 50 intersect, a BMX Demo will be taking place showcasing Olympic medalists (10:47 p.m. - 10:50 a.m.)
• Homewood Mountain Ski Resort on the West Shore (11:45 a.m.)
• Tahoe Tree Company, just outside of Tahoe City on the West Shore at Granlibakken Rd. (11:49 a.m. – 12:03 p.m.)
• Heritage Plaza in downtown Tahoe City.
• Tahoe Vista State Recreation Area in Tahoe Vista.
• Blue Onion Café and the Old Brockway Golf Course in Kings Beach (12:11 p.m. - 12:29 p.m.)
• The historic Crystal Bay casino corridor (12:15 p.m. - 12:34 p.m.);
• Incline Village on the North Shore (12:21 p.m. - 12:40 p.m.) with a party at the Hyatt Regency Lake Tahoe
• Zephyr Cove on the East Shore (1:30 p.m.). 

 Along the Stage 2 route, you can catch the peloton passing through the Truckee “mousehole” (10:37 a.m. – 10:40 a.m.), the site of the King of the Mousehole Sprint, where Highway 89 crosses under the Union Pacific Railroad through a narrow 25-foot wide concrete arch structure, as well as along Donner Pass Road (10:38 a.m. - 10:42 a.m.).
 
All of these areas offer up parking lots (on a first-come, first-serve basis), dining options, shopping and bike rental companies for those that are geared up to ride. Many are also hosting festivities surrounding the 2011 Amgen tour of California, including family activities and bike expos.

For a map of where to park, viewing locations and the course routes, click here. 
 
Please note that times for the Amgen Tour of California race are approximate, based on average speeds of the peloton and are subject to change. To ensure ideal viewing of the race, plan ahead for traffic delays. The visitor bureaus encourage spectators to abide by the “pack-in pack-out” motto to help keep our national treasure clean, as well as bike or walk to key race viewing points.

For real time updates during the race, visit ww.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.
 
For a complete calendar of Tahoe’s 10-Day Countown, events leading up to the race (May 5-14), as well as activities during Stage 1 (May 15) and Stage 2 (May 16), visit www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.