It's a summer sight even those who don't follow sports can't miss.

Hundreds of thousands of the world's most rabid cycling fans line the roadways of rural France for a glimpse of cyclists whizzing by at speeds in excess of 60 miles per hour.

By the race's end, most of those fans spill into Paris, hoping to catch sight of the rider wearing the yellow jersey - the rider who will win the Tour De France.

On February 24, residents of Santa Clarita will find themselves in the grips of a similar bicyclers' paradise when the second annual Amgen Tour of California will run stage six of its seven-stage, eight-day racing event.

The stage starts in Santa Barbara, winds 105 miles through Ojai and Santa Paula, and completes a trio of circuits through Santa Clarita before finishing at Valencia Town Center.

"We are all excited," said Irene Thomas-Johnson, president of Santa Clarita Velo, the local club branch of the U.S. Cycling Federation. "These are the world's top teams coming to California. I've been to the Tour De France, and this is just as exciting."

How big is this event in terms of sheer size and fan interest? Last year, more than 1.3 million fans watched the riders make the 650-mile trek from San Francisco all the way to Redondo Beach. This year's race finishes in Long Beach, and adds a tour stop in Santa Clarita.

"Santa Clarita is proud to be a host city of the Amgen Tour of California," said Santa Clarita Councilmember Laurene Weste in a recent press release. "The Amgen Tour of California is a world class race and we cannot wait to be world class hosts to the thousands of fans who come out and enjoy the race in our beautiful city."

The race, which raised more than $1 million for cancer care and treatment through Amgen's "Breakaway from Cancer" initiative in 2006, will look to raise even more in 2007.

It should also provide a financial boost to the local economy.

Valencia hotels are booking up for the race weekend and local restaurant managers and shop owners are planning for a busy couple of days.

Tim Brink, who works at Performance Cyclery in Saugus, says the shop expects to capitalize on the bump in interest. "This is huge," he says. "It's the biggest ride in the U.S. and it's coming through Santa Clarita. When I heard about it, I was pretty shocked."

Club Velo is staging a women's pro race for the day Amgen rolls through town. It's scheduled to end at 11:30, which gives participants plenty of time to get to Town Center Drive.

The tour will feature 18 racing teams from around the globe. Study the list of entrants carefully. You may be hearing them again coming out of France this summer.

Last year's Amgen winner was Floyd Landis. He won the Tour De France months later, before a failed drug test cost him the crown in the eyes of Tour De France officials. Landis will not ride in this year's race. But there is no shortage of star talent.

One of the teams favored to win is the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, the team of retired seven-time Tour De France champion Lance Armstrong. Headlining the team will be 2006 USA Cycling national road racing champion George Hincapie.

"We are very excited, and looking forward to the 2007 Amgen Tour of California," said Ed Beamon, team manager for the Navigators Insurance Cycling Team. "As an American team that competes around the world, it is very gratifying to know that one of the best events on the international calendar is right here in America."

The cyclists will enter the city via Highway 126 and wind into town through the industrial park on Avenues Stanford and Scott.

From Avenue Scott, they'll turn right onto McBean Parkway and head toward Valencia Boulevard. They'll turn left on Valencia and begin a circuit that will take them onto Tourney Road. They'll follow Tourney to Magic Mountain Boulevard, turn right and ride back to McBean, where they'll turn right and do it all again.

After three trips, they'll end at Town Center Drive.

Confused? Just watch for the road closure signs. Short of that, look for the crowds. They will be thick.

More than 50,000 are expected to be on hand to see the racers and to take part in the free race-day festival, which will feature a health and fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food and entertainment.

The day will culminate with an awards ceremony, where the day's top finishers will receive their winner's jerseys.

The overall leader will receive (or retain) one as well... like in the Tour De France.


For more information log onto www.santa-clarita.com.