Posted: May 3, 2017Written by: Lauren Milbourne

Tags: 2017, featured, press release

The 2017 Amgen Tour of California, America’s most prestigious professional cycling race, will pass through Cuesta College’s San Luis Obispo Campus on May 16. Traveling from Pismo Beach, participants of Stage 3 will ride through Cuesta College at approximately 3:25 p.m. on Tuesday, May 16. Entering the campus via its southern entrance on O’Connor Way, riders will turn right onto Colusa Avenue, left onto Hollister Road, and finally left onto northbound Highway 1 toward the finish in Morro Bay.

Campus road closures will be in effect, impacting students and faculty in particular as the date falls during finals week of the spring semester. The event will require that all intersecting roads, driveways and parking lot access points be completely shut down while the race passes through, including the entrances into Cuesta College from northbound Highway 1 at Hollister Road and the southern entrance via O’Connor Way. The Highway 1 southbound entrance at Education Drive will remain open.

“Cuesta College police officers, with support from the California Highway Patrol, will be on hand to enforce the road closures,” said Cuesta College Police Chief Bryan Millard. “The plan is for the roads to be shut down for approximately 45 minutes. We recommend that visitors arrive on the campus no later than 2:45 p.m. in order to avoid being caught outside the road closure areas.”

For those on campus interested in watching the race, a special pedestrian viewing area will be available along the race route in Parking Lot 1 next to Hollister Road.

Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California has become one of the most renowned races on the international cycling calendar, showcasing the most accomplished cyclists from around the world. The men’s race will cover 575 miles through 12 host cities, including Pismo Beach and Morro Bay, from May 14-20. More information about Stage 3 of the race is available online. For questions about the race and its impact on Cuesta College, contact Cuesta College Campus Safety at ccpd@cuesta.edu or (805) 546-3205.