NORTHSTAR-AT-TAHOE, Calif. — The first stage of the Tour of California was canceled Sunday because of heavy snow and icy road conditions.
The start of the race was moved back from 11:15 a.m. MDT to 2:15 p.m., but race officials ruled that conditions had not improved enough when the cyclists lined up for the start in South Lake Tahoe.
“It was only within the last 15 minutes (of the start) that it really became clear that the weather conditions weren’t improving,” said Andrew Messick, president of AMG Sports, which runs the Tour of California. “In fact, they were getting worse.”
Snow fell heavily nearly all day and increased over 7,155-foot Brockway Summit, where a steep, fast descent leads to the finish line. Temperatures dipped to as low as 28 degrees, with wind chill of 18. Six race motorcycles crashed on the course, but no one was hurt.
John Henderson: 303-954-1299 or jhenderson@denverpost.com
