Tour of California: Future Grand Tour?

American fans are hungry for a bigger Tour of California

Although only three years old, the Tour of California has quickly grown into a top-ranked stage race for the world's best cyclists. Behind excellent organization, challenging race routes and careful team selection, the ToC has been able to establish itself as a destination race for many top pros. Ten years ago, the best riders from Europe wouldn't even think of coming to America for a stage race. Today though, thanks to Medalist Sports (the organizers of California, Georgia, and Missouri), and Amgen (the title sponsor), there are a dearth of excellent riders coming across the pond to compete at California, and to a lesser extent (for now), the tours of Georgia and Missouri.

So what is the next step for the ToC? Already race organizers have chosen to expand the race to bookend weekends, making it nine days long. It was a prudent and necessary step for the race organization to take, as the overall route now feels more like a true stage race. An uphill finish on the final stage also lends credibility for the eventual overall winner. Perhaps a race like the ToC can begin to consider whether it wants to become a three week grand tour someday. Now, before you say "Impossible!", let's review the argument for such a development.

The Tour of California is in an ideal spot on the racing calender to make the leap to three week stage race. There are few other races happening in February, so the talent required for a grand tour would be relatively easy to recruit. Plus, there are few places in the world better suited to an early season stage race than California. The weather is usually decent even in winter, and far warmer than northern Europe in February. Riders looking to prepare for the Giro would be able to ride the Tour of California as preparation. Many riders have used the Giro d'Italia as preparation for the Tour de France, and California could serve the same purpose for the Giro or early season northern classics.

Another compelling argument for a grand tour in California is the fact that the cycling off season is getting shorter and shorter. Increasingly, the racing schedule is impinging on the "off" months of November and December, and most teams are currently planning training camps as early as November 30th. Why couldn't many of those teams just start their training camps in early December with the understanding that for eight to ten riders on the team, the Tour of California would be a major goal in two months time?

Finally, and perhaps most compellingly, America is long overdue for a grand tour. Cycling in America is gaining in popularity, and the crowds for bike races, especially in California, are huge each year. Not only would a grand tour survive in America, it would thrive. Unlike in the Vuelta a Espana, where there are seldom large crowds, California consistently attracts a huge fan contingent. This leads to better sponsor exposure and to increased funds for the race. In fact, there were so many teams interested in riding the ToC last year, that race organizers had to turn several high profile teams away, including Cadel Evans' Silence-Lotto squad.

The Tour of California, at least for the next few years, will likely remain as a nine day event. Race organizers have been careful to bring the event along slowly, and have built on their success year after year. But sooner or later the reality will become clear that the Tour of California is made for grand tour status. And while it may take awhile to happen, the ToC seems destined to become a three week event.