2013 Amgen Tour to Take Cyclists from Murrieta to Palm Springs Tram

The 2013 Amgen Tour of California, a major cycling race coming to Murrieta for the first time, will also stop at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway, organizers announced Monday.

The race is considered the largest cycling event in America and draws Olympic medalists, Tour de France competitors and world champions, among other cyclists, according to organizers.

The eight-stage, 750-mile race is scheduled for May 12-19. Cyclists will ride south to north for the first time in the Amgen Tour's eight-year history.

The race, which starts in Escondido and ends in Santa Rosa, will leave from it's Murrieta stop the morning of May 13. Cyclists will travel a 126. 1-mile route that day—from Murrieta's Town Square Park before they wind through Temecula Wine Country, up into Idyllwild, then down into Palm Desert, Rancho Mirage and Cathedral City, ending at the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway.

Murrieta and Palm Springs are among 13 host cities for this year's event.

"Well versed in staging cycling races, Murrieta has been the host city for the popular Tour (de) Murrieta for several years," organizers said in a statement.

"The stage will finish spectacularly as riders climb Tramway Road to the Palm Springs Aerial Tramway parking lot. The last 3.8 miles of the race will gain 1,880 feet of elevation -- one of the toughest climbs anywhere."

The Amgen Tour is accepting applications for race volunteers. For information, go to Amgentourofcalifornia.com.

—City News Service and Maggie Avants contributed to this report.