The Tour of California is gaining momentum. The route has matured into a world-class challenge with incredible vistas. The field is strong and the racing is incredible.

But we would like to take a moment to salute the fans. Aside from the massive crowds, signature fans are starting to become identifiable. They are icons that are becoming part of the the Tour of Califonia mystique.

We believe antler guy’s name is Corey. He runs like a deer and is on every hill top.

And here is Big Hair Superfan. His run is a little scary and labored but he is the personality of the Tour of California!! A chronicle of his antics is here http://bighairsuperfan.com

And of course, the podium girls!

wow.

Photo by Ken Conley

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The more photos the better, entries sent in promptly after the stage will have a better chance of going up on our Tour of California page. Entries that make it onto our Tour of California page will have a better chance of being chosen as a winner.

One entry per person, per stage. That means you can enter up to 8 times for a chance to win. Your entry into our contest will automatically put you in the running for a chance to win one of the autographed jerseys from VeloWear’s Tour of California contest as well. That’s right, one entry and you automatically have two chances to win!

To enter, follow these easy steps…

1) Go out and catch a stage any way you can. Whether it be cheering on the peloton as it rolls out of the starting gate, on the side of a KOM summit, or at the exciting sprint finish! Just remember to take lots of photos, and be ready to narrate your photos.

2) Put your narration into text, and your photos into jpeg format. Zip it all up, and send it on over to admin@roadbikereview.com

Please include your email address, day time telephone number, and a mailing address (Should you win, we’ll need to know where to send your jersey!)

Follow along as RoadBikeReview hits the road to follow the Amgen Tour of California!

Andrew Messick, President, AEG Sports

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“We are so happy and excited to be in Palo Alto on the eve of the third Amgen Tour of California. We are looking forward to 1 p.m. tomorrow, when all the anticipation is over and the guys can start riding. We believe this is the best course we’ve had; there is a good chance that the overall winner won’t be determined until the last day of the race. We have the best riders in the world, including World Champions, Olympic medalists and several riders who have worn the Yellow Jersey at the Tour de France. We have representation from the best international and North American cycling teams. Also this year, for the first time ever, we are including the Women’s Criterium, which will take place on Monday in Santa Rosa on a part of the actual race course.”

On the anti-doping policy:
“First and foremost, we are delighted with all of the support we’ve gotten for the initiatives we have implemented in order for this to be a clean and fair race. We want to thank all the teams and riders for helping us manage these new protocols. There is a process by which all riders end up on the team rosters, and every team participating in this year’s race agreed to our new anti-doping protocols.”

Levi Leipheimer (USA), Defending Champion
Astana

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“I think the Mt. Hamilton and Angeles Crest climbs are great new additions to the Amgen Tour of California; I look forward to those. I think I have the advantage because Stage 1 and Stage 2 go through my hometown. This race has always been an important goal of mine, no matter what else is going on in the racing calendar.”

On his 2007 stage win in Santa Rosa:
“I owe a lot of great memories to the Amgen Tour of California. It was a very overwhelming experience to lead the race into my hometown of Santa Rosa last year. It was very emotional; I really didn’t know what to expect. I knew my friends and family would be there but what I saw was unbelievable. It was like riding into the Champs-Élysées – it was packed. When I got on the awards stage in Santa Rosa last year, I was at a loss for words. I will never forget that.”

On the anti-doping policy:
“The teams, all 17 teams, are the ones who agreed to the new protocols. I think it’s time for the teams to work with the organizers to follow the rules. It is what the teams and the riders agreed to, so I’m behind it.”

David Millar (GBR)
Slipstream Chipotle Powered by H30

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“The competition here is at the same level as that of the Tour de France – it’s the best competition in the world. The Prologue is going to be a good gauge of competition – I’m actually a bit nervous. We are seeing a new wave of professional cycling, and I think the state of California should be proud that this new wave will start here. This is the first big race of the year. This race means a lot to us; we put this race up there as one of our biggest objectives.”

On the anti-doping policy:
“The initiatives that AEG have taken are really the future of the sport. It is all about taking responsibility and I think this is the way it should be.”

Fred Rodriguez (USA)
Rock Racing

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“I’ve always enjoyed racing in the U.S., especially in California where I grew up. The more competition, the better for us – it opens the playing field. We have a great team, including some top sprinters, so I think we are really going to do our best this year. For us, we are really excited to come here; we’ve been working really hard. The guys are motivated, we are having fun and we’re stepping it up to another level.”

Jens Voigt (GER)
Team CSC

Photo by Ken Conley

On his team:
“Every year we try to perform our best; we really try to go for it. We’re always trying to take the next step to reach the highest spot on podium.”

On the 2008 race:
The Amgen Tour of California is a great race; a great race to start the season. It has a lot of big, wide roads and lots of spectators.”

George Hincapie (USA)
High Road

Photo by Ken Conley

On his team:
Our team is great; we have some of the best young talent in the world. It’s a great mix of guys.”

On the competition:
I have a lot of friends in this room; we are all professionals. We are going to try to win as much as we can and it’s going to be a battle, but in the end, we’ll still be friends.”

Phil Liggett, VERSUS Announcer

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“This race has grown into an enviable organization. The field of riders for this year’s race is the best so far. The Prologue is as good of a start as the start in London during the Tour de France. It is going to be one great competition this year.”

On the state of professional cycling:
“There is a lot to prove this year for the world of cycling; we want to prove a point. At the moment, what we need is a clean race here, and an ongoing clean sport. Then, the sport can return to the greatness that it has always been.”

Sean Petty, Chief Operating Officer, USA Cycling

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“This race has been world-class, first-class, since day one and it’s only getting better, which is hard to believe. Looking at the field, there are some excellent riders. We’ve had some great fields compete here in the U.S. in the past, but to see this type of talent these days is phenomenal. It’s a tremendous compliment to all the partners involved.”

On the anti-doping policy:
“AEG and Amgen are to be applauded for the initiatives they’ve taken this year to have a stronger anti-doping protocol; it’s not pretty but it’s necessary. When you’re serous about it, this is what it looks like. I applaud the riders for making the sacrifices to support these programs. They have done it willingly because it is the right thing and the best thing for this sport. They are sending the right message at the right time. It is because the best of the best in this sport have agreed to these new protocols that we are able to do what we’re doing.”

Jim Birrell, Race Director, Amgen Tour of California

Photo by Stephanie Gutowski

On the 2008 race:
“The nice thing about life is that you learn something new every day. For the 2008 course, we listened to our critics. Although we haven’t yet achieved a mountain-top finish, we achieved a course that will allow us to see a dynamic race unfold each day. The top General Classification will be really tight going into Stage 1. You can expect to see very competitive racing, one that creates excitement for the riders. In an effort to see the Amgen Leader Jersey change on the last day, we removed the circuit finish.”

Bob Stapleton, Owner, Team High Road

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“We have a great roster, top athletes, and the Amgen Tour of California delivers a great stage on which to perform. We have unlimited potential. We have a lot of new athletes on our team and hopefully we’ll get a chance to put on a great show. This race could become a signature cycling event among the top races in the world; it has that potential. The Amgen Tour of California is great for the sport of cycling in the U.S. and great for the sport overall. You could do anything with this event. This sport has a bright future, but it needs a dramatic event like this to make it happen.”

Rory Sutherland (AUS)
HealthNet Presented by Maxxis

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“If the Prologue of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California is anything like last year, Sunday is going to be an absolutely great day. The competition is at such a high level that it will be a bit daunting, but I’m excited to be here.”

Bobby Julich (USA)
Team CSC

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“Here we are on the eve of the biggest race in America and we are excited to get started. This is a huge race and tomorrow, it’s on. I feel motivated and fresh – the whole team is ready.”

Oscar Freire (ESP)
Rabobank

Photo by Ken Conley

On the 2008 race:
“My decision to race in the Amgen Tour of California is easy because everyone speaks so highly about it. We are in the beginning of the season, the weather is good and this is a good start to the season. I think that we have a good team; we have good, young riders. California is nice.”

Phyllis Piano, Vice President of Corporate Communication, Philanthropy, Amgen
On the 2008 race:
“We are delighted to be here and honored to be here with these athletes – they are inspiriting. One of the things we are most proud of is the Breakaway from Cancer initiative, which benefits the Wellness Community and the National Coalition for Cancer Survivorship.”

LOS ANGELES, CA – The most well-renowned professional women’s cycling teams in the United States will be represented in the first edition of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium presented by the Redwood Regional Breast Center, it was confirmed today by race presenter AEG. With representation from 28 elite professional women’s cycling teams, the Women’s Criterium will be an exciting and challenging competition, kicking off the women’s cycling season.

As a new component to the 2008 Amgen Tour of California professional road cycling race, the Women’s Criterium will bring the thrill of professional women’s cycling to fans in the hours before the men’s finish in downtown Santa Rosa. Using portions of the Stage 1 men’s finishing circuit in Santa Rosa, the newest addition to the National Racing Calendar (NRC) promises to be an exciting and historic event for racers and fans alike. Held on Monday, Feb. 18 during the Amgen Tour of California, the Women’s Criterium will consist of a field of 125 riders competing for more than $10,000 in prizes.

“The response from women’s cycling teams when presented with an opportunity to take part in the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium has been robust and enthusiastic,” said Laura Charameda, race director. “The event will boast top talent, and we can expect an aggressive race from a highly-motivated women’s field. I am very encouraged to see that we’re getting such good feedback from the women’s elite cycling community for the event’s first edition.”

The 2008 Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium roster includes representation from top American women’s cycling teams including, Aaron’s, Cheerwine, Colavitta/Sutterhome, Proman, Team High Road, Tibco and ValueAct Capital.

“I’ve been in Sonoma County all week with the ValueAct Capital team for our training camp,” said Katie Mactier, Australian World Champion, riding for ValueAct Capital Cycling Team. “I’m really looking forward to racing with the girls again in the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Criterium. We have a very strong team; and I know the competition will be very good and we plan to go out there and win.”

LOS ANGELES,CA - Considered the best collection of talent to compete in a U.S. professional cycling stage race, the world-class roster of teams and cyclists scheduled to participate in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California has been announced by race presenter AEG.* An internationally sanctioned professional cycling road race, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California will host 17 teams and 136 riders for the third annual race from February 17-24, 2008.

The race will bring the top cycling talent in the world to compete across more than 650 miles of California roadway from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena, Calif. Attracting an unprecedented field of riders from 27 countries, cyclists hail from countries as far away as Slovenia, Australia, New Zealand, Ukraine, Luxembourg, Kazakhstan and South Africa.
“We are delighted to be able to announce this extraordinary group of cyclists who will be competing in the third Amgen Tour of California,” said Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports. “We’ve never had a group this accomplished in our race and can’t wait to see them out on the roads of California.”

The field will include riders from well-known teams such as Astana, High Road, Quick Step, Saunier Duval-Scott and Team CSC, which returns to defend the title as the overall classification winner of the 2006 and 2007 Amgen Tour of California races. Some of the notable riders expected to begin the race in Palo Alto-Stanford University on Feb. 17 include:
*Team rosters are subject to change

World Champions:
• Paolo Bettini (ITA), Quick Step
• Tom Boonen (BEL), Quick Step
• Bradley Wiggins (GBR), High Road
• Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team CSC
• Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP), Rabobank
• Gerald Ciolek (GER), High Road
• Dmytro Grabovskyy (UKR), Quick Step

Olympic Medalists:
• Paolo Bettini (ITA), Quick Step
• Bobby Julich (USA), Team CSC
• Bradley Wiggins (GBR), High Road
• Bradley McGee (AUS), Team CSC

National Time Trial Champions (by country):
• Vladimir Gusev (RUS), Astana
• Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), High Road
• Fabian Cancellara (SUI), Team CSC
• Gustav Larsson (SWE), Team CSC
• David Millar (GBR), Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30
• David Zabriskie (USA), Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30

National Road Champions (by country):
• Levi Leipheimer (USA), Astana
• Fabian Wegmann (GER), Gerolsteiner
• David Millar (GBR), Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30

American Race Champions:
• Levi Leipheimer (Astana), 2007 Amgen Tour of California
• Janez Brajkovic (Astana), 2007 Tour de Georgia
• George Hincapie (High Road), 2007 Tour of Missouri
• Chris Horner (Astana), 2003 Tour de Georgia

Top 2007 Amgen Tour of California Notables:
• Levi Leipheimer (Astana): Prologue; individual time trial; first overall
• Juan Jose Haedo (Team CSC): Stage 2 and 6; first overall in sprint classification
• Robert Gesink (Rabobank): First overall Best Young Rider
• Danny Pate (Slipstream Chipotle Powered By H30): First overall Most Aggressive Rider
• Jens Voigt (Team CSC): Second overall; stage 3
• Paolo Bettini (Quick Step): Stage 4
• Ivan Dominguez (Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team): Stage 7
• Fred Rodriguez (Rock Racing): Tenth overall in sprint classification
• Bobby Julich (Team CSC): Fourth overall
• Team CSC: Defending team champions (2006 and 2007)

California Natives/Residents:
• Astana: Levi Leipheimer (Santa Rosa)
• BMC Racing Team: Scott Nydam (Santa Rosa); Antonio Cruz (Long Beach)
Jackson Stewart (Los Gatos); Taylor Tolleson (Watsonville)
• BISSELL Pro Cycling: Ben Jacques-Maynes (San Jose); Aaron Olson (Santa Barbara); Scott Zwizanski (Sausalito)
• Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis: Roman Kilun (Berkeley)
• Jelly Belly Cycling Team: Bernard Van Ulden (Belmont)
• Rock Racing: Fred Rodriguez (San Francisco)
• Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30: Steven Cozza (Petaluma)
• Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team: Cuban rider Ivan Dominguez (Chatsworth)

“The phenomenal success and growing reputation of the Amgen Tour of California has, once again, resulted in one of the best fields ever to race on U.S. soil,” said Kristin Bachochin, senior director of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Welcoming such an accomplished group of cyclists to California shows the high esteem the race is being given by the international cycling community.”

The 2008 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 17 professional cycling teams. The nine ProTour teams compete regularly on the UCI’s ProTour race calendar, including the Grand Tours of Europe: Giro d’Italia, Tour de France and the Vuelta a Espana.
*Team rosters are subject to change
Pro Tour Teams

1.) Astana (LUX)
Levi Leipheimer (USA)
Janez Brajkovic (SLO)
Vladimir Gusev (RUS)
Christopher Horner (USA)
Serguei Ivanov (RUS)
Aaron Kemps (AUS)
Andrey Mizurov (KAZ)
José Luis Rubiera Vigil (ESP)

2.) Bouygues Telecom (FRA)
Thomas Voeckler (FRA)
Dimitri Champion (FRA)
Perrig Quemeneur (FRA)
Vincent Jerome (FRA)
Laurent Lefevre (FRA)
Alexandre Pichot (FRA)
Sébastien Turgot (FRA)
Julien Belgy (FRA)

3.) Crédit Agricole (FRA)
Patrice Halgand (FRA)
Jonathan Hivert (FRA)
Ignatas Konovalovas (LIT)
Christophe Le Mevel (FRA)
Cyril Lemoine (FRA)
Mark Renshaw (AUS)
Julien Simon (FRA)
Yannick Talabardon (FRA)

4.) Gerolsteiner (GER)
Fabian Wegmann (GER)
Johannes Frohlinger (GER)
Heinrich Haussler (GER)
Bernhard Kohl (AUT)
Mathias Frank (SUI)
Peter Wrolich (AUT)
Oliver Zaugg (SUI)
Markus Zberg (SUI)

5.) Quick Step (BEL)
Paolo Bettini (ITA)
Tom Boonen (BEL)
Dmytro Grabovskyy (UKR)
Kevin Hulsmans (BEL)
Kevin Seeldraeyers (BEL)
Andrea Tonti (ITA)
Matteo Tosatto (ITA)
Jurgen Van De Walle (BEL)

6.) Rabobank (Netherlands)
Oscar Freire Gomez (ESP)
Mauricio Alberto Ardila Cano (COL)
Robert Gesink (NED)
Mathew Hayman (AUS)
Pedro Horrillo Munoz (ESP)
Paul Martens (GER)
Bauke Mollema (NED)
William Walker (AUS)

7.) Saunier Duval-Scott (ESP)
Rubens Bertogliati (SUI)
Raivis Belohvosciks (LTV)
David Canada Gracia (ESP)
Ermanno Capelli (ITA)
Eros Capecchi (ITA)
Iker Camano Ortuzar (ESP)
Angel Gomez (ESP)
Luciano André Pagliarini Mendonca (BRA)

8.) Team CSC (DEN)
Bobby Julich (USA)
Fabian Cancellara (SUI)
Stuart O’Grady (AUS)
Jason McCartney (USA)
Gustav Larsson (SWE)
Jens Voigt (GER)
Juan Jose Haedo (ARG)
Karsten Kroon (NED)

9.) High Road (GER)
George Hincapie (USA)
Mark Cavendish (GBR)
Gerald Ciolek (GER)
Adam Hansen (AUS)
Kim Kirchen (LUX)
Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR)
Thomas Lovkvist (SWE)
Bradley Wiggins (GBR)

Pro Continental Teams
10.) BMC Racing Team (USA)
Alexandre Moos (SUI)
Danilo Wyss (SUI)
Jackson Stewart (USA)
Darren Lill (RSA)
Scott Nydam (USA)
Antonio Cruz (USA)
Taylor Tolleson (USA)
Jeffry Louder (USA)

11.) Slipstream Chipotle Presented By H30 (USA)
David Millar (GBR)
David Zabriskie (USA)
Christian Vandevelde (USA)
Thomas Peterson (USA)
Danny Pate (USA)
Steven Cozza (USA)
Thomas Danielson (USA)
Tyler Farrar (USA)

Continental Teams
12.) BISSELL Pro Cycling (USA)
Ben Jacques-Maynes (USA)
Tom Zirbel (USA)
Scott Zwizanski (USA)
Aaron Olson (USA)
Burke Swindlehurst (USA)
Garrett Peltonen (USA)
Edward King (USA)
Richard England (AUS)

13.) Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA)
Phil Zajicek (USA)
Rory Sutherland (AUS)
Timothy Johnson (USA)
Karl Menzies (AUS)
Roman Kilun (USA)
John Murphy (USA)
Frank Pipp (USA)
Matthew Crane (USA)

14.) Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)
Scott Tietzel (USA)
Nick Reistad (USA)
Matthew Rice (AUS)
Michael Lange (USA)
Bernard Van Ulden (USA)
Bryce Mead (USA)
Nicholas Sanderson (AUS)
Aaron Barry Tuckerman (NZL)

15.) Kelly Benefit Strategies-Medifast (USA)
Andrew Bajadali (USA)
Dan Bowman (USA)
Alex Candelario (USA)
Kevin Lacombe (CAN)
Reid Mumford (USA)
Justin Spinelli (USA)
Jonathan Sundt (USA)
Nick Waite (USA)

16.) Rock Racing (USA)
Michael Creed (USA)
Kayle Leogrande (USA)
Doug Ollerenshaw (USA)
Victor Hugo Pena Grisales (COL)
Fred Rodriguez (USA)

17.) Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Dominique Rollin (CAN)
Hilton Clarke (AUS)
Jonathan Clarke (AUS)
Caleb Manion (AUS)
Benjamin Day (AUS)
Ivan Dominguez (CUB)
Heath Blackgrove (NZL)
Henk Vogels (AUS)

For more information about the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, as well as a nightly viewing schedule on VERSUS, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California
The largest cycling event in America, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style road race presented by AEG that will challenge the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding 650-mile course from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena from February 17-24, 2008.

About Amgen
Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about Amgen’s pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About AEG
AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, a Major League Lacrosse team, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.

Partnership with USADA, UCI, USA Cycling and AEG Created to Develop Unprecedented Approach to Anti-Doping Policies

LOS ANGELES, CA – The upcoming 2008 Amgen Tour of California cycling road race will adopt the most comprehensive anti-doping protocol in cycling history it was announced by Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports, presenter of the race, at a press conference today.

Messick was joined by representatives of a partnership assembled to develop and enforce the anti-doping initiative, believed to be unparalleled in scope, including Steve Johnson, CEO of USA Cycling; Sean Petty, chief operating officer of USA Cycling; Bob Stapleton, owner of Team High Road, an elite UCI ProTour team participating in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California; Mari Holden, 2000 Olympic Silver Medalist, former World Champion, and Athlete Ambassador to the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency (USADA); riders and team officials as well as representatives of organizations and federations who helped to develop and will oversee and administer the groundbreaking program.

Scheduled for February 17-24, 2008, the 2008 Amgen Tour of California is a demanding 650-mile, eight day stage race from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena featuring 17 of the world’s top professional teams. The 2007 race drew more than 1.6 million spectators, surpassing the inaugural year’s turnout and setting records in attendance for a single sporting event in California as well as for any cycling event ever held in the United States.
“2008 is a critical year for cycling,” said Andrew Messick, president, AEG Sports. “We believe that an aggressive approach to having a clean and fair race is essential to restore the credibility of top-tier bicycle racing.

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LOS ANGELES, - A world-class field of 17 domestic and international cycling teams set to compete in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California was announced by AEG, owners and presenters of the upcoming cycling road race. Team CSC, the world’s No. 1-ranked cycling team; 2007 Amgen Tour of California winner Levi Leipheimer’s new team, Astana; and Health Net presented by Maxxis, winner of USA Cycling’s 2007 National Race Calendar, will lead some of the world’s top cycling teams in the third annual race. The 650-mile, eight-day stage race, modeled after the Tour de France and considered to be the most important and popular race held on U.S. soil, will take the world’s top professional cycling teams from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena from February 17-24.

Photo courtesy of Lyne Lamoureux

The 2008 Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 17 professional cycling teams:

Astana (LUX)

Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA)

BMC Racing Team (USA)

Bouygues Telecom (FRA)

Crédit Agricole (FRA)

Gerolsteiner (GER)

Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA)

High Road Sports (GER)

Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)

Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast (USA)

Quick Step (BEL)

Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands)

Rock Racing (USA)

Saunier Duval-Scott (ESP)

Team CSC (DEN)

Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle (USA)

Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)

“The success of the Amgen Tour of California over the past two years has created a very positive reputation among the professional cycling community, which has helped to ensure the high level of competition that people have come to expect from our race,” said Kristin Bachochin, senior director of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “This year, we designed an even more challenging course and secured an incredible line-up of teams that promise to keep the level of excitement high for the fans and riders alike.”

Split between teams who compete on the UCI Pro Tour and those who race predominately in the United States, the field of 136 athletes will be one of the most diverse, accomplished groups of cyclists ever assembled for a stage race in the U.S.

“Even though the new Astana Cycling Team is making its U.S. racing debut, we are bringing numerous riders who have found success on U.S. soil in the past,” said Philippe Maertens, spokesman for the Astana Cycling Team. “The riders are excited to begin the season in California and are motivated to help Levi Leipheimer defend his Amgen Tour of California title.”

Along with Pro Tour teams, the growing class of top domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis, Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, Jelly Belly Cycling Team and Bissell Pro Cycling Team, and new competitors Rock Racing and Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast.

“The Jelly Belly Cycling Team is very excited about being selected by the Amgen Tour of California to participate in this year’s event,” said Danny Van Haute, manager of the Jelly Belly Cycling Team. “This will be Jelly Belly’s ninth season in the cycling community. The team is looking forward to the competition.”

Several of the 17 professional cycling teams will hold their pre-season training camps in California, which will give residents throughout the state an opportunity to watch these elite athletes prepare for the top professional cycling race in the United States.

For more information about the teams competing in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deep pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com.

About AEG

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, The Home Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O₂, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIA Theatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, a Major League Lacrosse team, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.