The annual Amgen Tour of California bike races have kicked off in Northern California, and will head into the Southland next weekend.
Some major crowds and road closures will affect the Mount Baldy and Azusa areas Saturday.
And on Sunday, the final stretch of the race will stretch from Staples Center to the Rose Bowl. Big spectator crowds are expected for them nationally- televised bike race.
Women bike racers started Friday at Lake Tahoe, and the men kicked off their eight days of races today in Sacramento.
Next Thursday, the bike race will start in Santa Barbara and wind through the Santa Clara River Valley through Fillmore and will enter Los Angeles County on State Route 126 near Magic Mountain.
The finish line Thursday will be on Magic Mountain Parkway, east of the Golden State (5) Freeway in Santa Clarita.
On Friday, individual time trials will be run in Big Bear City and around Big Bear Lake.
Racers return to Los Angeles County Saturday, when the course starts in Ontario, then runs west of Arrow Highway and north of Mountain Avenue to the Mount Baldy Canyon Road.
The bikes will head west of Glendora Ridge Road, descend down Highway 39, then go east through Azusa and Glendora. The racecourse then goes back up Glendora Ridge Road to finish at Mount Baldy Village.
Sunday’s final leg starts at L.A. Live, in front of Staples Center, and uses Flower, 7th and Olive streets to reach L.A. City Hall, where there is a brief circuit up and down Bunker Hill.
The pack will then sprint up Spring Street to pick up Pasadena Avenue, Figueroa Street and Colorado Boulevard to traverse Highland Park and Eagle Rock into Pasadena. The finish line is at the Rose Bowl.
The final stages of the race are to be cablecast by the NBC Sports Network.
—Staff and wire reports