An internationally sanctioned professional cycling road race, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will host 17 teams and 136 riders from 24 countries for the fourth-annual race from February 14-22.
The race will bring the top cycling talent in the world to compete across more than 750 miles down the state of California from the state’s capital, Sacramento, to San Diego County. Attracting an unprecedented field of riders from around the world, cyclists hail from countries as far away as Belgium, Cuba, Finland, France, Germany, New Zealand, South Africa and Sweden.
Although the unprecedented headliner for the 2009 edition of the race is seven-time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, the field is chock full venerable champions, hardened veterans, amazing talents, and a few comebacks.
“As the Amgen Tour of California continues to grow in stature year after year, we continue to see the caliber of the field increase,” said Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports. “The group of cyclists that will comprise the field for the 2009 race will create an unprecedented level of competition that is sure to make 2009 the best year yet. We are looking forward to watching the competition unfold.”
And if you're still debating whether this race is the "best field" ever assembled in the United States, just listen to reigning Tour de France Champion, Cervélo TestTeam's Carlos Sastre.
“It’s like the Tour de France. You can see the proof that this race is growing, even since last year. This is my first time in this race, but it seems like a great race and draws a lot of media attention.”
Indeed, the field will include riders from well-known teams such as Astana, Team Columbia-Highroad, Quick Step, Saxo Bank and Garmin-Slipstream, which returns to defend the title as the winner of the overall team competition.
Though there might be some changes to team rosters before riders take off from the Prologue platform, some of the notable riders planned to begin the race in Sacramento include:
Tour de France Champions
Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana; Carlos Sastre (ESP), Cervélo Test Team
Tour de France Stage Winners
Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana; Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step; Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank; Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Columbia-Highroad; Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank; Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing; George Hincapie (USA), Team Columbia-Highroad; Thor Hushovd (NOR), Cervélo Test Team; Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia-Highroad; Floyd Landis (USA), Ouch Presented by Maxxis; Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana; Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Saxo Bank; Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Astana; Carlos Sastre (ESP), Cervélo Test Team; Frank Schleck (LUX), Saxo Bank; David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream
World Champions
Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana; Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step; Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Astana; Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank; Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Columbia-Highroad; Francisco Chicchi (ITA), Liquigas; Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank; Brett Lancaster (AUS), Cervélo Test Team; Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Saxo Bank; Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Astana; Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad
Olympic Medalists
Lance Armstrong (USA), Astana; Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank; Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing; Gustav Larsson (SWE), Saxo Bank; Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana; Stuart O’Grady (AUS), Saxo Bank; Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad; Hayden Roulston (NZL), Cervélo Test Team
Current National Champions (by country)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Saxo Bank; Tyler Hamilton (USA), Rock Racing; Kim Kirchen (LUX), Team Columbia-Highroad; Michael Rogers (AUS), Team Columbia-Highroad; Frank Schleck (LUX), Saxo Bank; Tadej Valjavec (SLO), AG2R-La Mondiale; David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Slipstream
American Race Champions
Lance Armstrong (Astana), 2004 Tour de Georgia; George Hincapie (Team Columbia-Highroad), 2007 Tour of Missouri; Levi Leipheimer, (Astana), 2007 and 2008 Amgen Tour of California; Christian Vande Velde (Garmin-Slipstream), 2008 Tour of Missouri; Chris Horner (Astana), 2003 Tour de Georgia ; Floyd Landis (Ouch Presented by Maxxis), 2006 Amgen Tour of California, 2006 Tour de Georgia; Janez Brajkovic (Astana), 2007 Tour de Georgia; Tom Danielson (Garmin-Slipstream), 2005 Tour de Georgia
“Welcoming such an impressive group of international and domestic cyclists to the race is something that we are incredibly proud of,” added Messick. “The growing reputation of the Amgen Tour of California has resulted in the best, most accomplished, field of cyclists to ever to race on U.S. soil.”
The 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 17 professional cycling teams. The eight ProTour teams compete regularly on the UCI’s ProTour race calendar, including the Grand Tours of Europe: Tour de France, Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta a España.
Final Prologue Start List
Pro Tour Teams
AG2R-La Mondiale (FRA)
Cyril Dessel (FRA), Hubert Dupont (FRA), Martin Elmiger (SUI), John Gadret (FRA), Stéphane Goubert (FRA), Rinaldo Nocentini (ITA), Christophe Riblon (FRA), Tadej Valjavec (SLO)
About: Ag2r – La Mondiale, directed by Vincent Lavenu, is sure to be a notable addition to the 2009 Amgen Tour of California ProTour team list. Though they represent 11 nationalities, they are a French team with French sponsors, so this squad tends to focus on the Tour de France and other important French races, such as the Dauphiné Libéré, which is raced in the region of Chambery (the company and the team's base). This being said, their ProTour status allows for high expectations in any major stage race, and the Amgen Tour of California is no exception.They’ve begun the 2009 season with a few new key riders, including the versatile Alexander Efimkin, formerly a Quick Step rider, who’s twin brother Vladimir is already on the team. The Russian is 26 years-old with four professional victories already to his name and a top ten finish at Paris-Nice. Also new to the team are Sébastien Hinault, who won a stage at the Vuelta a España for his former rival team, Credit Agricole; and French rider Blel Kadri, who won a stage and took second overall at the Ronde de l'Isard last season. They have three returning leaders for the 2009 season: Cyril Dessel, Tadej Valjavec and Vladimir Efimkin; but team management plans to give other up-and-coming riders a chance in the leader’s role as well. Additionally, talented team members have returned to the racing scene after injury plagued their 2008 season, including: Ludovic Turpin, René Mandri and Yuriy Krivtsov. For many years, the well-rounded Ag2r – La Mondiale organization has asserted that their goal is not to have a single leader, but to have a complete team with riders who can all claim victories.
The team’s title sponsors are the Ag2r Group, which is a French-based inter-professional insurance and supplementary retirement fund group; and the La Mondiale Group, which is a French-based international group for supplementary pension and estate planning insurance.
Astana (KAZ)
Lance Armstrong (USA), Janez Brajkovic (SLO), Christopher Horner (USA), Levi Leipheimer (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Yaroslav Popovych (UKR), Gregory Rast (SUI), José Luis Rubiera Vigil (ESP)
About: The new Astana Cycling Team is in its second year under the leadership of Johan Bruyneel, the eight-time winning Sports Director of the Tour de France. In Bruyneel’s first year, Team Astana accumulated 35 victories, including the prestigious Grand Tours of Italy and Spain. The 2009 squad consists of 27 riders representing nine countries and includes Grand Tour leaders, Lance Armstrong, Alberto Contador, Andreas Klöden and Levi Leipheimer.After coming off their early season training camps, the squad is motivated and prepared to continue their winning streak at the Amgen Tour of California, as Leipheimer has captured the overall win in both 2007 and 2008, by bringing experienced riders who have found success in “The Golden State.”
“The Amgen Tour of California is a huge race and the support behind it requires our best effort. The power of peloton is phenomenal; you’d be hard pressed to find a better field before July than right here. It’s going to be on this week. Our team is really strong; I’m not the only one that can win this race,” said Leipheimer early this week.
Sponsored by a consortium of companies hailing from Astana, the capital of cycling enthused Kazakhstan, the team was created to foster national pride and develop the next generation of professional Kazakh cyclists.
Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
Steven Cozza (USA), Tom Danielson (USA), Tyler Farrar (USA), Trent Lowe (USA), Thomas Peterson (USA), Svein Tuft (USA), Christian Vande Velde (USA), David Zabriskie (CAN)
About: The Garmin-Slipstream team looks to 2009 with the goal of being one of the best teams in the world, as they’ll hit the racing circuit as a ProTour licensed team for the first time, with an impressive squad that includes Olympic, world and national champions.Most of the 2008 squad remains this season, including stars Christian Vande Velde, David Millar and U.S. national road champion David Zabriskie. New to the team is British track star Bradley Wiggins, who is the World track champion in the 4K individual pursuit, team pursuit (world record) and the Madison. Wiggins also won Olympic gold medals in the 4K individual pursuit and the team pursuit in Beijing this summer. Impressive Canadian talents Svein Tuft and Christian Meier join the team for 2009. Tuft took the silver medal in the 2008 World Time Trial Championships in Varese, Italy. Current Canadian national road champion, Meier has been riding for the team as a hard-working stagiaire for the last few months. Also watch out for Dutch sprinter Hans Dekkers, who beat star Tom Boonen to win the Nationale Sluitingprijs this past October.
In California, look for extremely aggressive riding and stage wins from this talented group of young professionals. The team’s fearless riding style along with its distinctive orange and blue argyle clothing has made the squad a favorite with fans and media alike.
The team, based out of Colorado, is sponsored by Garmin - a global satellite navigation leader. It is dedicated to promoting ethical sporting and developing the next generation of cycling champions.
Liquigas (ITA)
Ivan Basso (ITA), Kjell Carlström (FIN), Francesco Chicchi (ITA),Jacopo Guarnieri (ITA), Vincenzo Nibali (ITA), Daniel Oss (ITA), Brian Vandborg (DEN), Alessandro Vanotti (ITA)
About: As one of the world's top teams in 2009, the Italian Liquigas squad features the arrival of Ivan Basso, a seasoned competitor, who can compete with anyone in the ProTour circuit. The squad also features super-sprinter Daniele Bennati, one of the world’s best, and the expected maturation of Vincenzo Nibali and Roman Kreuziger. These elements will ensure that Liquigas, led by team manager Roberto Amadio, remains at the top ranks of the sport.The Liquigas team sets ambitious goals for the young, talented athletes that wear their jersey and promise to live up to expectations and standards of the ProTour circuit.
Title sponsor Liquigas is a provider of liquefied gas products in Italy. Liquigas is committed to playing a leading role in the great world of international cycling. They are not only the sponsor of this top-notch team, but also the leaders of a Liquigas Camp, which allows children to experience the sport of cycling at a young age.
Quick Step (BEL)
Carlos Barredo (ESP), Tom Boonen (BEL), Kevin De Weert (BEL), Addy Engels (NED), Kevin Hulsmans (BEL), Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL), Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL), Marco Velo (ITA)
About: The Belgian Quick Step team consistently produces top-caliber athletes, and will join the Amgen Tour of California in 2009 for the third time. Since its conception five years ago, the team has won more than 200 UCI races and six World Championship titles, including three road titles: two by Italian Paolo Bettini in 2007 and 2006, and Belgian Tom Boonen in 2005. While Boonen remains the team’s headliner, younger teammates such as sprinter Wouter Weylandt are starting to emerge as future stars. At the end of 2008, according to recent statistics, this squad stands out as the highest-winning ProTour team in the last five years.Though the famous Paolo Bettini has retired, 12 new riders have joined the Quick Step squad for the 2009 season. Among them are Sylvain Chavanel and Kevin Deweert from Cofidis; Dominique Cornu and Dries Devenyns from Silence Lotto; Dario Cataldo from Liquigas; and Marco Velo from Milram.
Team sponsor is Quick Step, a trendsetter in laminate floorings produced by Unilin Flooring.
Rabobank (NED)
Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (COL), Stef Clement (NED), Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Robert Gesink (NED), Pedro Horrillo Munoz (ESP), Bauke Mollema (NED), Grischa Niermann (GER), Pieter Weening (NED)
About: This ProTour team, based out of the Netherlands, is sure to bring a strong squad to the Amgen Tour of California. Rabobank includes three-time World Champion Oscar Freire, two-time Vuelta a España winner Denis Menchov and current Cyclocross World Champion Lars Boom.Key additions to the 2009 roster include Stef Clement, a gifted time trialist who started out his career at the Rabobank Continental team and then moved to French Bouygues Télécom; Tom Stamsnijder from Gerolsteiner; and Juan Manuel Garate from Quick Step. Newcomers Nick Nuyens from Cofidis and Maarten Tjallingii from Silence-Lotto have signed on as well.
Rabobank, a Netherlands-based global bank, is a committed sponsor, and have been the team’s title sponsor since 1996. Rabobank, N.A., a leading California community bank have announced that Rabobank will be a “Founding Partner” of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California.
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Juan José Haedo (ARG), Gustav Larsson (SWE), Jason McCartney (USA), Stuart O'Grady (AUS), Andy Schleck (LUX), Fränk Schleck (LUX), Jens Voigt (GER)
About: Saxo Bank brings one of the world's strongest teams to the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Last season the squad finished at the top of the world team rankings for the fourth year running, and Team Saxo Bank plans to continue their domination in the race scene with top cyclists like Fabian Cancellara, Jens Voigt, Stuart O'Grady, Gustav Larsson, Fränk and Andy Schleck, Matti Breschel and Juan José Haedo.This group of riders has always found success at the Amgen Tour of California. During the inaugural race in 2006, the Danish team won the team classification and had three cyclists finish in the top-ten overall. In 2007, the same squad, then named "Team CSC", won the teams classification again and finished with four riders in the top-six overall. Voigt finished second after a stage win, and Julich, O'Grady and Christian Vande Velde finished fourth, fifth and sixth respectively. Last season, Fabian Cancellara won the Prologue and Juan José Haedo followed with a Stage 1 victory. Cancellara and Gustav Larsson both finished in top-five overall.
Team Saxo Bank heads into 2009 after a successful 2008 season. In the Tour de France the Danish team made a strong statement when they took three overall victories: the Yellow Jersey (Carlos Sastre), the Young Rider jersey (Andy Schleck), as well as a victory in the team competition. On top of the many notable victories, the riders from Team Saxo Bank also won bronze medals in both the Olympics (Fabian Cancellara) and the World Championships (Matti Breschel). The team will be looking for both time trial and stage wins in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California – and maybe even the overall victory.
Main sponsor Saxo Bank is an online investment bank. They joined as a co-sponsor mid-season in 2008 and then assumed their title sponsorship of the squad in 2009.
Team Columbia-Highroad (USA)
Michael Barry (CAN), Mark Cavendish (GBR), Adam Hansen (AUS), George Hincapie (USA), Kim Kirchen (LUX), Thomas Lovkvist (SWE), Mark Renshaw (AUS), Michael Rogers (AUS)
About: 2008 was a very successful year for the squad, posting exciting stage wins in the Giro d'Italia, Tour de France, Fleche Wallone, Schildeprijs, Tour de Georgia, Amgen Tour of California, Tour of Germany, Tour of Ireland and the Dauphine Libere, among others. With 37 riders from 18 different nations, the men and women's teams finished the 2008 season as the number one team in the world by winning more races than any other team.On the squad is rider George Hincapie, who is a familiar face and renowned competitor in both American and International cycling. Also look for former World Time Trial Champion Australian Michael Rogers, Tour de France yellow jersey wearer Kim Kirchen and the young, renowned sprinter Mark Cavendish, who had a breakout season in 2008.
Team Columbia Highroad seeks to create an environment where success is achieved using the best methods, technology and personal development tools found in the world of sport. Their goals are to make change happen, to win by fair means, and represent the best aspects of sport.
Columbia Sportswear's sponsorship of Team Columbia Highroad provides an ideal opportunity for a major American company to support outdoor athletes who demand excellence of themselves and from their high-performance products. Columbia is pleased to promote a sport that is beloved by millions of people around the globe, who enjoy the outdoors and who deserve high-performance apparel for their own activities.
Pro Continental Teams
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Mathias Frank (SUI), Thomas Frei (SUI), Jonathan Garcia (USA), Jeffry Louder (USA), Ian McKissick (USA), Alexandre Moos (SUI), Scott Nydam (USA), Markus Zberg (SUI)
About: The BMC Racing Team, a squad still relatively new to the Pro Continental ranks, has raised the bar for what it plans to accomplish in 2009, after building a cohesive team of Americans and Swiss riders in 2008. Following a year of multiple successes, the team will position themselves as a stage racing team, and the Amgen Tour of California will be a high priority within this realm. The roster includes top Swiss talent Alex Moos – an established climber and time trialist. Amgen Tour of California veteran Jackson Stewart from Los Gatos, who has held the Amgen Tour of California most aggressive title, will return to the team as well. Antonio Cruz and Jeff Louder are also key members of this well-rounded squad. Five new riders will strengthen BMC’s lineup for the 2009 season. Swiss riders Markus Zberg, Mathias Frank, Florian Stalder and Thomas Frei will add luster, while U.S. rider Chad Beyer is an investment in the squad's future achievements.
Look for aggressive riding from the entire team, who won universal acclaim in the category in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California.
Sponsor BMC is a Swiss-based bicycle manufacturing company. BMC will maintain its relationship with the squad through 2010, with the goal of competing at the world's major races. The team wants to promote clean racing for the love of being on the bike, and they believe this strong work ethic will win the team victories.
Cervélo Test Team (SUI)
Inigo Cuesta Lopez De Castro (ESP), Thor Hushovd (NOR), Edward King (USA), Brett Lancaster (AUS), Serge Pauwels (BEL), Dominique Rollin (CAN), Hayden Roulston (NZL), Carlos Sastre (ESP)
About: New to the pro circuit in 2009, the Cervélo TestTeam has gathered a powerful squad for their inaugural season. Prominent leaders in the bike industry – Cervélo, Zipp, Speedplay, Vittoria, 3T, fi’zi:k, Castelli and Rotor Bike Components – have put a new spin on professional cycling and product innovation with the formation of the Cervélo TestTeam.After seven years racing for Team CSC, 2008 Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre has joined the start-up Cervélo TestTeam for the 2009 season. Joining Sastre in the move is Spanish veteran Iñigo Cuesta, another former Team CSC rider. Also on the team is sprint ace Thor Hushovd, which should create high expectations for the performance level of the team at the Amgen Tour of California. Ted King of the United States and Dominique Rollin of Canada, who rode for American Continental teams last season, have also signed on. These top-notch riders also will participate in activities with customers, which will help make the sport even more accessible to cycling fans.
Continental Teams
Bissell Pro Cycling (USA)
Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA), Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA), Omer Kem (USA), Peter Latham (USA), Kirk O'Bee (USA), Frank Pipp (USA), Jeremy Vennell (USA), Tom Zirbel (USA)
About: BISSELL Inc. will continue its sponsorship of one of the country’s top continental cycling teams for the 2009 season. Mark Bissell, chairman and CEO of BISSELL Inc., builds on his six-year history with cycling by assuming ownership of the team, which will come under the direction and management of Glen Mitchell.Time trial powerhouses Ben Jacques-Maynes and Tom Zirbel have returned to the squad for the 2009 season and will play key roles as team leaders. Jacques-Maynes was ranked third in this year’s NRC standings, while Zirbel completed his season with an impressive second place finish at the USPRO Time Trial. Also watch out for returning climbing sensation, Burke Swindlehurst, who brings his years of strength and stability to the team. The team is strengthening its sprinting game with the addition of two-time U.S. Criterium Champion Kirk O’Bee for the 2009 season. He will be supported by the lead-out power provided by Peter Latham, a New Zealand Olympian and World U23 Championship Medalist. Another key addition to the 2009 roster is Andy Jacques-Maynes, formerly of California Giant.
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light (USA)
Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (ARG), Anibal Andres Borrajo (ARG), Davide Frattini (ITA), Andy Guptill (USA), Aaron Olson (USA), Luis Romero Amaran (CUB), Lucas Sebastian Haedo (ARG), Tyler Wren (USA)
About: Colavita/Sutter Home re-signed its core squad for the 2009 season and added Aaron Olson, winner of the 2008 Tour de Nez. Returning riders include Cuban powerhouse Luis Amaran, Argentineans Alejandro and Anibal Borrajo and Sebastian Haedo, climbing sensation Anthony Colby, Fitchburg Longsjo overall winner Kyle Wamsley, as well as all-arounders Luca Damiani, Davide Frattini and Tyler Wren. Aaron Olson is an experienced all-arounder who raced for Colavita in 2004 and 2005 before heading to Europe to ride with Saunier-Duval and T-Mobile.Sponsors include Colavita USA, which imports and distributes the number one brand of Italian extra virgin olive oil in the U.S., along with other fine Italian products; and Sutter Home Winery, wholly owned and operated by the Trinchero family, Napa Valley vintners since 1948. Presenting sponsor Cooking Light is the world's largest food magazine.
Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team (AUS)
Jonathan Cantwell (USA), Scott Davis (AUS), Ben Day (AUS), Robert Gunn (AUS), Michael Grabinger (USA), David Kemp (AUS), Bernard Sulzberger (AUS), Phil Zajicek (USA)
About: Australia’s newest professional cycling team, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation, is set to take off in 2009. Also like its major sponsor, the Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation cycling team will have a trans-Pacific focus in 2009, running a comprehensive program that will compete in the biggest and best races in the United States, Australia and Asia.The squad includes eight-time Australian National Time Trial Champion Nathan O’Neil and current Australian Criterium National Champion Bernie Sulzberger. The team also includes top U.S. climbers Phil Zajicek and Micheal Grabinger, both coming off a stellar 2008 season. The team will be aiming for both time trial and stage wins at their Amgen Tour of California debut.
Australia's newest international airline, V Australia, is set to make its first flight to Los Angeles International airport on February 27, 2009.
Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)
Charles Bradley Huff (USA), Jonathan Clarke (AUS), Matthew Crane (USA), Phillip Gaimon (USA), Kiel Reijnen (USA), Nick Reistad (USA), Will Routley (CAN), Bernard Van Ulden (USA)
About: With the longest running title sponsor in the U.S. pro peloton, the Jelly Belly Pro Cycling Team celebrates its tenth anniversary on the road this year. The team posted some impressive results in 2008, both at home and abroad, and the 2009 squad looks to veteran strongmen Brad Huff and Bernard van Ulden to continue their winning ways. Promising new rider Kiel Reijnen, who joins the squad from Waste Management Cycling Team, Jelly Belly’s developmental team, will surely be one to watch.The squad is led by Team Director Danny Van Haute, whose talented riders are eager to build on their strong 2008 results. In California, the team will keep its eyes open for every opportunity to secure a spot on the podium
Ouch Presented by Maxxis (USA)
Cameron Evans (CAN), Timothy Johnson (USA), Floyd Landis (USA), Karl Menzies (AUS), John Murphy (USA), Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA), Rory Sutherland (AUS), Bradley White (USA)
About: The new OUCH Presented by Maxxis team is a revamped version of the Health Net Pro Cycling Team, which has been North America’s top professional team since 2004. The squad returns five core riders from the 2008 Health Net team, including NRC champion Rory Sutherland. The team will continue as a UCI Continental-registered team, focusing on a domestic calendar similar to the Health Net team’s schedule.Look for well-known talent Floyd Landis, who will race this season for this new domestic squad.
Other 2009 riders to watch are Tim Johnson, Roman Kilun, Karl Menzies and John Murphy. This group of riders will look to improve their team classification finish from last year’s Amgen Tour of California, on their way to yet another season as an NRC powerhouse.
Title sponsor is the OUCH Sports Medical Center, based in California. The sports center's co-founder, Dr. Brent Kay, is Landis' personal physician and oversaw his hip resurfacing surgery in 2006. Presenting sponsor Maxxis International produces high performance tires. The team is owned by Momentum Sports Group.
Rock Racing (USA)
Chris Baldwin (USA), Glen Chadwick (NZL), Enrique Gutierrez (ESP), Tyler Hamilton (USA), Francisco Mancebo (ESP), Victor Hugo Pena (COL), Freddy Rodriguez (USA), Oscar Sevilla (ESP)
About: Rock Racing had a very successful season in 2008, winning 45 races and four national titles, while putting a rider in the top-three overall 106 times. Every month brought a highlight for the second-year squad that is sponsored by internationally renown lifestyle brand Rock & Republic and owned by CEO and Creative Director Michael Ball.The team heads into 2009 with confidence, as they posted many notable results in 2008. Santiago Botero won the Redlands Bicycle Classic and led a 1-2-3-4 finish in the prologue of the Vuelta a Colombia in May. Oscar Sevilla won the second leg of the Triple Crown of Cycling in June at the Commerce Bank Reading Classic, and Tyler Hamilton captured the Tour of Qinghai Lake in July. Three riders captured national titles: Rahsaan Bahati (Criterium), Justin Williams (Under 23 Criterium) and Hamilton (Road Race); and Rock Racing captured the team pursuit at the National Junior Track Championships to close out the season.
In 2009, the Rock Racing team is under the direction of Rudy Pevenage, one of the most experienced director sportifs that cycling has produced in the past 20 years. The former Belgian bicycle racer built a dynasty with the Telekom/T-Mobile squads and guided Jan Ullrich to victory at the 1997 Tour de France.
Team Type 1 (USA)
Moises Aldape Chavez (MEX), Fabio Calabria (AUS), Christopher Jones (USA), Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR), Darren Lill (RSA), Ian Macgregor (USA), Phil Southerland (USA), Matthew Wilson (AUS)
About: The Type 1 athletes in these programs strive to instill hope and inspiration for people around the world affected by diabetes. The team encourages control of diabetes through diet, exercise and the use of the best treatment and technology available today. Team Type 1 General Manager Tom Schuler and Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko, and a new assistant director, Gord Fraser, are three of the most established names in domestic cycling, having previously directed the longtime Saturn and Navigators Insurance teams, respectively.
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