Could top cyclists like Peter Sagan, David Sabriskie, and Levi Leipheimer be headed to Turlock?
On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council will consider submitting an application to host a stage of the 2013 Amgen Tour of California cycling road race.
Even more exciting - Turlock was asked to apply by event organizers. The request marks the first time Turlock has been contacted by organizers.
If the City of Turlock is successful in its bid, Turlock could become ground-zero of the cycling world for a day. The Tour of California the biggest cycling race in America, and one of the largest in the world after the Tour De France.
Turlock would be broadcast live on NBC or NBC Sports Network, and worldwide through more than 200 countries. Turlock would receive a 30 second commercial in America, and a 30 second promotional feature on the city would be broadcast worldwide.
Turlock could be chosen as either the starting point or finishing point for a leg. Sonora drew more than 10,000 people for a stage start last year, with Clovis drawing more than 30,000 for a finish.
The event could be costly, with a required community investment of up to $100,000 in private sponsorships and community donations, as well as unknown costs related to street closures and public safety. But the event is expected to generate a return on investment of 3:1 if Turlock is selected as a starting point, or 6:1 if Turlock is a finishing point.
Last year, 14 cities were chosen as hosts for the eight-day event, with Sonora and Clovis the two closest locales. Modesto hosted stage starts from 2008 through 2011, but was not chosen in 2012.

On Tuesday, the Turlock City Council is also expected to:
• Consider renaming the Turlock Skate Park to the Brandon Koch Memorial Skate Park, in honor of a skate park enthusiast who died at age 26 of adrenocortical cancer. More than 1,000 signatures were collected in favor of the renaming, and the Parks, Recreation, and Community Programs Commission recommended the renaming at their June meeting.
• Hear an update on proceedings in the State Legislature related to Redevelopment Agencies, which were dissolved on Feb. 1 by act of legislature in a budget-balancing maneuver.
• Consider a report on the housing assets owned by the Successor Agency to the Turlock Redevelopment Agency, which must be submitted to the California Department of Finance.
Per state law on the wind-down of redevelopment, Turlock must notify the state of its unencumbered housing funds, which the county auditor-controller must redistribute to local school districts. Turlock is allowed to retain existing RDA housing projects, however, the state and Turlock may disagree on what the city is allowed to keep.
The DOF's interpretation of the report could impact Turlock's ability to construct the second phase of Avena Bella, a multi-unit low-income development at 500 W. Linwood Ave.
• Approve an updated Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule for the RDA successor agency. The document details previously obligated RDA funding to the state, so Turlock might retain that income.
• Hear a presentation on the Turlock Business Incentives Program, which offers cash to small businesses which open up shop in vacant storefronts and meet certain criteria, such as submitting a business plan.
• Receive staff updates on board, commission, and committee vacancies, as well as ongoing capital projects.
• Approve advertising for construction bids to replace water and sewer lines in the area bounded by Yosemite Avenue, East Main Street, Canal Drive, and Berkeley Avenue. The project will replace undersized water lines and failing sewer lines, which currently must be maintained monthly to ensure the sewer does not back up.
• Approve the purchase of two mobile soccer scoreboards for the Turlock Regional Sports Complex. The $1,719 cost will be paid through a grant from The Arrowhead Club.
• Establish benefit assessment districts for the new Blue Diamond development, Avena Bella, and a new development at the Southeast corner of East Minnesota Avenue and Greenboro Street. Such districts assess parcel owners annually to provide landscaping, lighting, and street maintenance services.
The Turlock City Council's regularly scheduled meeting will begin at 7 p.m. Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, 156 S. Broadway.