Lake Tahoe, Calif./Nev March 23, 2011…Cycling enthusiasts can ride the route during the Start at the Top – Lake Tahoe Legends Ride, Saturday, May 14, and explore majority of the first lap of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California (http://www.TahoeAmgenTourofCalifornia.com) Stage 1. The tour is considered the largest cycling event in North America as the peloton races nearly 800 miles and visits 15 cities in eight days, attracting approximately two million spectators.

The Legends Ride allows participants to ride the Stage 1 course of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California and pedal elbow to elbow with cycling legends and dignitaries, including Bobby Julich, Sky ProCycling Race Coach and 2004 Olympic Bronze Medalist; and John Howard, who rode on the 1968, 1972 and 1976 Olympic Teams, set the world 24-hour cycling distance record of 593 miles and finished second in the Race Across America (1982), which he co-founded. Other legends include Max Jones, Mike Neel, David Brink and Roland Della Santa.

The Legends Ride is produced by TGFT Productions and Bike the West and is fully supported with rest stops, technical support, first aid and support and gear assistance. Options include a 72-mile roadway route around Lake Tahoe and a 35-mile ride that transfers participants from South Shore to North Lake Tahoe via the Tahoe Queen paddle wheeler to cycle around East Shore and finish in Stateline, Nev. A sightseeing boat cruise is available for non-cyclists.

The event is open to the first 1,000 cyclists who sign-up online by April 30. Registration is $125/person for the 72-mile ride, and $140 /person for the Boat Cruise +35-mile option, which is expected to sell out.

Pre-registered participants will receive a Lake Tahoe welcome bag with a commemorative event number, wrist-band, water bottle, ride pin and t-shirt. They also have the benefits of food and beverages at rest stops along the route, lunch and an after ride pasta feed with live music.

The Start at the Top – Lake Tahoe Legends Ride is supported by the Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority and the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association as well as cycling clubs, organizations and advocacy groups in and around the Lake Tahoe region: The Alta Alpina Cycling Club, Alta Alpina Challenge – Riding the Wild Sierra; the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition – Tahoe Bike Challenge: the North Lake Tahoe Music Dept., the Tahoe Sierra Century Ride: the Tahoe Area Mountain Bike Association and the Nevada Bicycle Advisory Board.

Check-in for pre-registered cyclists and late registration is Friday, May 13, 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., at the Horizon Casino Resort Convention Center Ballroom in Stateline, South Shore Lake Tahoe. Confirmation number and identification are required to pick up materials.

Late and same day registration is May 14, will be in Parking Lot C of the Horizon Casino Resort, from 6 – 7 a.m. For details about start times and location, visit to http://www.BiketheWest.com.

TGFT Productions / Bike the West also produces the 20th Annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride – Lake Tahoe, June 5; Tour of the Carson Valley – Barbecue & Ice Cream Social, June 26; Tour de Tahoe – Bike Big Blue, September 11 and 20th Annual OATBRAN – “One Awesome Tour Bike Ride Across Nevada, Sept 25-Oct 1. For more information, visit BiketheWest.com.

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California will cover nearly 800 miles and visit 15 Host Cities for official stage starts and finishes, while other cities along the route also will have the opportunity to witness the excitement of elite professional cycling. Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:

* Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort
* Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA to Sacramento
* Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto
* Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose
* Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside to Paso Robles
* Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial
* Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy
* Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks

For best viewing points, where to catch the riders up close, a complete list of events (including the Tahoe 10-Day Countdown leading up to the race) and lodging accommodations, click to http://www.TahoeAmgenTourofCalifornia.com follow us on Twitter and Facebook. For details about the Tour and information about volunteering, visit http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.