Women Will Have More Prominent Role In This Year's Amgen Tour Of California

SACRAMENTO (CBS13) — Cycling is one of the most popular recreation sports in Sacramento, yet most of those who ride are men—which is understandable as the tour is dominated by men. But now, more events are featuring women, which may lead to more females picking up the sport.

The tour draws tens of thousands of people to Downtown Sacramento.

"It will be an exciting circuit," said Mike Sophia with the Sacramento Sports Commission. "They will come around 10-11 times around the Capitol and Midtown."

The tour is expected to bring an $8 million economic boost to hotels, restaurants and shops. Adding more will pump even more into the city.

"You have 10-12 teams, the 100-plus riders, plus all their support, so it's another boost to the economy," Sophia said.

Inspiration turns to sale, as Bowen Doxsee of City Bicycle Works says the shop expects to sell more women's bikes and clothing once the race comes through town.

"It has been growing leaps and bounds as more women are less intimidated, and so I think anything we can do to promote more people racing bikes is fantastic," Doxsee said.

Jean Behse has been riding since 1986. She says as a young girl, women's cycling was unheard of, so she never thought of competing.

"I think my time was before women really got into sports," she said. "So who knows, maybe?"

There wasn't an opportunity back then, but for riders like Katie Bavasa, she believes she would have bought a bike earlier if the women's tour was as popular as the men's circuit is now.