The city of Santa Clarita will host the Stage 4 Finish for the 2017 Amgen Tour of California, America’s most prestigious cycling race, presented by AEG, on Wednesday, May 17, 2017. Members of the community are encouraged to join in on the excitement of this world class event by attending the Lifestyle Festival, a day-long festival which begins at noon on Wednesday, May 17. The festival will take place adjacent to the Stage 4 Finish at Magic Mountain Parkway at Westfield Valencia Town Center, located at 24201 Valencia Boulevard.

“We are extremely excited that Santa Clarita is once again hosting a stage for the Amgen Tour of California,” said Mayor Cameron Smyth. “I encourage residents to come to the Westfield Valencia Town Center and cheer on the cyclists. It’s one of the world’s best cycling events and it’s coming to our city – that’s something to celebrate!”

The Lifestyle Festival is designed to provide and promote a healthy lifestyle and cycling-related experiences. The festival provides a day of entertainment and fun for the whole family.

The 2017 Amgen Tour of California (May 11-20), America’s most prestigious professional cycling race, brings exciting experiences for fans of all ages each spring. Through a day-long Lifestyle Festival located near the finish line each day, custom VIP Experiences are available for those who want to be even closer to the world-class competition and competitors. America’s largest cycling event is accessible and entertaining for everyone, from families to outdoor enthusiasts to race fanatics.

Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California has become one of the most important 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 from Sacramento to Pasadena from May 14-20. The Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease™ Women’s Race empowered with SRAM will cover more than 250 miles through South Lake Tahoe, Elk Grove and Sacramento from May 11-14.

Unlike any other sport, fans of all ages have opportunities to interact with the athletes before the race kicks off each morning. Cyclists arrive in team buses and begin warming up about two hours before the race, and many are accessible for meet-and-greets and photos. Fans also congregate near the announcer stage, where each rider must sign in for the day, for autographs and photos as they exit the stage.

LIFESTYLE FESTIVAL
While fans await the cyclists at each day’s finish line, they can partake in the race’s popular daylong Lifestyle Festival. Designed to provide and promote healthy lifestyle and cycling-related experiences, the Lifestyle Festival offers a day of free entertainment and fun for everyone, from families to first-time race visitors to veteran fans.

Located adjacent to the daily finish line, the Lifestyle Festival is an engaging and interactive space for fans. Featuring more than 40 exhibitors daily, family activities, food and drink, live race streaming on large video screens, cancer and cardiovascular awareness education and more, the Lifestyle Festival provides the perfect place for attendees to spend time during the race. Information on exhibitor opportunities is available at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/festival. A schedule of events will be posted closer to the race – highlights will include:

· Amgen, a biotechnology company in the race to dramatically improve patients’ lives, is proud to sponsor the Amgen Tour of California yet again this year. To raise awareness around two of the world’s most serious illnesses and connect with patients, title sponsor Amgen will host two booths; Breakaway from Cancer® and Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM at the Lifestyle Festival.
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o Breakaway from Cancer® is a national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship. Representatives from Amgen’s four Breakaway from Cancer® independent nonprofit partners will be on-site, offering information and support for festivalgoers who are interested in prevention, facing a new diagnosis, caring for a loved one, or struggling with financial issues. In addition, event attendees will have the opportunity to buy an Amgen Tour of California-themed t-shirt with all proceeds benefiting the Breakaway from Cancer® independent nonprofit partners.

o Amgen’s newest initiative Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM will encourage Americans to be aware of their risk of heart disease through cholesterol and blood pressure screening, courtesy of the American Heart Association, to understand how lifestyle choices can impact their risk of heart disease and to feel empowered and take action to eat better and get active for good heart health!

· The Lexus space at the Lifestyle Festival near the finish line each day will be built out of a refurbished shipping container with athletically inspired design and points of interest throughout. Guests can visit two fully immersive virtual reality experiences. Lexus Elevate will give cycling fans the opportunity to follow former pro Christian Vande Velde on a ride while he describes his thoughts on cycling’s most enduring question… Why ride? Guests in the space will also have the opportunity to enjoy the VR Cycling Challenge within a virtual peloton, 3-D spatial sound and a 360-degree view. The Lexus F SPORT Bike will be on display and the live race broadcast via the Microsoft Tour Tracker will be available for viewing.

· The Maxxis BMX Stunt Team performs across the country, bringing thrilling BMX displays to professional sporting events, exhibitions and fairs. The team consists of some of the best riders in the country, as seen on the X Games and Dew Tour, throwing down tricks that will be sure to impress. The team will perform daily at the Amgen Tour of California Finish Line, so be sure to stop by and cheer them on!

· Strider Races are local race and play experiences created at the grassroots level designed to let toddlers and young kids ages 18 months to 5 years old explore the world on two wheels and participate in some friendly competitive riding. Strider Races will be held at select Start and Finish Cities including South Lake Tahoe,
Elk Grove, Sacramento, Big Bear Lake and Pasadena. For more information or to register, please visit http://amgentourofcalifornia.com/strider.

VIP EXPERIENCES
Cycling fans can’t get any closer to the action at the Amgen Tour of California and the Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease™ Women’s Race empowered with SRAM than race-day VIP Experiences. These limited edition hospitality packages are the only way for fans to get on the course and behind the scenes during a stage of America’s Greatest Race. Each custom-designed experience will bring fans closer to the action and the world’s most talented and decorated men and women cyclists:

· VIP Car Ride ($600-$700): A behind-the-scenes experience like no other in professional sports; guests are actually a part of the race watching the riders up close inside the peloton! Arrive at the finish ahead of the cyclists and watch them cross the finish line. Participants will receive an official Amgen Tour of California jersey and hospitality pass. Limited availability remains for select stages.

· Time Trial Ride at Big Bear Lake on May 19, 2017 ($300): Ride the official Time Trial Stage on your bike just hours before the pros take the course.

· Finish Line Experience ($500): Get a glimpse of the inner workings of the event. Visit the broadcast compound, which generates the feed that is simulcast to over 200 countries and territories. Check out the backstage area where the riders prepare for the daily awards ceremony. Get insight and knowledge from industry friends and experts! Includes Hospitality Pass and a Commemorative gift.

· Michelob Ultra VIP Club / Start & Finish Line Hospitality ($65-$225): Perfect for friends, family, clients and employees, experience all the excitement of race day from the comfort of lounge-style seating with exclusive premium views of the action, all-inclusive food, beverage (beer, wine and soda) and live feeds of the final two hours of the race at select stages. Discounts available for multiple stages and groups of 6+.

For more information on VIP Experiences visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/VIP or contact Carter Jones at 213-763-4662 or cajones@aegworldwide.com.