Amgen Tour of California Bicycle Race to Roll Through Moorpark

The Amgen Tour of California Race is passing through Moorpark on May 22, sometime between 1 and 2 p.m., but if you want to watch the race, be prepared. These guys are moving along at a very brisk clip.

“They’re probably going to take 10 minutes to get through Moorpark,” said course director, Eric Smith. “Traveling about 28 miles per hour, they’re going really fast. Some people, when they see the race, they say ‘Is that it?’ ”

They’re going fast because this is a professional 8-day bike race, similar to what you might see during the Tour de France.

“Many of the same racers on this course will be in the Tour de France later this summer,” said Smith.

The ride through Moorpark will be the eighth and final stage of the race. It will start in Santa Clarita at noon and wind its way down Highway 126 into the back hills of Fillmore and Santa Paula, eventually merging from Grimes Canyon Road onto Los Angeles Avenue.

From Los Angeles Avenue, the riders will turn southeast onto Tierra Rejada Road, then south again off Tierra Rejada onto Moorpark Road, where they will provide the Tour’s finale, racing across the finish line in Thousand Oaks.

Of course, for many Moorpark residents, this means street closures, so plan for alternative routes that afternoon. The City of Moorpark has announced the following temporary street closures.

• Along Los Angeles Avenue, the intersections at Hitch Boulevard, Montair Drive, Buttercreek Road, and Mira Sol Drive.

• Along Tierra Rejada, the intersections at Courtney Lane, Countrywood Drive, Mountain Meadows Shopping Center, Mountain Trail Street, Mountain Meadows Drive, Walnut Creek Road, Brookhurst Court, Pheasant Run Street, Hidden Pines Court, Southhampton Road, and Spring Road. Westbound Tierra Rejada will remain open.

• Moorpark Road south of Tierra Rejada will also be closed.

• No specific information was provided in regards to Grimes Canyon Road, but expect it to be closed at race time as well.

The Amgen Tour of California Bicycle Race is the largest professional cycling event in America. It is presented by Anshutz Entertainment Group (AEG). Amgen is a major sponsor. The race will include 18 teams with 144 riders. Total prize money will be near $200,000.

The Tour's website features the route for Stage 8 here. They’ll be traveling through some of Ventura County’s most beautiful backcountry. If you want to drive into the hills to watch, the roads will remain open along the race route until approximately 20 minutes before the cyclists arrive.