San Jose Cycling Classic Set for February

The San Jose Cycling Classic will be held February 14, 2009 throughout San Jose. The multi-pronged event will encompass professional, amateur and community cycling activities, including a competitive time trial race, a criterium, a recreational ride and a CEO Challenge. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 cycling athletes, 20,000 spectators and cycling-related exhibitors.  Saturday’s Races are followed over the next few days with various parties and events leading up to the Amgen Tour of California rolling through town on Tuesday.

“Cycling is an important form of alternative transportation, and San Jose’s Green Vision puts San Jose on the path to being a cycling-friendly city,” San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said. “The San Jose Cycling Classic lets the cyclists everywhere know that San Jose and the greater South Bay region is a one of the best places in the world to cycle whether you’re an amateur or a professional.”

The San Jose Cycling Classic will kick off with the The King of the Mountain Time Trial and Ride sponsored by Mattson Technology, and a CEO Challenge powered by SunPower, where riders will leave San Jose City Hall and reach the base of Sierra Road for a mass start time trial race. This challenging hill was featured in several Amgen Tour of California races and exploded the peloton. The climb is 3.7 miles long with an average gradient of 10 percent; however, some pitches reach 17-18 percent. It will include police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. The San Jose Cycling Classic will also feature a 30-mile recreational ride which will start along the same route but will not include the challenging Sierra Road climb.

All rides will start with police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. Cyclists on the King of the Mountain and CEO Challenge
ride will then cross a timing pad to activate timing chips and begin their ascent up Sierra Road—a stunning 3.7-mile, 1,830-foot climb. After summiting Sierra Road, riders may complete the Sierra/Calaveras/Piedmont loop and ride west to City Hall. Even though the ride officially ends at the Sierra Hill summit, riders are invited to return back to City Hall for a post ride celebration.

The San Jose Cycling Classic continues that day with the debut of The Criterium built by WEBCOR. Riders will take to the streets of San Jose to compete in a multi-lap one-day race throughout the city. The .86 mile urban downtown “track” features many of the elements that will get it that “classic” designation – tight turns, high speed straight aways, side-by-side racing as well as cash and prizes,
including $5,000 for top male professional and $5,000 for top female professional. All the action starts and finishes on Park Avenue near Plaza de Cesar Chavez.

In addition the to these two events, there will be many others, including a special LIVESTRONG Challenge San Jose Kick-Off Party at 6 p.m. on Monday, February 16, at The Tech Museum of Innovation. The event will help build momentum for the LIVESTRONG Challenge, the Lance Armstrong Foundation’s signature fundraising event, taking place July 11-12 in San Jose. Inspired by the hope, courage and perseverance of Lance Armstrong and the nearly 12 million Americans living with cancer, LIVESTRONG Challenge participants will take to the streets on bicycles and on foot to raise funds and awareness for the fight against cancer. In addition to San Jose, the 2009 LIVESTRONG Challenge will take place in Seattle (June 21); Philadelphia (Aug. 23); and Austin (Oct. 24-25).

San Jose then welcomes the world’s best professional cyclists with the Amgen Tour of California Stage 3 Start at 10 a.m. on Tuesday, February 17, at Park and Almaden in Downtown San Jose. A host city for the Amgen Tour of California for the fourth year in a row, San Jose will, for the first time, serve as a start city to one of the most challenging legs of the race. Festivities will include a
healthy lifestyle festival and “autograph alley,” a designated area where cycling fans will have the opportunity to meet their favorite riders, including Lance Armstrong who is taking part in the Amgen Tour of California as a member of the Astana Cycling Team, and who is considered to be one of the greatest cyclists of all time.

A complete San Jose Cycling Classic schedule overview follows:

• Friday, February 13, 5-9 p.m., athlete registration/packet pick-up for all events, San Jose City Hall Rotunda, 200 East Santa Clara Street

• Saturday, February 14, 7 a.m., King of the Mountain Time Trial Race and Ride led by Mattson Technology, start at San Jose City Hall Rotunda, 200 East Santa Clara Street

• Saturday February 14, The Criterium built by WEBCOR athlete registration/packet pick-up, 7 a.m.-2 p.m., San Jose City Hall Rotunda, 200 East Santa Clara Street; Criterium built by WEBCOR, 8
a.m.-4 p.m., Park Avenue

• Monday, February 16, 6 p.m., LIVESTRONG Challenge San Jose Kick-Off Reception with the Lance Armstrong Foundation, The Tech Museum of Innovation, 201 South Market Street

• Tuesday, February 17, 10 a.m.-noon, Amgen Tour of California Stage 3 Start, including a riders’ autograph alley and lifestyle festival, Park & Almaden

For registration, visit www.sanjosecyclingclassic.com