We need your help to make this the best event ever and to show off Modesto to the world.

Volunteers looking for an opportunity to participate in the fourth-annual, high-profile race can apply online for positions including, course marshal, security, media relations and medical control.

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California is scheduled for February 14-22, 2009.  International cycling teams will race through 800 miles of scenic landscape from northern to southern California in an nine-day road race modeled after the Tour de France.  The race will come to Modesto on Tuesday, February 17.

More than 4,000 volunteers in communities throughout the state participated in last year’s third-annual race, making it seamless and successful from start to finish and establishing it as the largest sporting event in the state of California.  In each of the host cities, as many as 350 local volunteers were recruited to help staff the race.

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.

Volunteer positions for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California include:

• Course Marshal
• Health Net Lifestyle Festival EXPO
• Media Relations
• Medical Control
• Security
• Site Decoration/Restoration
• Sweepstakes Surveyor
• Volunteer Check-in

Volunteers must be over the age of 18 or accompanied by an adult.  The online sign-up 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.

To volunteer, please download the pledge card and follow these instructions:

1. Save it to your computer.

2. Fill it out and then save it.

3. E-mail the form as an attachment to czahn@modestogov.com.