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Tour of California Draws Cycling’s Best | Start List Announced Today

amgen tour of california squaw valley

photo:  Doug Pensinger/Getty Images

The Tour of California bicycle race is set to kick of Stage 2 on Monday, May 16th, at Squaw Valley USA.  Stage two will take cyclists from Squaw to Truckee then up over Donner Pass and down to Sacramento.  Sounds like a helluva ride.  It’s gonna be fun to ski Squaw and watch the start of the race on Monday.

“Who exactly is gonna be in the race?” you ask.  Welp, we’ll let the Official Tour of California website tell ya:

photo:  AP Photo/Michael A. Mariant

Race Draws Top Cyclists, Including Three-Time Champion Levi Leipheimer

LOS ANGELES (May 11, 2011) – The preliminary start list for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California has been announced by AEG, presenter of the race. A world-class roster of more than 140 riders from 18 elite cycling teams are set to compete in the sixth-annual Amgen Tour of California, which kicks off this Sunday, May 15, in Lake Tahoe. The race will cover nearly 800 miles of picturesque California roadways and highways from May 15 – 22. The race, which has become the largest cycling event in America, will feature an extraordinary field of riders from around the world, including competitors from Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

“The preliminary rosters for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California once again feature some of the top talent in the world,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The caliber of riders participating this year will create a challenging race and a fierce competition starting on Sunday.”

The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Team RadioShack, HTC-Highroad, Saxo Bank Sungard, Leopard Trek and Team Garmin-Cervelo, who all will be competing to take the title in the overall team competition. Some of the notable riders planned to start the race include:

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers

Tour de France Stage Winners

World Champions

Current National Champions (by country)

American Stage Race Champions

The2011 Amgen Tour of Californiaroster includes the following 18 professional cycling teams. (Please note: Due to operational issues, previously announced Columbian-based Movistar Team will not be participating in the race.)

*Team rosters are subject to change

1.) TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)

2.) TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO (USA)

3.) HTC-HIGHROAD (USA)

4.) SKY PROCYCLING (GBR)

5.) BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

6.) LEOPARD TREK (LUX)

7.) LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)

8.) SAXO BANK SUNGARD (DEN)

9.) RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)

10.) UNITEDHEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING (USA)

11.) TEAM TYPE 1 – sanofi-aventis (USA)

12.) TEAM NETAPP (GER)

13.) TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 (CAN)

14.) BISSELL PRO CYCLING (USA)

15.) JAMIS-SUTTER HOME (USA)

16.) JELLY BELLY CYCLING TEAM p/b KENDA (USA)

17.) KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES-OPTUMHEALTH (USA)

18.) KENDA/5-HOUR ENERGY PRO CYCLING PRESENTED BY GEARGRINDER (USA)

The 2010 Amgen Tour of California reigning champion, Michael Rogers, will not be participating in the race this year due to a serious illness.

“It’s a great disappointment to be missing the chance to defend my title at the Amgen Tour of California,” said Michael Rogers of HTC-Highroad. “It is one of my favorite races with some fantastic support and I wish the organizers the very best of luck for next week. Unfortunately, I have missed the last few weeks due to a virus. Fortunately I am back on the bike training and on course to regaining full fitness, however the Amgen Tour of California has come a just a bit too soon for me. I expect to be back racing at the Bayern-Rundfahrt in a couple of weeks’ time.” “We are disappointed that Michael Rogers will not be able to defend his title this year, but we wish him a full and speedy recovery,” continued Messick.

Stages for the2011 Amgen Tour of Californiainclude:

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the2011 Amgen Tour of Californiais a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course through the state from May 15-22. For more information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

 

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