Community Corner

Ninth Annual Tour de Murrieta Racing Thru Town Beginning Friday

Murrieta will host hundreds of cyclists-- and many more fans-- at the annual road race.

The ninth annual Tour de Murrieta kicks off Friday with hundreds of bicyclists hitting local streets.

"With over 700 pre registered athletes, we are looking forward to one of our largest events yet!" organizers announced Thursday on their Facebook page.

The event, which lasts three days, will have three stages: a time trial, a grand prix and a circuit course.  Friday's Stage 1, which is the time trial, is a total of 4.1 miles in areas of flat terrain to rolling hills.  

The first cyclists are scheduled to start at 10 a.m. near the end of Kalmia Street.  Click here to see a map of the first course.

Here's more on what you can expect at this year's Tour de Murrieta, as stated by organizers: 

Back by popular demand is Stage 1, the DCH Auto Group Temecula time trial which will be held on Friday, March 7, and like no other time trial in Southern CA, its European style terrain consisting primarily of paved roadway and a 1.2 mile portion of unpaved/hard compact dirt will be challenging to all riders. 

Saturday’s Stage 2, Jax Bicycles /Rabobank Grandprix and Stage 3, Sunday’s Rabobank/Jax Bicycles Circuit Race courses remain unchanged, with Saturday offering a lightning fast-1-mile course in Historic Downtown Murrieta, and Sunday’s circuit a rolling 3.5 mile course.  

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

[Related: Click here to see Saturday's route.]

The courses remain downtown, with Saturday’s event hosting a festival atmosphere including an exposition area, free energy drinks, music, a jumpy house for the kids and much more. 

Find out what's happening in Murrietawith free, real-time updates from Patch.

[Related: Click here to see Sunday's route.]

Come experience the same courses the Amgen Tour of California traversed when it rolled into Murrieta last year!

The theme for this year’s race is “Where Legends are Born – Who’s Next”, and the Tour de Murrieta race committee is proud to welcome Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis Team along with current national champion Freddy Rodriguez, a rider who has competed in all three grand tours:  Tour de France, Giro d’Italia, and Vuelta España!  

As if that isn’t enough, making his first appearance in Jelly Belly team colors is no other than Mattie Lloyd, former Australian National Champion, winner of the Giro’s mountains jersey and also a Tour de France veteran!

 “There is no doubt that this year’s race will consist of some of the strongest fields the Elite Men’s and Women’s categories have ever seen,” said Race Technical Director Ernie Sanchez.  

“This race (formerly the Tour de Temecula) has hosted great riders in the past who have gone on to accomplish great cycling exploits including Chad Beyer, Chris Horner, Jonathan Cantwell, Alessandro Bazzana to name a few,” he said.  

The race has also received verbal commitments from several pro women’s teams including TWENTY16 Pro Cycling Team, a team who has commenced their quest to the 2016 Olympics in earnest!  With the races growth, the race has added a professional timing/result services which includes software that will provide competitors with immediate and live results, neutral support from Zipp/SRAM, and an atmosphere that compares to no other!



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