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Amgen Bike Tour of California hits SoCal this weekend (plus, how to watch)
Toms Skujins (3R) of Latvia riding for Hincapie Racing Team rides is the protection of his teammates as he defends the overall race leader yellow jersey during stage five of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California from Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita on May 14, 2015 in Ojai, California.
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Ian Boswell of Great Britain and teammate Philip Deignan of Ireland riding for Team Sky lead a chase group as they pursue eventual winner Toms Skujins of Latvia riding for Hincapie Racing Team in stage two of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California on May 12, 2015 in San Jose, California.
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Toms Skujins of Latvia riding for Hincapie Racing Team celebrates as he approaches the finish line to win stage three of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California on May 12, 2015 in San Jose, California.
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Harry How/Getty Images
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Toms Skujins of Latvia riding for Hincapie Racing Team is presented with the yellow jesey after his win of stage three of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California on May 12, 2015 in San Jose, California.
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The peleton race past the California State Capitol building during stage 3 of the 2015 Amgen Tour of California women's race on May 10, 2015 in Sacramento, California.
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Trixi Worrack of Germany riding for Velocio - SRAM rides on way to win the 2015 Amgen Tour of California women's race on May 10, 2015 in Sacramento, California.
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(L-R) The Velocio - SRAM team of Lisa Brennauer of Germany, Alena Amialiusik of Belarus, Trixi Worrack of Germany, Barbara Guarischi of Italy, Loren Rowney of Australia and Karol-Ann Canuel of Canada celebrate the overall victory of Worrack to win the 2015 Amgen Tour of California women's race on May 10, 2015 in Sacramento, California.
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The Amgen Bike Tour of California is scheduled to roll through the Inland Empire on Saturday before finishing in Pasadena Sunday.
Olympians and Tour de France contenders from around the world will race along iconic highways.
Director Jim Birrell tells KPCC Saturday's trial could be the most exciting part of the race.
"Probably our toughest stage of this year's edition will be in Ontario and 80 miles later finish up at the top of Mount Baldy," Birrell says.
Spectators can catch a double glimpse of the cyclists at several locations along the route. The race starts at 11:45 a.m. and is estimated to finish between 3 p.m and 4 p.m.
On Sunday, the race will run from L.A. Live in downtown Los Angeles to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. It kicks off at 9:15 a.m. and runs through about noon.
Event organizers say most people will want to watch from the start line or the finish line. At the finish line on Sunday, you get the added bonus of the jersey presentations and the introduction of the best team.
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To give you a little background, Latvian Toms Skujins of Hincapie Racing Team leads the men's race overall.
German Trixi Worrack won the overall women's race last Sunday. It was the first Tour of California women's road race and ran in three stages before the men's event.
If you can't watch in person this weekend, you still have several viewing options:
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