The Amgen Tour of California is in its fourth year.  In the last two years, Sacramento hosted a stage’s finish line.  But on February 14th, 2009 – a Saturday – the race’s entire first day will be held in the Sacramento region.  Bob Burns is a spokesman for the Sacramento Sports Commission, which brought the Tour to town.
 
Burns: “We don’t have the route specifics yet, but it’ll be a 70-90 mile road stage out of Sacramento and back, and yes, it will count.” 
 
In other words, it won’t just be a warm-up stage, the way most cycling races start.
 
Burns says the course will begin and end downtown near the State Capitol, then likely head towards Placer or El Dorado Counties before looping back.
 
The entire 2009 Tour of California will span 800 miles over nine days.