The 2011 Amgen Tour of California might need to change its name because it is starting in Nevada this year.

South Lake Tahoe had been touted as the start city, but it was announced today the multi-day event is starting in Stateline.

Cyclists will start the race May 15 at MontBleu casino. The Stateline property along with Harveys is providing 1,848 rooms for free to staff and teams.

This is the first time Lake Tahoe has been part of the largest cycling event in North America.

On Day 1 riders will leave the casino, go past Edgewood Tahoe Golf Course around Heavenly Village, past the starting line again and onto Highway 50 for the 72 miles around the lake.

After passing Tahoe City for a second time, there’s a short ascent to Dollar Point before turning left up Highway 267 to finish at Northstar-at-Tahoe after riding 119 miles with an elevation game of 5,500 feet.

Here is a video about Day 1.

Day 2 is one of the longest stages – 133 miles. It goes from Squaw Valley at the Olympic rings on Highway 89 and ends in Sacramento. In between, riders will go through Truckee, along Donner Lake and down to Nevada City and Grass Valley.

Tour of California covers 800 miles.

Stages include:

• Stage 1: May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to Northstar-at-Tahoe

• Stage 2: May 16 – Squaw Valley to Sacramento

• Stage 3: May 17 – Auburn to Modesto

• Stage 4: May 18 – Livermore to San Jose

• Stage 5: May 19 – Seaside to Paso Robles

• Stage 6: May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial

• Stage 7: May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy

• Stage 8: May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks.