Old Town Auburn out? Foresthill Bridge in? Tour of California cycle route decision time
The Foresthill Bridge is getting some new looks from Amgen Tour of California race officials as they map out the Nevada City-Sacramento bike race’s first leg. But a scenic setting for TV cameras as cyclists ride over the 730-foot-high span near Auburn could come with a price. With plans for the route still up in the air, Old Town Auburn may be bypassed. Duane Strawser, racing proponent and owner of the Tour of Nevada City Bicycle Shop, said since the announcement last month that the tour’s first stage would start in Nevada City and finish in Sacramento, he’s been supporting a route through Auburn. He’s been working with organizers on the route and logistics. One of the keys for the stage moving through Auburn would be the stunning visual imagery of racers in their colorful jerseys cycling en masse across the pea-green Foresthill Bridge hovering above the American River canyon. But that route hadn’t been included in initial test rides, which included pro cyclists and cycling journalists taking a 100-miles-plus excursion through Colfax to Iowa Hill and Foresthill before coming through Downtown and Old Town Auburn. Now, routing the tour along the Foresthill Bridge could mean some parts of the initial route tour organizers were looking at may be left off the final map, including Old Town Auburn. “There are definitely changes being made in potential routes,” Strawser said. “It’s still going to include Auburn and I’m urging them to include the Old Town section.” The latest route test riders are looking at would turn at Colfax and travel through Meadow Vista, cutting about 20 miles off the course. “Iowa Hill is out but they’re not sure how they’re going to have the route through Auburn,” Strawser said. “They’re now looking at going along the Foresthill Bridge and then into the American River canyon. After that it’s unclear where they go (either up Highway 49 to Salmon Falls Road in El Dorado County or through Auburn along Auburn Folsom Road).” The May 16 first leg also appears to have expanded to include a ride for amateur cyclists along the same route, Strawser said, couching his remarks with the proviso that nothing has been set. Strawser, organizer of the Tour of Nevada City and a leader in the successful drive to have Nevada City at the start of this May’s tour, said he’s been a proponent of including Auburn in the ride from the start. “To me, it’s the right thing to do as a neighbor,” Strawser said. “And from a logistical standpoint, it’s a good central hub, where the race could take off in various directions.” Harvey Roper, owner of Downtown Auburn’s Roper’s Jewelers and a supporter of the tour coming through Auburn, said that whatever route organizers decide on, he knows the city is willing to work with them to create a safe, fun stage through the area. “We also have a multitude of volunteers who are willing to help,” Roper said. “It’s a wonderful opportunity to be part of a great event.” Strawser said that with several routes still being looked at, organizers are scrambling to keep cycling teams happy while trying to fit in a ride along the route before the Nevada City-Sacramento stage for amateur cyclists. This week, two Tour of California staff members from Southern California will be driving routes with a Global Positioning System to better make a final decision, he said.
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Just what we all need one more excuse to close the bridge to traffic.And no benefit to Foresthill whatsoever.
Old town auburn is a lot more boring on tv than the foresthill bridge. I vote for the bridge
Whoops I think Old Town Auburn is lucky that this boring thing is not coming here . If you want a good tv shoot have them go through Iowa Hill and then turn left and go directly to Hell Hole that is and then have the GPS go haywire and you could send in Gordon A. To lead them out to Tahoe !!!! What A Shot and Story that would be on TV!!! Ah Boy I think it would be a lot better TV. Shot if someone over in France got to see Gilbert riding around Old Town Auburn. Viva Le Auburn, Viva Gilbert and watchout. Happy Thanks Folks.
global. . . sorry for all you crabby oldtimers in Foresthill, the bridge would have to be closed, but only long enough for the ToC to pass through, about 15 minutes to 1/2 hour generally, since it's a bridge it might be a little longer. The race uses a "rolling roadblock" where police close the route temporarily then open it again as soon as the race passes. Please plan accordingly when the route is announced if it comes through the Auburn area.
global. . . answered his own complaint about no benefit to FH, he's already whining just about the bridge being closed for a few minutes (next May). Why would Tour organizers route a race through Foresthill when it's full of complainers? Foresthill residents' negativity and bad treatment of road cyclists is well known in the cycling community, so FH businesses lose out on tens of thousands of dollars in race-fan revenue.
watchit should probably keep his negativity at home while a worldwide audience enjoys a professional bike race though Auburn's scenic beauty. He can come out for the Funkbox Derby, an event probably more suited to his mindset.
Auburn should make a lot of effort and expense to decorate the town and welcome the Tour of California if it's routed nearby. A week of cycling celebration with all types of family-oriented and amatore competitions would help convince tour organizers that Auburn deserves the yearly influx of sales tax revenues generated whenever a race of this magnitude comes our way.
"sorry for all you crabby oldtimers in Foresthill" I for one would welcome the race across Foresthill bridge!! I am neither old nor grumpy laughatu, you just put yourself in a category with all the other people on this site who like to stereotype!! Don't feel bad your not alone!! I could stoop to your level and say something dumb about all the cyclist on Foresthill rd,but what good would that do!! You got one thing right you are SORRY!!
white. . . you need to spend some time learning reading comprehension skills. Nowhere does my post say "every person in Foresthill is a crabby oldtimer." I was addressing the crabby oldtimers there, not everyone. I feel sorry for the business owners and other residents putting up with the crabby oldtimers that make Foresthill a "be sure to travel through without stopping" town. Some of them are even mean to the racers, support, and spectators during the Western States. Also, white. . . you're using anecdotal reasoning to argue from the general to the specific. Top it off with a garnish of personal attack and you've completed your recipe for brain salad. Enjoy your holiday meal!
Iowa Hill to Foresthill, talk about taking the back roads. The race doesn't need to go through "Old Town" to experience Auburn.
Chuxxr. Agreed. Look at the bigger picture folks. A worlwide audience would benefit more from seeing the beauty of the mountains in the county as well as the bridge versus the storefronts in Auburn. Not to mention the ability of the county resources for security versus the citys limited resources