Must Read: Santa Rosa to skip 2014 Tour of California
The city has been a longtime supporter of the race, but will be seeking other opportunities in 2014
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Santa Rosa to skip Tour of California in 2013 — The Press Democrat
The City of Santa Rosa announced late Friday that it would not bid to host a stage of the 2014 Amgen Tour of California, taking a break from the bike race that passed through Sonoma County in seven of the last eight years.
The city cited donor fatigue and “the potential for greater success after a hiatus” from the race. Changes in requirements and costs from the organizer, entertainment conglomerate AEG, were also a factor.
Sitting out the Tour of California in 2014 will allow city staff to focus attention on other opportunities, City Manager Kathy Millison said.
“Taking this break from the Tour will allow us to focus our efforts on new prospects,” Millison said in a statement. “While this is a tremendous community event with broad participation, it does require a great deal of time and effort from our Economic Development Division, as well as resources from several other City departments.”
Santa Rosa’s private sector has provided funding to host the Tour since its inception in 2006. Enthusiasm and fundraising peaked in 2012, when Santa Rosa hosted the overall start of the bicycle race.
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