Pack a tent, see Lance Armstrong

This article was originally on a blog post platform and may be missing photos, graphics or links. See About archive blog posts.

The Amgen Tour of California is moving from the Rose Bowl to San Diego County tonight, getting ready for the final stage that will end in Escondido. But first will come a climb up more than 5,000 feet at Palomar Mountain, and some race officials were getting word Saturday evening that nearly 3,000 people are camping out at the top of the mountain where there is still plenty of snow left after last week’s storms.

Lance Armstrong, who said that Saturday’s crowds estimated around Pasadena at 70,000 were ‘nothing short of amazing,’ said he was looking forward to Sunday’s stage. ‘I have good memories of the place,’ Armstrong said. ‘It will be a good test.’

Because of the threat of winter weather, the Tour of California hasn’t had a true mountaintop climb, and racers had been calling for one if organizers want this U.S. event to be considered one of the best in the world.

Christian Vande Velde of Garmin-Slipstream, who finished fifth at last year’s Tour de France, said Saturday that it was time to quit wondering when the Tour of California would become a great race.

‘I don’t think this race is given the credit it deserves,’ Vande Velde said. ‘It has been a world-class race since Day 1. I don’t know what needs to happen for it to become a great race because it is a great race. Look at the names that are coming. Just riding in the group is a guy like Carlos Sastre and he just won the Tour de France. ‘

-- Diane Pucin