The preliminary start list* for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California has been announced by AEG, presenter of the race.  A world-class roster of more than 140 riders from 18 elite cycling teams are set to compete in the sixth-annual Amgen Tour of California, which kicks off this Sunday, May 15, in Lake Tahoe.

The race will cover nearly 800 miles of picturesque California roadways and highways from May 15-22. Note: A story on the race sponsors follows the competitor listings.

The race, which has become the largest cycling event in America, will feature an extraordinary field of riders from around the world, including competitors from Belgium, Spain, France, Germany, New Zealand and Sweden.

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

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

Tour de France Overall Podium Finishers

• Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek; second 2009
• Levi Leipheimer (USA) Team RadioShack; third 2007

Tour de France Stage Winners

• George Hincapie (USA), BMC Racing Team (4)
• Levi Leipheimer (USA), Team RadioShack (2)
• David Zabriskie (USA), Garmin-Transitions (1)
• Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo (8)
• Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team (4)
• Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek (2)
• Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR), Sky Procycling (1)
• Linus Gerdemann (GER), Leopard Trek (1)
• Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis (1)
• Haimar Zubeldia (ESP), Team Radio Shack (1)
• Baden Cooke (AUS), Saxo Bank Sungard (1)

World Champions

• Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo
• Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team
• Michael Matthews (AUS), Rabobank Cycling Team
• Lars Boom (NED), Rabobank Cycling Team
• Matthew Goss (AUS), HTC-Highroad
• Oscar Freire (ESP), Rabobank Cycling Team
• Danny Pate (USA), HTC-Highroad

Current National Champions (by country)

• Andy Schleck (LUX), Leopard Trek, Time Trial
• Thor Hushovd (NOR), Team Garmin-Cervelo, Road
• Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team, Time Trial
• Gustav Larsson (SWE), Saxo Bank Sungard, Time Trial
• Rubens Bertogliati (SUI), Team Type 1 – sanofi-aventis, Time Trial
• Svein Tuft (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Time Trial
• Will Routley (CAN), Team Spidertech Powered by C10, Road

American Stage Race Champions

• Levi Leipheimer (Team RadioShack), 2007-2009 Amgen Tour of California, 2010 Tour of Utah
• David Zabriskie (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2009 Tour of Missouri
• Jeff Louder (BMC Racing Team), 2008 Tour of Utah
• Christian Vandevelde (Team Garmin-Cervelo), 2008 Tour of Missouri
• George Hincapie (BMC Racing Team), 2007 Tour of Missouri
• Chris Horner (Team RadioShack), 2003 Tour de Georgia

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 18 professional cycling teams.  (Please note:  Due to operational issues, previously announced Columbian-based Movistar Team will not be participating in the race.)

*Team rosters are subject to change

1. TEAM RADIOSHACK (USA)

• Levi Leipheimer (USA)
• Matthew Busche (USA)
• Chris Horner (USA)
• Markel Irizar (KAZ)
• Jason McCartney (USA)
• Dmtiriy Muravyev (KAZ)
• Ben King (USA)
• Haimar Zubeldia (ESP)

2. TEAM GARMIN-CERVELO (USA)

• David Zabriskie (USA)
• Thomas Danielson (USA)
• Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)
• Thor Hushovd (NOR)
• Daniel Martin (IRE)
• Andrew Talansky (USA)
• Johan Van Summeren (BEL)
• Christian Vandevelde  (USA)

3. HTC-HIGHROAD (USA)

• Tejay Van Garderen (USA)
• Bernhard Eisel (AUT)
• Matthew Goss (AUS)
• Bert Grabsch (GER)
• Leigh Howard (AUS)
• Danny Pate (USA)
• Martin Velits (SVK)
• Peter Velits (SVK)

4. SKY PROCYCLING (GBR)

• Kurt-Asle Arvesen (NOR)
• Alex Dowsett (GBR)
• Christopher Froome (GBR)
• Mathew Hayman (AUS)
• Greg Henderson (NZL)
• Jeremy Hunt (GBR)
• Ian Stannard (GBR)
• Ben Swift (GBR)

5. BMC RACING TEAM (USA)

• George Hincapie (USA)
• Yannick Eijssen (BEL)
• Brent Bookwalter (USA)
• Chris Butler (USA)
• Jeff Louder (USA)
• Steve Morabito (SUI)
• Taylor Phinney (USA)
• Tim Roe (AUS)

6. LEOPARD TREK (LUX)

• Andy Schleck (LUX)
• Stefan Denifl (AUT)
• Martin Mortensen (DEN)
• Jakob Fuglsang (DEN)
• Linus Gerdemann (GER)
• Anders Lund (DEN)
• Martin Pedersen (DEN)
• Jens Voigt (GER)

7. LIQUIGAS-CANNONDALE (ITA)

• Peter Sagan (SYK)
• Damiano Caruso (ITA)
• Timothy Duggan (USA)
• Edward King (USA)
• Daniel Oss (ITA)
• Simone Ponzi (ITA)
• Elia Viviani (ITA)
• Cameron Wurf (AUS)

8. SAXO BANK SUNGARD (DEN)

• Gustav Larsson (SWE)
• Baden Cooke (AUS)
• Juan Jose Haedo (ARG)
• Lucas Sebastian Haedo (ARG)
• Rafal Majka (POL)
• Nick Nuyens (BEL)
• Jonas Aaen Jorgensen (DEN)
• Brian Vandborg (DEN)

9. RABOBANK CYCLING TEAM (NED)

• Oscar Freire (ESP)
• Lars Boom (NED)
• Coen Vermeltfoort (NED)
• Paul Martens (GER)
• Michael Matthews (AUS)
• Grischa Niermann (GER)
• Laurens Ten Dam (DEN)
• Maarten Tjallingii (NED)

10. UNITED HEALTHCARE PRO CYCLING (USA)

• Rory Sutherland (AUS)
• Robert Forster (GER)
• Christopher Jones (USA)
• Christian Meier (CAN)
• Karl Menzies (AUS)
• Andrew Pinfold (CAN)
• Charles Wegelius (GBR)
• Bradley White (USA)

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

• Rubens Bertogliati (SUI)
• Laszlo Bodrogi (FRA)
• Daniele Callegarin (ITA)
• Alexander Efimkin (RUS)
• Aldo Ino Ilesic (SLO)
• Valeriy Kobzarenko (UKR)
• Jure Kocjan (SLO)
• Javier Megias Leal (KAZ)

12. TEAM NETAPP (GER)

• Jesus Del Nero Montes (SPA)
• Jan Barta (CZE)
• Timon Seubert (GER)
• Andreas Dietziker (SUI)
• Alexander Gottfried (GER)
• Bartosz Huzarski (POL)
• Leopold Konig (CZE)
• Andreas Schillinger (GER)

13. TEAM SPIDERTECH POWERED BY C10 (CAN)

• Svein Tuft (CAN)
• Ryan Anderson (CAN)
• Zachary Bell (CAN)
• Lucas Euser (USA)
• Martin Gilbert (CAN)
• Kevin Lacombe (CAN)
• Jonathan Patrick McCarty (USA)
• Will Routley (CAN)

14. BISSELL PRO CYCLING (USA)

• Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
• Chris Baldwin (USA)
• Rob Britton (CAN)
• Andy Jacques-Maynes (USA)
• Paul Mach (USA)
• Frank Pipp (USA)
• Jay Thomson (RSA)
• Jeremy Vennell (NZL)

15. JAMIS-SUTTER HOME (USA)

• Luis Romero Amaran (CUB)
• Alejandro Alberto Borrajo (ARG)
• Anibal Andres Borraio (ARG)
• James Driscoll            (USA)
• Tom Zirbel (USA)
• Andy Guptill (USA)
• Jose Fernando Antogna (ARG)
• Tyler Wren (USA)

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

• Bernard Van Ulden (USA)
• Alex Hagman (USA)
• Nic Hamlton (CAN)
• Ken Hanson (USA)
• Sergio Hernandez (USA)
• Alastair Loutit (AUS)
• Sean Mazich (USA)
• Jeremy Powers (USA)

17. KELLY BENEFIT STRATEGIES–OPTUMHEALTH (USA)

• Andrew Bajadali (USA)
• Jesse Anthony (USA)
• Dan Bowman (USA)
• Alexander Candelario (USA)
• Michael Creed            (USA)
• Jason Donald (USA)
• Michael Friedman (USA)
• Reid Mumford (USA)

18. KENDA/5-HOUR ENERGY PRO CYCLING Powered by Geargrinder (USA)

• Benjamin Day (AUS)
• Luca Damiani (ITA)
• Phillip Gaimon (USA)
• Chad Hartley (USA)
• Roman Kilun (USA)
• Shawn Milne (USA)
• Jacob Rytlewski (USA)
• James Stemper (USA)

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

“It’s a great disappointment to be missing the chance to defend my title at the Amgen Tour of California,” said Michael Rogers of HTC-Highroad. “It is one of my favorite races with some fantastic support and I wish the organizers the very best of luck for next week.  Unfortunately, I have missed the last few weeks due to a virus. Fortunately I am back on the bike training and on course to regaining full fitness, however the Amgen Tour of California has come a just a bit too soon for me.  I expect to be back racing at the Bayern-Rundfahrt in a couple of weeks’ time.”

“We are disappointed that Michael Rogers will not be able to defend his title this year, but we wish him a full and speedy recovery,” continued Messick.

Stages for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California include:

Stage 1: Sunday, May 15 – South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe-Northstar at Tahoe Resort

Stage 2: Monday, May 16 – North Lake Tahoe-Squaw Valley USA  to Sacramento

Stage 3: Tuesday, May 17 – Auburn to Modesto

Stage 4: Wednesday, May 18 – Livermore to San Jose

Stage 5: Thursday, May 19 – Seaside to Paso Robles

Stage 6: Friday, May 20 – Solvang Individual Time Trial

Stage 7: Saturday, May 21 – Claremont to Mt. Baldy

Stage 8: Sunday, May 22 – Santa Clarita to Thousand Oaks

Official Tour of California partners named

RadioShack, Michelob ULTRA and SRAM have been announced as official partners for the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, which will feature world-class cyclists competing for eight days over nearly 800 miles of California’s most scenic highways and roadways in a format similar to the Tour de France.

Renewing its partnership with the Amgen Tour of California, RadioShack is the title sponsor of the race’s popular online ‘tour tracker,’ officially named “The Shack Tour Tracker.”  Similar to previous years, the tracker allows fans to follow the race while giving them in-depth access and analyses to everything from the route to the competitors, including live video streams, daily results and standings, GPS tracking and interactive maps.

“Today’s mobile technology makes it so much easier for fans to participate in the excitement of the sport, whether you’re eagerly waiting roadside for the peloton to pass, watching the televised broadcast on Versus, or tracking progress from your mobile handset. Our hope is that The Shack Tour Tracker invites new fans to engage with the sport for the first time, and enables long-time fans to experience the speed and energy of the sport at a whole new level,” says Lee Applbaum, chief marketing officer for Fort Worth-based RadioShack Corp.

For those looking to keep up with the race while on the go, The Shack Tour Tracker is available for Android, iPhone and iPad users via a mobile app that lets fans stay connected to the action with up-to-the-minute updates, along with other components similar to the web program.  The app is available for download for iPhone and Android users for $0.99.  The iPad app is available for $3.99.

Additionally, RadioShack will have a presence at the official Lifestyle Festival where they will televise the one-hour recap broadcast from the previous race day and highlight The Shack Tour Tracker.

In addition to being the presenting sponsor for Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California, which runs from South Lake Tahoe to North Lake Tahoe on Sunday, May 15, Michelob ULTRA will also be the official beer sponsor of the event.  Michelob ULTRA will have a hospitality tent at a majority of finish stages for the race, as well as host the Michelob ULTRA Entertainment Stage in finish cities where local bands will perform.  Rounding out its sponsorship, Michelob ULTRA also comes on board as the title sponsor of the AEG Hospitality Tent, which will be called the Michelob ULTRA VIP Lounge.

For a second year, SRAM returns as the official Technical Support Partner of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California to provide world-class, Neutral Race Support (NRS) to the race’s      18 professional teams campaigning the eight stages of this year’s race course.

Fueled by official program partners Zipp (wheels), Specialized (bicycle frames and tires) and Speedplay (Pedals), the SRAM NRS technicians will shadow the peloton’s every breakaway, leap or chase.  SRAM NRS professionally operated and equipped race cars and motorcycles will ensure that racing action flows unimpeded by mechanical delays.

“The Amgen Tour of California is cycling’s Super Bowl here in America.  We’re prepared with staff and equipment designed to perform to that standard,” said program director and 25-year NRS veteran Butch Balzano.

In addition to its NRS investment, SRAM is also proud to highlight the innovative and competitive nature of the bicycling industry as sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California SRAM Manufacturers Challenge.  The ‘Challenge’ is a stage-by-stage race within the race that pits technical equipment manufacturers against one another.  The group set, frame, wheel and pedal technologies each team races on gathers points based on daily results throughout the race.  The 2011 overall victor in each category will be announced at the conclusion of the race.

“We helped build out the concept of the ‘Challenge’ with Andrew Messick and his team, and were instantly hooked by how it played out each day during last year’s race,” said Alex Wassmann, SRAM partnership representative.  “After all, the drama of bike racing is also about the equipment choices each team and athlete makes to get them to the finish line.”

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2011 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course through the state from May 15-22.  For more information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.