Wine Turned Into Fahlin Water - 2009 Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium

Santa Rosa, CA - February 15, 2009 – For the second year in a row, the Women’s Professional peloton graced Sonoma County with their presence. The region, famously know for its wine making; however, unceremoniously became known for it water production this weekend, in the form of rain.

Emilia Fahlin (SWE) of Team Columbia-Highroad, out-kicked Lauren Tamayo [Franges] of Team TIBCO to the line to win the second-annual event in Santa Rosa.

Although some reports would lead you to believe that thousands of fans lined the streets of Santa Rosa this year for the second-annual Women's Criterium presented by the Redwood Regional Breast Center, the weather unfortunately deterred many fans from coming out early to watch the women’s race.

But for those who endured, they were treated to some spectacular racing in less than spectacular conditions.

The first event of the 2009 season on the National Racing Calendar (NRC), the field showcased many of women’s cycling top international and domestic competitors, including defending champion Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO) and Ina Teutenberg (Team Columbia – High Road), among others.


Rebecca Much (Webcor Builders), a late arrival to the start line, got things started and tested the bunch right out of the gate.


However, Much wouldn’t last long on the front, as a 13-woman break soon developed led by Meredith Miller (Team TIBCO). The break ended up having just the right mix of riders and teams, including Miller’s teammate Lauren Tamayo, Fahlin and Kim Anderson (Team Columbia-High Road), Sara Bamberger and Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing), Value Act Capital teammates Kristen McGrath and Robin Farina, Farina’s former Cheerwine teammate, Kelly Benjamin (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Rachel Lloyd (PROMAN), Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders), Karla Kingsley (Sugar CRM), and Jennifer Reither (Vanderkitten), to stay away until the finish line.


Tamayo attacked the breakaway group several times, but Kim Anderson was quick to mark her, which all but ensured a bunch sprint.


None, but Tamayo could stay with Team Columbia-High Road’s Emilia Fahlin in the final meters. Rachel Lloyd (USA) of PROMAN would round out the podium. Tamayo took first in the 2008 Women’s International Challenge and the 2008 Atlanta 10K Classic. Lloyd won the 2008 Single Speed World Championship Mountain Bike Race.


“When I was here last year, I finished third,” said Fahlin, winner of the second-annual Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium. “I really enjoyed the race last year with the big crowds, so I wanted to do better. Getting to win here was really fun and great way to start the season; very motivating.”

Emilia Fahlin, overall winner of the Women’s Criterium and current National Champion of Sweden, took several important wins in the 2008 season, including the Merced Criterium and Merco Cycling Classic Road Race. Fahlin also took a stage win in the 2008 Redlands Bicycle Classic. In 2007, she took second place in the Sparkassen Giro Bochum.


Results
1. Emilia Fahlin (Team Columbia-High Road)
2. Lauren Tamayo (Team TIBCO)
3. Rachel Lloyd (PROMAN)
4. Karla Kingsley (Sugar CRM)
5. Sara Bamberger (Touchstone Climbing)
6. Kelly Benjamin (Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light
7. Kristen McGrath (ValueAct Capital)
8. Katheryn Mattis (Webcor Builders)
9. Olivia Dillon (Touchstone Climbing)
10. Robin Farina (ValueAct Capital)

News and Noteworthy
- Emilia Fahlin (Team Columbia-High Road) is the youngest member of Team Columbia-High Road. Her talents certainly command some respect from her teammates and team management.

- The newly married Lauren Tamayo (Team TIBCO) played the role of pinch hitter for her California based team. Tamayo took the place of Kat Carroll, who was originally slated for the race.


- It was a stellar weekend for PROMAN. To accompany Rachel Lloyd’s success at the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium, Shelley Olds (above) likewise stepped onto the podium at the 2009 UCI Track World Cup Event in Copenhagen. Olds finished fourth at last year’s Inaugural Women’s Criterium in Santa Rosa.


- Vanderkitten unveiled their new kits (Melissa Sanborn, above) and a few new team members, most notably Jennifer Reither, who was in the successful 13-woman break and finished in 11th.

- Juliet Macur of the New York Times followed up the day's event with a great article featuring Team TIBCO, "Women's Pro Cycling Teams Struggle for Recognition"

Photos: © Leonard Basobas (first through seventh; ninth, tenth, twelfth); Kurt Harvey (http://www.printroom.com/pro/khphotography/; eighth); Kacey Manderfield (eleventh).

Despite Shortening, Women Move Forward at 2009 Amgen Tour of California

Santa Rosa, CA – Bereft of any major coverage detailing the shortening of an originally schedule three-day event to coincide with the men's nine-day stage race, the Women's peloton nonetheless moves forward tomorrow at the second annual Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium presented by the Redwood Regional Breast Center.


While some Women's teams bypassed the event to protest the retraction of an expanded format, Brooke Miller (Team TIBCO), the winner of the Inaugural Women’s Criterium, recently indicated that the single event still has a very large role in profiling Women's Cycling.

“People don’t know enough about Women’s Cycling, and the Amgen Tour of California provides a great opportunity to help spread the word; it’s really exciting to be able to win fans over. We always try to make sure we have a good venue for our races and that we get a lot of good coverage. Last year, the Amgen Tour of California was one of the biggest races of the season in terms of media coverage, which is huge for us. We have confidence that one day we’ll get a full stage race. I want to thank AEG for the opportunity and for the exposure.”

Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, likewise echoed Miller's sentiments early this week.

“The Women’s Criterium allows Women’s Professional Cycling to able to benefit from the platform we have here. We need to continue to showcase Women’s Professional Cycling; we need to give sponsors the opportunity to watch and appreciate the competition and athleticism in both the men’s and women’s race. We’d love continue to grow this race.”

The field will feature some of the world’s top professional women cyclists, including Miller, the 2008 U.S. National Criterium and Road Race Champion, in Santa Rosa on Sunday, February 15th. Once again, the second-annual race will open the NRC season for the women, and will be held in conjunction with Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California.

Set as a category Pro 1/2 race, the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium will begin at 1 p.m., just hours before the men’s finish in downtown Santa Rosa. More than $15,000 in prizes will be contested by the field.


“The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium is emerging as one of the top women’s cycling events in America and carries international athletic importance. The field of National Champions, World Cup winners and Olympians will be competing to become the leader of the 2009 National Race Calendar, as well as for the overall prizes,” said Laura Charameda, race director, Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium. “With huge crowds expected to be in Santa Rosa to see both the men’s Amgen Tour of California and the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium, the event promises to be exciting for both racers and cycling fans."

The 2009 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium roster includes representation from top American women’s cycling teams including, Team Columbia-Highroad, Webcor Builders, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, and Team TIBCO.

Expected to compete in the second-annual event are the following riders:

Team Columbia-Highroad
Ina Teutenberg (GER) – Winner of the 2008 Triple Crown and Liberty Classic, Teutenberg placed third overall in the 2007 World Cup. She also took the overall win, in addition to stage wins, in the 2008 Giro d’Italia, Geelong Tour and Tour of New Zealand.

Mara Abbott (USA) – 2007 U.S. National Championship in the road race competition.

Kim Anderson (USA) – A World Championship team member in 2003, Anderson took first place overall in the 2008 San Dimas Stage Race. She also took second place in the 2008 Sweden World Cup.

Emilia Fahlin (SWE) – The current Swedish National Champion, Fahlin finished on the podium at last year's Inaugural Women's Criterium

Alex Wrubleski (CAN) – The current Canadian National Road Champion and a 2008 Olympian.

Webcor Builders
Katheryn Curi-Mattis (USA) – Held the title of the 2005 National Champion in the road race competition. She also took first place overall in the 2008 Geelong World Cup.

Gina Grain (CAN) – A former Canadian National Champion and 2008 Canadian Olympian, Grain earned a silver medal in the 2006 Track World Championships. She also medalled in the Pan American Championship in the road and track competitions.

Erinne Willock (CAN) – Webcor Builders - A member of the Canadian Olympic team in 2008.

Team TIBCO
Brooke Miller (USA) – - Defending champion of the Inaugural event. Miller is also the 2008 U.S. National Criterium and Road Race Champion.

Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light
Tina Pic (USA) – A five-time U.S. Criterium Champion who will be participating in the race for the first time this year.

At the current time, complete roster have not yet been released. Teams/Riders will be added to the list as they are made available.

Team TIBCO
Amber Rais, Kat Carroll, Alison Rosenthal, Alison Starnes, Meredith Miller, Jerika Hutchinson, Stacy Sims

Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light
Erica Allar, Heather Logan, Kelly Benjamin, Nichole Wangsgard, Shontell Gauthier, Stacy Marple

Value Act Capital
Sharon Allpress, Nicole Evans, Robin Farina, Kristin McGrath, Martina Patella, Chrissy Ruiter, Kristin Sanders, Emily Zell

Vanderkitten
Jen Wilson, Melissa Sanborn, Melodie Metzger, Leigh Hopkins, Mary Maroon, Jen Greenberg, Jen Reither

PROMAN
Cari Higgins, Megan Guarnier, Rachel Lloyd, Helene Drumm, Hanna Alves Hyde

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Valentine’s Day Massacre – 2009 Amgen Tour of California Prologue

Sacramento, CA - The hype surrounding the 2009 Amgen Tour of California was finally put to rest as the curtains were drawn open and the unprecedented field was able to put angry thought to pedal in the Golden State’s capitol, Sacramento.

On a cool, mostly cloudy and blustery day, the riders were anxious to challenge the fast and flat six-corner Prologue course, which passed several of Sacramento’s landmarks, including the State Capitol, the Capitol Mall and the Tower Bridge,

Svein Tuft (Garmin-Slipstream) fired the day’s opening salvo. Tuft covered the 3.9 km course in 4:37. His mark stood up to all-comers until the midway point when Australian, Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia-High Road; below) put in one of the more violent efforts of the day.


But like the threat of rain showers, the peloton’s heavy hitters loomed. And they didn’t disappoint.

As if involved in a high stakes poker game, each of the remaining riders raised the ante in hopes of claiming the first pot of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. To the left of the dealer was Thor Hushovd (Cervelo TestTeam), winner of the 2006 Tour de France Prologue. The God of Thunder was decidedly all-in setting a blistering pace of 4:36. Several minutes later, Tom Boonen (Quick Step) and George Hincapie (Team Columbia-High Road) would throw their stakes into the center, but neither was able to come over the top of Hushovd’s time.

With only 8 riders left out on the course, Garmin-Slipstream’s David Zabriskie showed the form that garnered him the record for the fastest time trial in Tour de France history when he clocked an amazing 54.676 km/h in 2005. Zabriskie’s stay on the top perch; however, was fleeting.

In a scenario that has become all too familiar, the Swiss freight train known as Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo-Bank) threw down a royal flush. Clad in red and white as the reigning Swiss National Champion, it seemed only apropos for Cancellara to take the race on this Valentine’s Day as he most certainly broke the hearts of all those who came out to see Northern California hero and two-time Amgen Tour of California Champion, Levi Leipheimer, or seven-time Tour de France Champion, Lance Armstrong, take the first leader’s jersey.

“The Amgen Tour of California is the first race of the year and I’m very happy,” said Cancellara. “This is a beautiful race and I like coming every year. This is the second time I’ve won the Prologue, so it makes me happy. There is lots of beautiful scenery and the crowds are great.”


Speaking of Armstrong (Astana), he easily bested Ivan Basso (Liquigas) and Floyd Landis (OUCH presented by Maxxis) in the Captain Comeback category. Armstrong would place in the top ten, Basso 66th and Landis in 90th. For his effort, Armstrong walked away from Sacramento with the newly unveiled, blue, Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ Most Courageous Rider Jersey. Landis was evidently still smarting from a crash a few days earlier during training, one which saw him land hard on his surgically replaced hip.


Results
1. Fabian Cancellara (Team Saxo Bank)
2. Levi Leipheimer (Astana)
3. David Zabriskie (Garmin-Slipstream)
4. Michael Rogers (Team Columbia-High Road)
5. Thor Hushovd
6. George Hincapie (Team Columbia-High Road)
7. Tom Boonen (Quick Step)
8. Mark Renshaw (Team Columbia-High Road)
9. Svein Tuft (Garmin-Slipstream)
10. Lance Armstrong (Astana)

Next: Stage 1 – Davis to Santa Rosa (173.2 km)
"The first stage will be a new challenging and scenic route that departs Davis, the city Bicycling Magazine named the “Best Cycling Town in the United States.” Fast flat sections separated by three climbs will awaken the riders’ legs. The first climb is the short, steep trek up to Monticello Dam. After passing Lake Berryessa, the course will rise again on Howell Mountain Road before the peloton plummets quickly into Napa Valley. The riders will summit one more climb followed by the precipitous descent of Calistoga Road. The stage culminates with laps of a circuit in downtown Santa Rosa where the crowds have been amongst the largest and most boisterous of the entire tour."

Photos: Leonard Basobas

Always Sunny in California - 2009 Amgen Tour California, Prologue

The Amgen Tour of California kicks-off today with a 3.9 km/2.4 mile Prologue through the downtown streets of Sacramento.

Sacramento, the capital of the Golden State, “is a unique mélange of old and new with vestiges from the city’s Gold Rush era juxtaposing the thriving metropolitan center that offers more than 150 restaurants, nightclubs and other engaging amenities. Cyclists will enjoy pedaling the 32 scenic miles of the American River bike trail. With downtown Sacramento serving as the hub of Northern California, the region is home to over 200 wineries, gorgeous golf courses, more than 25 mind-stimulating museums, and professional sports teams including the NBA’s Sacramento Kings, the WNBA’s Sacramento Monarchs and the back-to-back Pacific Coast League champion Sacramento Rivercats. The city is within short driving distances from Lake Tahoe, Napa Valley and San Francisco.”

The first rider should leave the starting gate at around 1:30pm Pacific Standard time.

With two hours to go before the start, the rainy weather that has afflicted the region this past week is being held in check, and the sun has actually managed to work its way through the predominant cloud cover. The roads are dry and the temperature is on the underside of 50 degrees Fahrenheit, with a southerly wind at 13 mph.

As Michael Buffer might say…Let’s Get Ready To…[you really didn’t think I was going to say it and risk a royalty payment, did ya!]

Field Set, Ready, Let's Roll

Sacramento, CA - What is being touted at the "best field ever assembled for a race on US soil" is set to get underway today, Saturday, February 14, 2009.

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.

Amgen Tour of California Goes International

Coverage of the United States' top cycling event will be broadcast to 201 countries worldwide

LOS ANGELES – AEG announced that for the first time the Amgen Tour of California professional cycling race will be broadcast internationally. The race will be broadcast live in more than 90 countries, which includes more than 200 million households across Europe, the Middle East, Asia, Oceania and Africa. The unprecedented coverage is due to the partnership established with the Amaury Sport Organisation (owners of the Tour de France) which has assisted AEG with the international television distribution of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, further strengthening the partnership between the two cycling tour owners, which was announced in June 2008.

Amongst the line-up of broadcasters, Eurosport, the leader in cycling broadcast coverage in Europe, will broadcast the race live in 77 countries throughout Europe and Asia-Pacific. Abu Dhabi Sports in the Middle East, HiSports in Nigeria, J-Sports in Japan, SBS in Australia and Sky TV in New Zealand are also amongst the race's international broadcast partners. In addition to the live coverage, highlights will be made available to fans in a total of 201 countries and territories, in 22 languages by a total of 23 channels.

Additionally, the race will be broadcast to international military bases.

“The American Forces Network will be broadcasting each stage of the Amgen Tour of California to international military bases around the world, which will enable military men and women to follow the race with fans worldwide,” said Scott Hanley, vice president, AEG Sports.

The recently expanded 750-mile, nine-day stage race, considered to be the most important and popular race held on U.S. soil, will take 17 of the world’s top professional cycling teams from Sacramento to San Diego County. The race will include two-time defending race champion Levi Leipheimer and seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong, among other top cyclists. Scheduled from February 14-22, 2009, the fourth-annual race will visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes along the route.

"The fourth edition of the Amgen Tour of California will have the greatest collection of riders ever assembled on American soil," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. "With this field, the competition is going to be tough, so we wanted to be sure to provide the race action to as many people as possible, and now the race will reach more fans across the globe than ever before."

Team Type 1 Announces ‘Signs For Sacramento’ Contest

Sacramento, CA. — Fans who turn out to show their support for Team Type 1 at today’s prologue time trial of the Amgen Tour of California can win free souvenirs as part of the team’s “Signs for Sacramento” contest.

Representatives of Team Type 1 will be judging posters, banners and signs along the 2.4-mile (3.8 km) route that showcases the State Capitol, the Capitol Mall area and the well-known local Tower Bridge. The creators of the most original signs cheering on Team Type 1 will be awarded hats, T-shirts, socks and other official team memorabilia.

To be eligible to win, the sign, banner or poster must feature the words “Team Type 1.” Judging will begin a half-hour before the first rider heads down the start ramp (1:30 p.m.) through the conclusion of the prologue (approximately 4 p.m.).

Team Type 1 is the only one of 17 teams in the race with riders who have Type 1 diabetes. Phil Southerland (diagnosed in 1982 at the age of seven months) and Fabio Calabria (diagnosed in 2000 at the age of 13) will be joined in the nine-day race by Moises Aldape, Chris Jones, Valeriy Kobzarenko, Darren Lill, Ian MacGregor and Matt Wilson.

Fans are invited to meet-and-greet Team Type 1 at every start and finish venue along the more than 750-mile route. Riders and staff of Team Type 1 will be on hand one hour before each stage and immediately following each race. Here are the approximate locations for team parking areas each day:

Saturday, Feb. 14: Prologue in Sacramento
Staging Area: 6th, 7th and 9th Streets, between L and M Streets.

Sunday, Feb. 15: Stage 1
Start in Davis: B Street, From 3rd to 4th Streets.
Finish in Santa Rosa: Southwest corner of 3rd and E Streets.

Monday, Feb. 16: Stage 2
Start in Sausalito: Parking lots near the Spinnaker restaurant, north of Bridgeway.
Finish in Santa Cruz: Parking lots southwest of the intersection of Ocean and Water Streets.

Tuesday, Feb. 17: Stage 3
Start in San Jose: West and South of the intersection of Alamanden Blvd and Park Ave.
Finish in Modesto: 15th and 16th Streets, between I and H Streets.

Wednesday, Feb. 18: Stage 4
Start in Merced: 19th and 20th Streets, between M and O Streets.
Finish in Clovis: Parking lot southeast of the intersection of 5th and Clovis.

Thursday, Feb. 19: Stage 5
Start in Visalia: Parking lots northwest of the intersection of Mineral King Avenue and Bridge Streets.
Finish in Paso Robles: Pine Street, between 10th and 13th Streets.

Friday, Feb. 20: Stage 6 individual time trial in Solvang
Staging Area: Mission Drive, north of Atterdag Road.

Saturday, Feb. 21: Stage 7
Start in Santa Clarita: Parking lot southwest of Magic Mountain Parkway and Carousel Lane.
Finish in Pasadena: Parking lot southwest of the Rose Bowl (adjacent to West Drive).

Sunday, Feb. 22: Stage 8
Start in Rancho Bernardo: Parking lots northwest of Bernardo Center Drive and Lomica Drive.
Finish in Escondido: Parking lots southeast of Escondido Boulevard and Woodward Ave.

The Patron Is Back

During his first stint in the professional peloton, Lance Armstrong (Astana), earned the nickname "The Patron of the Peloton" for the way he seemed to control and manipulate, like pieces on a chess board, not only his teammates but the entire peloton to his whimsy.

After three years of retirement and a somewhat pensive start at the Tour Down Under, some might have questioned whether The Patron has mellowed or grown soft in old age.

No longer with a steely-eyed focus solely on the race, Lance has made it very clear from the beginning that there are two main reasons for his comeback, the race and progression of his cancer initiative, LIVESTRONG, around the world.

But any question of whether Armstrong could still command the world of cycling was partially laid to rest during the 2009 Amgen Tour of California Kick-Off Press Conference as he thwarted any attempt by long time journalistic adversary, Paul Kimmage, a writer for the Sunday Times of London, to devalue his reasons for his comeback.

When Kimmage asked Armstrong why he "admired dopers" like David Millar, Floyd Landis and Ivan Basso, Lance one again pulled out his iron fist and slammed it on the proverbial table.

Bob Cullian and CycleTo were there to cover it. Click on the image to be taken to the CycleTo site.


Although it remains to be seen if he will exert the same commanding presence on his fellow riders that he showed to the press core, one thing is certain, it'll be an interesting summer.

Below are more quotes from Armstrong during the 2009 Amgen Tour of California Kick-Off Press Conference.

On the start of the 2009 season:
“We were blessed to have amazing launch in Australia, and I don’t just mean the team, but the foundation as well, and I hope we can carry that momentum through California and Europe for the rest of the year.”

On his return from retirement:
“I’ve been trying to stay reasonably fit; it’s comforting to know that I’m not the oldest guy in the race. I’ve been at this a long time and it has been an interesting 17 years. I think as far as the science of older athletes goes, performance doesn’t drop off, the mind drops off. I’ve had a couple of breaks and my mind is fresh. Let’s do it one more time. I feel strong. At 37, I feel just as strong as I did at 27.”

On drug testing:
“I think that we, in cycling, can sleep well knowing we’ve been more vigilant than anyone else with our testing. Our testing is unannounced and unexpected. It would be great to push for a global standard where everyone plays by the same rules. There has been dark spot on cycling, but I think cycling is on its way out of that dark spot.”

On racing in California:
“California is prime cycling territory, and back in the 80s and 90s, I raced all over. It also is a mythical place for a lot of people; everyone knows about California – people sing about California, there are movies about California, they dream about Highway 1. California holds a lot of mystique, so for AEG to put together an event that starts in Northern California and ends in Southern California is great and provides a good prep for the season. I’m looking forward to being on a bike for these nine days. In just a few short years, the Amgen Tour of California has become a marquee event.”

On the team’s strategy:
“Our biggest concern this year is to try and avoid the cold, wet days that these guys had to race in last year. Bad weather makes it harder and a bit more dangerous, but we’re still excited.”

“I’m looking forward to the Amgen Tour of California. I’m confident in my talent and my ability.”

Historic Team Type 1 Roster For Amgen Tour of California

Atlanta — Team Type 1’s roster for the Amgen Tour of California is both historic and of an international flavor.

Never before has a rider with Type 1 diabetes participated in the race billed as “America’s largest and most prestigious cycling event.” That changes Saturday when two riders from Team Type 1 roll down the start ramp in Sacramento to begin the more than 750-mile race that ends Feb. 22 in Rancho Bernardo.

American Phil Southerland and Australian Fabio Calabria – who both have Type 1 diabetes – represent two of the five different nationalities on Team Type 1’s roster for the Tour of California. Joining them will be Americans Chris Jones and Ian MacGregor, Australian Matt Wilson, Moises Aldape of Mexico, Ukrainian Valeriy Kobzarenko and Darren Lill of the Republic of South Africa.


Southerland (left), 27, was diagnosed with Type 1 diabetes when he was only seven months old, while Calabria, 21, learned he had Type 1 eight years ago.

People with Type 1 diabetes have too much sugar in their bloodstream because their bodies don’t produce insulin. In addition to carefully checking their blood sugar levels multiple times a day, eating a healthy diet, exercising and taking other diabetes medications as prescribed, the pair use long-acting basal insulin Lantus®, rapid-acting mealtime insulin Apidra®, or a combined treatment regimen of both insulins to manage their diabetes.

Team Type 1 Director Sportif Vassili Davidenko said he made the final decision on the team’s race roster after carefully evaluating all 16 members of the team at a training camp in the Santa Ynez Valley last month.

“These are the eight riders we believe have the best chance of achieving our goals and objectives in what could very well be our most challenging race of the entire year,” Davidenko said. “We also know Phil and Fabio’s participation will serve as an inspiration for the millions of people around the world who have diabetes.”

Davidenko will be assisted at the race by Team Type 1 women’s professional team Director Sportif Jack Seehafer, who will be subbing for Gord Fraser, men’s team assistant director. Fraser was seriously injured during a training ride Sunday in Tucson, Ariz., and is unable to travel to California.

“We will certainly miss having Gord for what would have been his first race as assistant director,” Davidenko said. “All the riders and staff send out well wishes to him and his family for a quick recovery.”

Team Type 1 is one of 17 teams in the nine-day race that includes seven-time Tour de France champion Lance Armstrong and two-time Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer (both racing for Astana), 2006 Giro d’Italia champion Ivan Basso (Liquigas) and U.S. professional road race champion Tyler Hamilton (Rock Racing).

Fans can follow the Tour of California daily on the Versus network (check local listings for broadcast times) or view free online coverage at www.cycling.tv. Last year, more than 1.6 million people turned out to watch the race in person.

Photos: Courtesy Team Type 1

The Start of a Revolution

In its fourth year, the Amgen Tour of California has grown in both popularity and stature. It is arguably the signature event on the US racing calendar.

Many teams and riders would consider it a privilege, and perhaps an honor, to be invited to such a high profile event. Participation would not only be a boon to a team’s recognition, but also to a team’s sponsors.

The recent decision by the St. Louis based upstart, Team Revolution, to decline an invitation to participate in the Women’s Criterium in Santa Rosa, therefore, may seem a bit confusing to the uninitiated. But for those who have followed the saga of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race, the decision is one based on principle.


In an open letter (excerpt below) to the President of AEG Sports, Andrew Messick, team co-founders, Carrie Cash and Chris Roettger, detail their reasoning behind the move.

"We find it unfortunate that the Tour of California has elected to back out of expanding women’s opportunities previously announced. I’m not sure if you could see the quiet ripples of excitement from the initial announcement of the expansion last October. Only to be stifled by its eventual withdrawal.

It is because of that retraction, we’ll not be joining the Women’s field on the line in Santa Rosa. We’ve since let our supporters and sponsors know we have elected, instead, to head to Phoenix to race the Valley of the Sun stage race. While the absence of a single team might have gone unnoticed, we represent a greater collection of elite women athletes and teams that have quietly and perhaps more gracefully canceled their trips to California and attendance at your event.

The disparity between the available support, financial and otherwise, for the professional male cyclist and the professional female cyclist is disheartening. The Tour of California is no exception to that disparity. As a race director, you have diminished the women’s role by issuing a somewhat meaningless statement regarding the rationale for your course of action. In doing so, you disregard the importance of equality and take for granted the “unprecedented field of riders” that will likely assemble for your season-opening NRC event."

Its been said that every great revolution begins with a single shot, and in case you’ve missed it Mr. Messick that was just a shot across your bow.

Backstedt Moves Onward

The "Big Swede," a former Paris-Roubaix winner, will continue to consult with Garmin-Slipstream while focusing on his own development team


Boulder, CO - After 13 years of professional cycling, 34-year old Magnus Backstedt will step down from the highest level of the sport. Backstedt will take his career learnings, combined with what he has gleaned from Garmin-Slipstream's dedication to the next generation of cycling champions, to work with his own development squad and to stay on as a consultant for Garmin's young riders.

To many who have watched the big Swede fight one severe injury after another in recent years, the announcement does not come as a surprise. Backstedt has suffered a career-threatening knee injury, melanoma, a separated shoulder and a broken collarbone.

"Taking a step down from the highest level of the sport I love and from a team I love is the hardest decision I have ever made, but at the same time I am excited for the new challenges ahead," said Backstedt. "At some point you have to realize that the daily punishment you are forcing your body to go through is taking its toll. I've fought my way back many times since winning Paris Roubaix in 2004, but my new fight will be to focus my energy on my own development team."

Backstedt will continue to act as a consultant for Team Garmin-Slipstream where he will mentor younger athletes, and he will also focus on a Swedish team he has created with business partner Martin McCrossan and Cyclesport.se founder Dennis Nystrand. Cyclesport.se-MagnusMaximusCoffee.com is a Swedish registered continental team, where Backstedt will have opportunity to teach and train young riders as a rider, director and sponsor.

"We will miss Magnus this year. He's been a tremendous leader and an inspired mentor for the younger athletes," said Jonathan Vaughters, CEO and director sportif of Team Garmin-Slipstream. "But we are happy that Magnus will stay on to play a consulting role with us. We wish him the best of luck with his new team."

Official Statement from Magnus Backstedt:

"I have had a fantastic career. I turned pro at 21; I have raced with some of the best riders and teams in the World. I've won a stage of the Tour de France and the biggest one-day Classic in the World, among others. I can take a step down from the highest level of the sport with my head held high and with the knowledge that I helped bring about a change in the sport by being involved with Garmin-Slipstream. I believe in a NEW clean future for our sport and I can pass this onto my own young riders.

I want to thank Jonathan Vaughters, Doug Ellis, every single person in the team, everyone at Garmin and our other sponsors who have supported me.

Most of all I want to thank my family (wife and 2 daughters especially), friends and all the people who have helped me through the years. I also want to thank my fans. You guys have been a huge contributing factor in helping me get back from each setback.

As they say, as one door closes, another one opens. New beginnings with no regrets. I'm still going to ride my bike, wind down and bring on the future champions.

Thank you all!"

Photo: Leonard Basobas

Georgia Cycling Grand Prix Debuts

The Tour de Georgia may be defunct, but cycling hasn't exactly left the Peach State. The Georgia Cycling Gran Prix will make its racing debut with the TopView Cycling Classic in Winder, Georgia on February 28 - March 1, 2009.

The TopView Cycling classic will feature two challenging road courses: a rolling 7.1 mile loop in Barrow County on day one, and a 7 mile loop featuring challenging, hilly terrain winding through the backroads of Dacula, Georgia. The latter should be familiar to those who participated in the 2008 Cycling for Parkinsons Weekend.


A week later, the Regions Bank Race Weekend takes place in Albany, Georgia (March 7 - 8). The Regions Bank Weekend is a two-day, three-stage race, beginning with a time trial and criterium in downtown Albany on Saturday, March 7, and a road race on March 8.

The time trial begins on the riverside street of downtown Albany. With over ten turns in 3.1 kms, the time trial will have riders ducking and diving and stomping on their pedals as they weave through the streets of downtown. The criterium will feature a a figure-eight, 2 km course that revisits much of the same Albany streets used in the time trial.

The road race ends the weekend with a 54.5 km loop that will take racers through the Albany country.

We Barely Knew Ya

Frederiek Nolf (Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator) passed away in his sleep sometime last evening/early this morning while participating in the Tour of Qatar.

Though the 21 year-old Belgian's career barely registered as a blip on the sport's radar, his death resonates with all of those who consider themselves a part of the microcosmic world that is cycling.

The statement released by his team truly reflects all of our sentiments:
“Team management, staff, cycling supporters and fans are commiserating with this heavy loss; our thoughts are with Frederiek’s family, his girlfriend and his mates.”

Photo: AP