SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A route has been announced for the first part of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California bike race, which will begin with 2.4-mile course in downtown Sacramento.

The fourth-annual nine-day race starts on Saturday, Feb. 14, with a prologue along streets surrounding the Capitol.

For 2 1/2 hours, the field of more than 125 cyclists will cover the prologue course by setting off at one-minute intervals. The cyclist with the fastest time will receive the Amgen leader jersey.

"The speed and power seen during a prologue is unmatched in any event in cycling," said Michael Sayers, a Sacramento resident and longtime professional cyclist, in a prepared statement. "The course looks to be a great backdrop for a true clash of cycling titans."

Sacramento Police Department officials estimate a crowd of between 75,000 and 100,000 for the prologue, which will mark Lance Armstrong's first U.S. start since ending his three-year retirement this fall.

With the start and finish lines separated by only two blocks, spectators will have the opportunity to easily see the racers at both the start and finish lines.

"This will be a unique opportunity to see all of the racers individually as opposed to seeing Lance Armstrong in the middle of a pack," said John McCasey, executive director of the Sacramento Sports Commission, the group that attracted the Amgen race to the capital. "The speed and constant stream of cyclists will be an incredible spectacle."

Meanwhile, Davis is preparing for the first stage of the race, which takes place on Feb. 15. This stage will include two laps in downtown Davis before riders head west to Santa Rosa. About 50,000 fans are expected to crowd into downtown Davis for the race.

The 2009 field includes two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer and Armstrong, a seven-time winner of the Tour de France.

The race will travel almost the entire length of California on a demanding course from Sacramento to Escondido.

Scheduled from Feb. 14-22, the race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes.

Other host cities include Sausalito, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Modesto, Merced, Clovis, Visalia, Paso Robles, Solvang, Santa Clarita, Pasadena and Rancho Bernardo.