Wednesday, July 1, 2026 Sign In

Amgen Tour Zips Through Santa Barbara

Longest stage of annual cycling race rolls from Pismo to Ventura on May 16.

Amgen Tour Zips Through Santa Barbara

It was as if the Golden State Warriors showed up at your driveway basketball court, ran a three-second fast break leading to a Klay Thompson dunk, and took off.

That’s how quickly the professional riders in the Amgen Tour of California cycling race streamed past onlookers at the corner of Foothill and Cieneguitas Roads shortly after they descended from San Marcos Pass early Thursday afternoon.

“It was a blur,” said Jill Ellis, who hoped to see Tejay van Garderen, the overall race leader. He was somewhere in the peloton of over 100 riders who trailed a breakaway group. “He’s married to a high-school friend,” Ellis said. “He must have gone past us. I think I saw a flash of yellow [the leader’s jersey color].”

AMGEN riders make their way through Santa Barbara County along Highway 192 by Toro Canyon Road during Thursday's Stage 5 race from Pismo Beach to Ventura.