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Monday, Nov. 02, 2009
Our View: Grandiose gamble for Amgen Tour of California leaves Merced out of the bike race
The local civic group that vied for a leg of next year's Amgen Tour of California gambled on an all-or-nothing pitch to race officials.
The local group wanted the leg of the bicycle race next May to start in Merced and end in Yosemite National Park. Park officials rejected the plan and, as reasons, cited many policies already in place.
The National Park Service's reasons aren't the best -- too many people, having to close roads and not wanting to be associated with a contest that has cash prizes -- but they are policy.
The local group should have done its homework. The rejection is a bitter pill for the town to swallow.
The parks service's rejection of the Merced leg of the Amgen tour is misguided, but the local civic leaders were submitting a plan they knew ahead of time, or should have known, that probably wasn't going to win approval. That's a huge disappointment.
Last year's Merced start of the race was memorable. It was a boost of civic pride at the height of misery for a suffering town. Why not try to get that back? Why gamble?
Crystal clear sky, clean air and a visit from the best cyclists in the world, including Lance Armstrong, made it a magnificent February day when the race started in Merced.
For a day, Merced was part of something special. The town looked postcard-pretty on the international stage. For a day, Merced was part of a global dynamic. We enjoyed the limelight that wasn't shining on foreclosures, high unemployment or stores shuttering.
The local group should have tried to make sure that sense of community recovery continued.
Also, the park service should have been more flexible. After all, the place belongs to we the people. And we the people would have enjoyed the race at such scenic location.
The local group gambled with a hand they knew wasn't likely to win. Not smart.
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