Amgen Tour of California will run from Sacramento to Pasadena on May 14-20

Peter Sagan will look to add to his record 15 stage victories when he returns to the Amgen Tour of California in 2017.

The seven-stage men’s race will start in Sacramento on May 14 and wrap up in Pasadena on May 20.

“Racing in the Amgen Tour of California is always one of my top priorities every year,” said Sagan, the 2015 overall winner.

“While spectacular to watch from a scenic standpoint, the route is consistently tough and challenging and one that brings out the best in all of the riders. The incredible fans and all of the cities of California that we get to visit truly makes the Amgen Tour of California one of the best experiences of the year for me.”

The Amgen Breakaway From Heart Disease Women’s Race Empowered with SRAM will start May 11 in South Lake Tahoe and finish in Sacramento on May 14.

Other host cities for the events include Big Bear Lake, Modesto, Morro Bay, Mt. Baldy, Mountain High, Ontario, Pismo Beach, San Jose, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita and Elk Grove.

The men’s event will have UCI WorldTour status for the first time and will be the only stage race in North America to receive such classification.

“The Amgen Tour of California has long been the most esteemed cycling race in America,” said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “Its designation as a UCI WorldTour event will continue to expand its international exposure and attract the best teams and cyclists yet, giving fans even more to cheer about from the streets of California next spring.”

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