RIDE ON—Above, Stage 8 winner Ryder Hesjedal celebrates at the Townsgate Road finish line. Right, George Hincapie, the 2009 U.S. National Road Champion, leans into a turn on Decker Canyon Road. Below, Michael Rogers of Australia enjoys the spoils of victory after winning the overall race. Tens of thousands of cycling fans lined the course to watch Sunday’s events unfold. JANN HENDRY and IRIS SMOOT Acorn Newspapers The Amgen Tour of California brought more than 100,000 spectators to the area last weekend to watch the final leg of a bicycle race that has been dubbed America’s own Tour de France.

The international competition turned worldwide attention to the local scene and created a mini economic boom for the three cities that hosted the event—Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks.

With thousands of national and international visitors eating at restaurants, shopping in stores and booking hotel rooms, the cities experienced a weekend windfall like no other.

Agoura Hills Mayor Bill Koehler said the race created “priceless” economic exposure for the area.

“Bicyclists all over the world watched this event,” Koehler said.

The eight-stage California Tour is the biggest bicycle race in North America. Last Sunday’s final leg included four 21-mile laps through the Conejo Valley and local Santa Monica Mountains. The finish line on Townsgate Road in Westlake Village hummed with activity.

“I believe bicycle enthusiasts will want to visit our area and ride the same course the professionals did,” Koehler said. “This could create a long-term tourist attraction that would be a continuing economic benefit to the region. I have had conversations with the mayors of Thousand Oaks and Westlake Village, and they, like myself, believe this event would be a long-term benefit to our region and would like the opportunity to participate again.”

Andrew Powers, a spokesperson for the city of Thousand Oaks, called the event a “huge success.”

It’s the fourth year for the Amgen Tour, but the first time the final leg has landed here.

All host hotels were filled to capacity, Powers said, including the Renaissance Hotel in Agoura Hills and the Hyatt, Westlake Village Inn and Four Seasons hotels in Westlake.

About 30,000 people gathered at the start/finish line while thousands of others lined the mountain turns and straightaways.

The weekend’s activities started last Friday evening with special events catered by local restaurants and businesses.

A mayors reception was hosted Friday by Ladyface Ale and Brasserie in Agoura Hills. City officials from Agoura Hills, Westlake Village and Thousand Oaks gathered at the restaurant and brewery for a weekend kickoff.

TAKING A HAIRPIN TURN— Riders navigate a tight section of Cornell Road near Agoura Hills, while a slew of support vehicles gives chase. JOE WOODS Acorn Newspapers Owner Cyrena Nouzille said her restaurant created a special weekend brew named Derailleur after the gear change mechanism on a bicycle.

Husband and co-owner Jean- Luc Nouzille said the Fly V Australia team stopped by his restaurant after Sunday’s race.

“It was great,” he said. “It connected the community.”

Nouzille said the cyclists felt they had been treated to a great reception by all three host cities.

“People, whose only thing that they had in common was bicycling, gathered,” Nouzille said. “It connected the community.

Cycling enthusiast Doug Benedon of Agoura Hills also attended the Stage 6 race in Big Bear. He said he was thrilled that such a prestigious event was conducted right in his own backyard.

“We loved it,” Benedon said.

“One of the things that made it so special in Agoura Hills is that local businesses came out and supported it.

“It was a great civic and great sporting event,” Benedon said.

An amateur cyclist who has accomplished several 100-mile rides, Benedon said he enjoyed the Amgen “breakaway tour” last month that allowed amateur cyclists the opportunity to put their wheels on the same course as the professionals.

Agoura Hills Councilmember Denis Weber attended a wine and food festival hosted by Malibu Family Wines on Saturday at Saddlerock Ranch. Chefs from 11 restaurants served food, and guests watched the Stage 7 Los Angeles timed trials live on a bigscreen television.

“It was an upbeat, happy atmosphere,” Weber said.

The event was televised in high-definition worldwide on Versus.

Agoura Hills City Manager Greg Ramirez said the racing teams and promoter AEG “expressed a great deal of pleasure having the final stage here in the Conejo Valley.”

Ramirez applauded his city’s traffic efforts.

“We worked very hard to ensure that the community was not impacted in a negative perspective, and I think it paid off,” he said.

“I think I’m safe in saying that the entire (City) Council would love to do the event again next year,” Ramirez said.

“When we started the planning of this route and started talking to the communities of the Conejo Valley, we believed that there would be tremendous reception from the cycling community,” said Andrew Messick, AEG president. “It felt like we made another step towards accomplishing our goal today, which was to further our reputation as another great race on the international cycling calendar.”