June 1, 2005
Stage 1: Panorama Point Prologue
Start: Pine Grove School.
Finish: Panorama Point.
Time: Thrusday, 5-7:20 p.m. start times.
Best Place to Watch the Race: At Panorama Point. From the top of the Panorama Point County Park you can view 80 percent of the race course. Spectators will get a chance to see riders barreling down the long straight away on East Side Road and then watch as they wind their way up to the top of the hill.
Tremendous photo opportunities are to be had on a clear day with Mt. Hood and the entire valley in view.
The 2.5-mile course is generally a gradual downhill slope. Starting with a straight road that leads to an S-curve, the course then proceeds up a small hill and complete the stage with a sharp left to an uphill finish at Panorama View Point. This stage will be fast.
Awards: Race Leaders jerseys and stage awards will be presented at the riders meeting at 9 a.m. Friday, June 3 at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort.
Stage 2: Cooper Spur Circuit Race
Start: Cooper Spur Resort.
Finish: Cooper Spur Resort.
Time: Friday, 10-10:50 start times.
Best Place to Watch the Race: The finish line at Cooper Spur is a great place to watch. Music and food are available, in addition to the fact that the resort marks the summit of the race where, decisive moves and attacks will be made.
Simply put, Stage two is brutal. This stage will be the first big test of fitness and endurance. The race will start and end at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort. The start of the race consists of a steady descent on Cooper Spur Road for 8.0 miles before joining Baseline road and the start of the category 2 Cooper Spur Climb.
It starts gradual enough but continues to get steeper on the way up. KOM hot spots and the proceeding neutral support stations are located right before the resort.
Awards: Jerseys and stage awards will be presented at the Pasta Feed at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort immediately following the stage. Tickets may be purchased for the pasta feed at the door.
Stage 3: Scenic Gorge Time Trial
Start: Mosier
Finish: Mosier
Time: Saturday, 8:30-11 a.m. start times.
Best Place to Watch the Race: Anywhere along the course is going to be a winner.
Note: Times are approximate. The time trial will start from the old Mosier Packing House, located downtown Mosier.
Riders will leave at 30 second intervals on the very scenic Gorge Hwy. 30 that heads east along the Columbia River. Pavement is in excellent condition and motor traffic is minimal.
After pushing hard on a gradual uphill climb for 5 ¼ miles, riders will turn around for a gradual descent on the way back.
Riders can’t anticipate a free ride for the second half of the course, though. The famous Gorge winds are sure to rear their head.
Awards: Jerseys and stage awards will be presented at the 4:15 p.m. in front of Full Sail Brewing.
Stage 4: Downtown Hood River Criterium
Start: Full Sail Brewery
Finish: Full Sail Brewery
Time: Saturday, 5-7:20 p.m. start times
Best Place to Watch the Race: The two best places are the S-curves on the far west end of the course and the finish line. The S-curves allow spectators to get within inches of the riders as they careen around the corners at 40+ mph.
The sound of scraping metal and shouts can be heard all night long as riders lean their bikes so far over they drag their pedals on the asphalt.
The finish line is where the primes and sprint finish will be located, plus food and music will be on tap.
This is an incredibly challenging criterium course that will throw everything at the riders. It will start in front of Full Sail Brewing Company and proceed in a clockwise fashion. The riders will start uphill on Columbia before taking a sharp right hand turn onto Wasco Street.
They will then immediately descend into a left hand curve followed immediately by a sharp right hand turn. A long flat straight stretch on Industrial allows riders to pick up serious speed before entering into a four corner square block that drops the riders back onto the finishing stretch 200 meters from the finish line.
Stage 5: Three Summits
Start: Cooper Spur Resort.
Finish: Cooper Spur Ski Area.
Time: Sunday, 8:30-9:30 a.m. start times.
Best Place to Watch the Race: From the resort or ski area.
If you want to maximize viewing, head up to Cooper Spur Ski Area to watch the finish. Then cruise down to the resort and enjoy the post-race party!
This classic mountain stage starts at Cooper Spur Mountain Resort. Riders will start the stage with a long decent back down into the Hood River Valley. This will be followed by no less than three climbs, all rated as category-one.
The steepest section of the entire race is in the last 200 meters of this stage. Riders will have to save energy for it or risk the embarrassment of having to get off and walk their bikes.
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