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Cold Temps Await Tour Riders At Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (CBS13) -- Officials have still not decided whether the unusually cold temperatures forecasted for the first stage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California will cause any changes to the route.

A sharp decrease in temperatures overnight is expected to lead to heavy snowfall in the Sierra overnight, leaving at least a few inches of snow accumulated on the roads around Lake Tahoe on Sunday morning.

The first stage of the international cycling race is scheduled to begin in South Lake Tahoe at 10:30 a.m.

Temperatures are forecasted to be hovering around a frigid 36 degrees Fahrenheit for the duration of the race, which circles the lake one-and-a-half times before finishing at the Northstar at Tahoe Resort sometime after 3:00 p.m.

Adding to logistical headaches, fans will have to detour around the preferred route to South Lake Tahoe from the Central Valley due to construction that has closed Highway 50 east of Placer County. Motorists can use Highway 88 to Highway 89 instead.

Race officials have made recent statements that contingency plans are in place in case of unsafe racing conditions, but have not elaborated on what those plans entail.

- Detour To South Lake Tahoe
- Detailed Info On Tour Of California Stages
- Current South Lake Tahoe Forecast

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