AMGEN Tour of California Visits Santa Rosa

Santa Rosa played host to internationally renowned bike race the Amgen Tour of California on Saturday

The City of Santa Rosa, Visit Santa Rosa, and the Santa Rosa Chamber formed a Local Organizing Committee that partnered with AMGEN to bring the 109-mile race to Sonoma County, with starts and finishes in Santa Rosa. Santa Rosa has played host a total of 8 times including the inaugural race in 2006, the overall start in 2012 and the overall finish in 2013.The race culminated with a lifestyle festival downtown with more than 40 vendors.

Approximately 2,000 people descended on our city Friday night, both men's and women's Professional Cyclists, their support teams, approximately 500 international and domestic media and fans hailing from all over the country. The Visit Santa Rosa team was responsible for managing all the logistics for hospitality – from room nights to dinner to breakfast the morning of the race.

Santa Rosa was highlighted world-wide in race coverage, and one member of the media even tweeted that "[t]his stage is like a long commercial for a cycling vacation in Sonoma County." Additionally, a race fan told our California Welcome Center booth that they had moved to Santa Rosa after seeing a Tour of California Santa Rosa stage on TV.

All in all a big win for Santa Rosa!