STOCKTON, Calif. -- The wheels will be returning to Downtown Stockton when Stage 3 of the Amgen Tour starts on Tuesday, May 14, 2019.
"We're excited just to be part of the second largest cycling event in the world, again," said Wes Rhea, CEO of Visit Stockton.
He says the community and sponsors "stepped up" and impressed Amgen officials with the city's turnout this year. That was key for wooing the international cycling event back to the Port City.
"That says a lot about our community. We have a great cycling community here. And, even the non-cyclists, the community just had a sense of pride about this event because it's such a large event for us," added Rhea.
Kari McNickle is president of the San Joaquin Bike Coalition. She's excited the Amgen Tour sees Stockton as a place show case the world-class event once more.
"It was such a fun, exciting day having them here last year and the lead-up to getting this really, professional, high-caliber, bike race in town. So, to have them come back basically saying they had such a great time in Stockton that they want to be here again, that's just thrilling," said McNickle.
One big change with the upcoming Amgen is that the racers will do a lap downtown.
Since the starting line is on the edge of downtown at the Stockton Arena, those who work in the core of the city will get a chance to see the cyclists before they pedal off towards the end of the stage in Morgan Hill.
While Visit Stockton says the economic impact in dollars was an estimated $200,000, they say what's more valuable is how the race is an "image enhancer" for the city with world-wide media exposure.
"Anything that gets the word 'Stockton' out there, and people talking about Stockton, and...enhances our image and makes people think a little differently about our city, is something that we consider very positive," said Rhea.
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