State Amgen Tour adds stage for 2009

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California bicycle race will add an extra stage and will travel over the Golden Gate Bridge for the first time.

It is expected to be announced today that the race will begin Feb. 14 in Sacramento and end Feb. 22 in Escondido -- the first time in its four-year existence that the race will make it so far south.

“We’ve always had a challenge to go north all the way south in eight days,” said Andrew Messick, director of AEG Sports, which is presenter of the race. “One of the benefits of having a ninth day is to get to San Diego County without having an unreasonable transfer.”

Messick also says he has found a better feeling about the biggest U.S. cycling tour as doping testing has become more prominent.

“There is now more of a sense of real outrage when someone tests positive,” he said.

Messick also said that controversial team Rock Racing and its owner Michael Ball is expected to be a sponsor again in 2009.

Ball has made a point of accepting cyclists such as Tyler Hamilton, who had been banned from the sport for failed doping tests.

-- Diane Pucin