SAN JOSE, CALIF. – Hotel Valencia Santana Row is excited to welcome the largest road cycling event in America, the AMGEN Tour, by offering a special incentive for sports enthusiasts! AMGEN spectators and participants will enjoy the “Stay and Play” package on Monday, February 16. “Stay and Play” includes a discounted room for two and a deluxe carbo-load breakfast buffet the next morning. Rates are from $249, per night, exclusive of tax.

“Hotel Valencia is proud to offer an exclusive package for this year’s spectacular AMGEN Tour,” said Bonnie Best, General Manager of Hotel Valencia Santana Row. “Stay and Play” is a unique offering among San Jose Hotels and we’re thrilled to support the racers, their families and fans.”

The morning of the race, guests can partake in the deluxe carbo-load breakfast buffet. With plenty of fresh pastries, delicious berry blintzes, oatmeal, a variety of cereals and granola, fresh and dried fruit, as well as eggs, sausages and more, sports enthusiasts and racers can have an energy packed meal before heading over to the starting line of the third leg of this legendary race. For those that prefer an even wider variety of breakfast goodies, Hotel Valencia provides a separate breakfast menu with additional morning treats to begin the day.

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Multi-day cycling and community events target diverse roster of amateur and professional riders in conjunction with returning Amgen Tour of California and LIVESTRONG® Challenge San Jose kick-off

“Season of cycling” to promote San Jose Green Vision green mobility

SAN JOSE, CALIF.—The San Jose Cycling Classic will be held February 14, 2009 throughout San Jose. The multi-pronged event will encompass professional, amateur and community cycling activities, including a competitive time trial race, a criterium, a recreational ride and a CEO Challenge. It is expected to attract more than 1,000 cycling athletes, 20,000 spectators and cycling-related exhibitors.

“Cycling is an important form of alternative transportation, and San Jose’s Green Vision puts San Jose on the path to being a cycling-friendly city,” San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed said. “The San Jose Cycling Classic lets the cyclists everywhere know that San Jose and the greater SouthBay region is a one of the best places in the world to cycle whether you’re an amateur or a professional.”

The San Jose Cycling Classic will kick off with the The King of the Mountain Time Trial and Ride sponsored by Mattson Technology, and a CEO Challenge powered by SunPower, where riders will leave San Jose City Hall and reach the base of Sierra Road for a mass start time trial race. This challenging hill was featured in several Amgen Tour of California races and exploded the peloton. The climb is 3.7 miles long with an average gradient of 10 percent; however, some pitches reach 17-18 percent. It will include police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. The San Jose Cycling Classic will also feature a 30-mile recreational ride which will start along the same route but will not include the challenging Sierra Road climb.

All rides will start with police motorcycles leading a rolling closure north and east of Downtown San Jose to the base of the Sierra Road climb. Cyclists on the King of the Mountain and CEO Challenge ride will then cross a timing pad to activate timing chips and begin their ascent up Sierra Road—a stunning 3.7-mile, 1,830-foot climb. After summiting Sierra Road, riders may complete the Sierra/Calaveras/Piedmont loop and ride west to City Hall. Even though the ride officially ends at the Sierra Hill summit, riders are invited to return back to City Hall for a post ride celebration.

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