Tour of California
Classic Plus Tour
*4-day and 8-day versions available

Follow the Race

Join the excitement of following the single greatest international competition in American cycling - the 2010 Tour of California! This year's Tour will be a thriller, with Lance Armstrong's newly-formed Team RadioShack, including Levi Leipheimer (three-time winner of the Tour of California) battling the likes of Dave Zabriskie and George Hincapie over 750 miles of California's finest terrain. We'll ride the best parts of the Tour's routes, shadowing the teams as they come through. In top Bicycle Adventures form, we'll stay in prime lodgings and enjoy the best of California's luscious cuisine.

Best of Sonoma - Day 1

We'll meet in San Francisco on the morning of May 16, the first day of the Tour. Today we're riding from Petaluma to Bodega via Chileno Valley Road, passing through a region of dairy farms and vineyards, with lunch at a scenic beach overlook along the coast. In the afternoon we'll tackle Coleman Valley Road to Occidental, a worthy climb featured in past Tour of California routes. Tonight's dinner will be at the Union Hotel, which has been serving up world-famous Italian dinners since 1879.

Stage 2 - Into Santa Rosa

On Monday, May 17, we'll ride a secluded canyon through redwood forests near the Russian River, then into the vineyards of the Dry Creek Valley.  We stop for lunch at either J Vineyards or Rodney Strong Winery. Then we'll ride a portion of the course into Santa Rosa to enjoy the festivities, have a beer at the Russian River Brewery - and be part of the excitement as Stage 2 races into town for the finish.

San Francisco to Santa Cruz - Stage 3

Tuesday we 'll drive south to the beachside community of Half Moon Bay. We'll cycle along the coast, then turn inland to watch the riders as they come through the steep coastal hills of Tunitas Creek and La Honda, and finish the day by riding some of the choicest parts of the course. From our private lunch stop at Alice's Restaurant, we'll be able to view the racers as they climb Skyline Road.

Stage 4 - San Jose to Modesto

This morning we'll be up early again, shuttling to the outskirts of the once-upon-a-time goldrush town of Livermore, where vineyards and ranches blanket the hillsides. We'll be perfectly placed to watch the peloton as it charges through. Afterward, we'll do a 50-mile ride up and over the 4200' summit of Mt. Hamilton. If it's a clear day, you'll enjoy spectacular 360-degree views of San Francisco Bay, the gorgeous Monterey region and the snow-capped Sierras. This afternoon we'll shuttle south to Visalia so we can be at the start line for Stage 5 in the morning.

Stage 5 - Visalia to Bakersfield

Thursday we'll enjoy a relaxed morning wandering around the start line, watching the riders warm up, then watching the start of the race. Once the peloton leaves town, we'll van south of Visalia to ride part of the course, along the Old Stage Road into Bakersfield. Tonight we'll celebrate the region's Basque history with a dinner at the renowned Wool Growers Restaurant (a favorite of celebs such as Barbra Streisand and former US president Ronald Reagan) - or the equally renowned Buck Owens' Crystal Palace.

Into the Sierras - Stage 6

This morning we'll be riding before the pros hit the road - and at our 64-mile mark we'll be perfectly poised to view the race as it comes through the difficult climbs along Angeles Crest Highway. You'll have the opportunity to see each and every pro cyclist as they battle these beautiful but brutal inclines. For our last two nights, we'll stay at Santa Monica's historic, proud Georgian Hotel, one-time hideout of 30's-era movie stars and gracious host of Rose Kennedy's state dinners.

Stage 7 - Los Angeles

Today's stage is set to be a time trial, which means options: a morning ride into the Santa Monica Hills (Malibu Canyon, Mulholland Drive and Old Topanga Canyon) will be planned, or you may prefer to relax, enjoy our marvelous hotel and explore its surrounds. Since today's stage starts at 1:00 pm and lasts until 4:30, you'll have plenty of time to catch all the action.

Stage 8 - The Finale

The Tour of California's final day - a circuit race - is set in the wooded foothills of Thousand Oaks and the mission town of Agoura Hills. Staging our departure near Pepperdine University, we'll bicycle inland, up Malibu Canyon Road and through Las Virgenes Canyon, setting up to watch the riders as they come through at the finish line. After a final celebration of our own, you have the option of being dropped off back at the Georgian Hotel, or at Los Angeles International Airport to begin your journey home.

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