Amgen Tour needs volunteers

Organizers for the 2008 Amgen Tour of California have announced that volunteer opportunities for the professional cycling road race are posted online at the official tour website, www .amgentourofcalifornia.com.

Volunteers looking for an opportunity to participate in the third annual race can apply online for positions.

The tour is scheduled for Feb. 17 to 24. International cycling teams will race 750 miles from Northern to Southern California in an eight-day road race modeled after the Tour de France.

The majority of volunteers are needed to serve as course marshals, providing support for the 75 professional course marshals that travel with the tour and support the local law enforcement authorities in each city. Course marshal volunteers have an opportunity to be on the race route, close to the cyclists, with responsibility for monitoring pedestrian traffic, barricades and street closures.

Other volunteer positions include Health Net Lifestyle Festival Expo, media relations, medical control, security, site decoration/restoration, sweepstakes surveyor and volunteer check-in.

Volunteers must be over 18 or accompanied by an adult. The online signup form offers volunteers the opportunity to rank their top three job preferences, and every attempt is made to match volunteers to their area of interest.

More than 4,000 volunteers throughout the state participated in last year's race.