Tour de California permits in hand; excitement mixed
By Kathryn Reed
Tour de California, the multi-day bike race that starts on the South Shore next month, can officially come to Tahoe. The Tahoe Regional Planning Agency approved the permits April 28.
However, the enthusiasm for the ride is dependent on who one listens to.
At a meeting of Heavenly Village folks on Tuesday they spoke of gearing up for the May 15 start. Flags touting the event are hanging from poles. A band has been secured to play that Sunday. A big screen will be erected near Fire + Ice so people can watch the cyclists as they lap the lake 1½ times. That will be going on from 10:30am-2:30pm. Food vendors are still being secured.
The city of South Lake Tahoe is providing 15 tents to nonprofit organizations that will be put up between Stateline and the Y.
“Those got snatched up really quick,” Lauren Thomaselli, South Lake Tahoe events coordinator, said.
Private businesses are planning to have parties – some invite only, some open to the public along Highway 50.
However, don’t expect Lake Tahoe Community College to be participating. When board member Karen Borges asked interim President Steve Maradian on Tuesday what LTCC was doing for Amgen, he smirked and had nothing good to say.
“It’s not going to be as robust as originally thought,” he said of the whole event. “It’s not coming together the way they wanted it to, including the publicity.”
Maradian said the college is not having a booth at the expo at Horizon because of the expense.
Information about the events leading up to the start and for the two days the cyclists are in Tahoe is online.
With a reaction like that, I think we’ll all be happy to be rid of Steve Maradian! The advertising and marketing of the event has been huge, where has he been..too busy harassing the good employees of LTCC?
I’ll be working in one of those non-profit booths and happy to represent Lake Tahoe!
I second 30yrlocal’s comment. LTCC deserves proactive leadership. The Tour of California will have growing challenges like any community event. I guess Maradian doesn’t think LTCC is part of the “community” notwithstanding the name.
Like it or not, there are very mixed thoughts around town as it relates to the event. Other than those directly involved in the race, most people are very ho-hum about it which usually means they are not understanding the economic upside to it. Other than a few lodging properties and restaurants can anyone say they are receiving an economic boost from the event?
I think it’ll be an absolute HOOT! And I hope I can be somewhere with a good view!
I hope our community will hold on with us until the maniac at the top moves on. July 1 cannot come quickly enough. We are a COMMUNITY college. We need a COMMUNITY member at the top. Not someone who clocks out early and leaves the hill while smirking at us yokels on the mountain.