Sonora Residents Relish Opportunity To Host Stage Of Amgen Tour

SONORA (CBS13) - Some people are comparing it to the Gold Rush, and the Amgen Tour is indeed proving to be a gold mine for some Sonora businesses.

Spectators on Tuesday were already rolling in for Stage 4 of the world-class bike race and local businesses were gearing up.

Downtown Sonora is rolling out the warmest of welcomes and gaining global recognition by hosting the world's greatest cyclists on Wednesday.

"We're showing our love for the Amgen Tour and really appreciate the opportunity," said stage organizer Darrell Slocum.

Hosting a stage of the Amgen Tour is a first for the Gold Rush town. With a population of 5,000, they're about to see it not double but triple.

A projected 10,000 visitors is a sweet treat.

"Tourism is a very big deal for us. Being in the foothills, especially downtown, we thrive on tourism, so this is a gift," The Candy Vault owner Stacey Saler said.

She said the candy store will open at 6 a.m. on Wednesday.

"We are known for our sea salt caramel and bacon chocolate," she said.

Residents are hoping cycling spectators savor their quaint community.

Shirley Sarno, who fell in love with Sonora and moved here after a few ski trips, owns the historic Gunn House Hotel. She's hoping first-time visitors appreciate the town like she did.

"Hopefully they will come back and people who never heard of Sonora will go, 'Oh that's cute,'" she said.

She and all the other hotels nearby are booked

"Everybody is revved up," she said.

It's the aftermath they're also looking forward to, convinced once people see Sonora firsthand, they'll be back.

"I've been here about half an hour. I like it, small town, never been up this way," one visitor said Tuesday afternoon.

Amgen fans will no doubt be impressed by the lush views of the Mother Lode. But the cyclists? Maybe not.

"The changes in terrain and elevation on our stage are by far the most extreme of the race," Slocum said.

Stage 4 from Sonora to Clovis covers 130 miles of grueling climbs and curves.

"Amgen Tour people like to mix it up a little, add a different element," Slocum said. "This is very unique."

Cyclists will be taking off from downtown Sonora at 10:30 a.m.