Photo by Ken Conley

Officials Estimate 425,000 Fans Along the Course Over the First Three Days of the Race

SACRAMENTO, CA – The second stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California saw the emergence of a young star in Tyler Farrar (USA) of Slipstream Chipotle Presented by H30 and the return of old warrior in Mario Cipollini (ITA) of Rock Racing. But the wet and slippery streets of the State Capitol belonged to 2005 World Champion and Belgian superstar Tom Boonen (BEL) QuickStep, who claimed today’s stage victory. Stage 2, which took cyclists from Santa Rosa to Sacramento, finished in front of record crowds, taking the total attendance number for the first three days of the race to 425,000, with five days left to go. Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger was on hand at the official post-race ceremonies to help award the jerseys.

“The Amgen Tour of California is a wonderful experience for California and is great for our tourism,” declared Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger after Stage 2, where he helped present leader jerseys. “The Amgen Tour of California showcases the state, which has some of the most beautiful places in the world. Thank you to the enthusiastic crowd for being here and being such great fans.”

Having spent most of the nearly 116-mile race chasing one rider, Scott Nydam (USA) of Team BMC, the field roared into Sacramento resigned to settle the matter in a bunch sprint. As the peloton poured around the final corner, Gerald Ciolek (GER) of High Road, wearing the Union Bank of California Best Young Rider Jersey, fired off the front and opened a massive gap. Reigning World Champion Paolo Bettini (ITA) of QuickStep charged after Ciolek with Boonen in tow. When Boonen finally broke loose, he focused on the legendary Cipollini, who came out of a three-year retirement to race for the American Rock Racing team.

“Racing in America seems less stressful; people approach the race differently,” said Boonen. “I think we’ll be coming back to the Amgen Tour of California for the next couple of years.”

Despite Boonen’s impressive win, it was U.S. riders Farrar and Nydam that took the limelight on today’s stage. Local rider Nydam, who lives in Santa Rosa, Calif., provided a bright spot on a rainy day for the enthusiastic fans who braved the weather to come out and cheer.

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Rock Racing’s Michael Ball comments on his team’s morale and ability to deal with adversity…

Rock Racing’s Michael Ball Responds To AEG’s Exclusion Of Three Riders

Palo Alto, Calif. (Feb. 16, 2008) – Despite only being able to field a five-rider squad – three short of the standard team roster – Rock Racing will compete in the Amgen Tour of California.

Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball said the team’s riders and staff collectively decided Saturday night not to pull out of the race after race organizer AEG declared that three riders on the team’s original race roster – Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla – would not be allowed to start.

In a press conference Saturday morning, Ball announced that each of the three riders’ national federations had declared them free and clear to start the eight-day, 650-mile race. None are subject of any “open investigations” related to doping.

At a press conference by race organizer AEG, officials announced that terms of a contract between the race organization and each of the 17 teams in the race led to the exclusion of the three Rock Racing riders.

Relevant language in the AEG contract reads (full four-page text of contract attached):

“Team agrees to participate fully with all anti-doping initiatives as established by UCI, USA Cycling, USADA and WADA and to be subject to the respective sanctions of such governing organizations. From the date of execution of this Condition of Entry Agreement by Team through the conclusion of the 2008 ATOC, no member of the Team, which shall include without limitation named riders, coaches, trainers and Team management (individually and collectively, “Team Member”) shall have any open investigation as determined by UCI and/or USA Cycling) with regard to any matter involving a violation by such Team Member of any anti-doping rules as established by UCI, USA Cycling, USADA and/or WADA, unless or until such Team Member has been acquitted of such violation by UCI, USA Cycling, USADA and/or WADA…”

“No Team member participating in the ATOC may be under suspension by UCI, USA Cycling, USADA, and/or WADA from the date of execution of this Condition of Entry Agreement by Team through the conclusion of the 2008 ATOC.”

Ball stands firm that Rock Racing is compliant with those terms of the contract.

“This is not a decision governed by the agreement,” Ball said. “There is no open investigation. AEG is acting irrationally, to the detriment of the sport.”

The five Rock Racing riders who will compete in Sunday’s prologue time trial through the streets of Palo Alto are: Mario Cipollini (ITA), Michael Creed (USA), Doug Ollerenshaw (USA), Victor Hugo Pena (COL) and Freddie Rodriguez (USA).

“Mario is in the best shape he’s been in five years and Freddie has tremendous form,” Ball said. “Creed and Ollerenshaw can be great domestiques for those guys if they have to and you should never count Pena out.”

Ball said Hamilton, Botero and Sevilla will continue to accompany the Rock Racing team throughout the Tour and are still part of the team. They will be available every day to sign autographs for fans before and after each race and are slated to race throughout the remainder of the season.

“Our team is ready to go out there and show them what we can do,” Ball said. “These guys are fired up and in the best shape of their lives. We’re ready to go out there and win.”

Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero, Oscar Sevilla and Mario Cipollini Headline Team Roster
Team Owner Michael Ball Announces Need For Riders’ Union to Protect Individual Rights

Palo Alto, Calif. – Rock Racing Team Owner Michael Ball announced today that he stands by his riders and is committed to doing everything possible to ensure the team is able to field a complete, eight-rider squad for the Amgen Tour of California.
Ball, outfitted in Rock Racing’s new black-and-lime-green “Juice” uniform, made his remarks during a packed press conference Saturday at the Garden Court Hotel in Palo Alto, Calif.

As announced by Ball, Rock Racing’s roster for the eight-stage, eight-day international stage race consists of: Mario Cipollini (ITA), Santiago Botero (COL), Michael Creed (USA), Tyler Hamilton (USA), Doug Ollerenshaw (USA), Victor Hugo Pena (COL), Freddie Rodriguez (USA) and Oscar Sevilla (ESP). Team directors are Mariano Friedrick (director sportif) and Haldane Morris (assistant director sportif).

A roster released earlier this week by race organizer AEG for Rock Racing did not include Botero, Hamilton or Sevilla. Ball said he hopes the omission of those three riders was simply an administrative glitch. The three have all received clearance from their respective national federations that they are not the subject of any current investigations and are free and clear to race.

“I’m steadfast in my guys riding,” Ball said. “I’m in a position to give these guys who may or may not have made a mistake a second chance. They’re willing to step up for a second chance and I’m willing to give them that chance.”

The recent exclusion of the Astana professional cycling team from the Tour de France is a perfect example of the mistakes being made at the sport’s highest levels, Ball noted.

“The fact that the Tour of California is allowing Astana in this race is good. Bravo,” he said. “They (Astana) should be allowed to race. I support that.

“You are innocent until proven guilty. But for there to be a wholesale swipe across a team or an individual who in the past was under suspicion, that’s the past. This is time to make a difference in this sport. We’re trying to move forward and make a difference.

“The past is the past. We have a moment right now to change this sport. Let’s move forward. If it means giving these guys amnesty, do it. Stop digging up graves. This sport is going to wither on a vine and die if this continues. Sponsors are bailing out. If things continue with these conditions, I can’t do anything else but exit. It doesn’t make any sense business-wise.”

Uncertainty surrounding Rock Racing’s final roster for the Tour of California has brought the team closer together, Ball said.

“When you have adversity, it brings a team closer together and makes them stronger,” he said. “If my guys could never race again, I’d still pay them and send them into the city to tell children that there are better things to get involved in than drugs or gangs.”

Ball said Rock Racing is committed to a fair, anti-doping policy and individual rider rights. Central to that, he said, is the formation of a union.

“It’s good for business,” Ball said. “With a union comes security. That means athletes who make mistakes aren’t outed – and the investors and sponsors aren’t out. Control for the sport has to come from within: a rider’s union and in each team organization. That’s how it is in other sports.”

Rock Racing’s effort to make a difference in cycling extends to its “Rock the Cure” philanthropic division of Rock & Republic. Exemplifying the way corporations should give back, Ball has created specialty items from each collection, everything from shoes to denim, to directly support Rock the Cure. One hundred percent of the profits generated from these specialty items directly benefits deserving charities.

“For me, it’s fighting the good fight and doing what is righteous,” Ball said. “ It’s showing you can make a good product and give it away. Outreach to inner city kids is important to me. I’m the perfect example of someone who got the second chance.”

During the Tour of California, Rock the Cure will make a donation of $20,000 dollars on behalf of Rock Racing to benefit underprivileged children and after-school programs in cities along the Tour.

LOS ANGELES, CA – Rock Racing, founded by cyclist and Rock & Republic CEO/Creative Director Michael Ball, and AEG today announced a sponsorship agreement that names Rock Racing as the official fashion apparel sponsor of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California professional cycling road race. Featuring elite professional teams racing from Palo Alto-Stanford University to Pasadena, the eight day stage race, which attracted over 1.6 million spectators in 2007, will take place February 17-24, 2008.

“Cycling brought structure, focus and direction to my life,” said Michael Ball, CEO and head designer for Rock & Republic. “Rock Racing is eager for the opportunity to be involved with a race of this caliber, further expanding our brand into an area that I am personally passionate about.”

With its sexy, rock star fashion and aggressive approach, Rock Racing brings the edge back to cycling. That same edge and style will soon be available to cyclists around the world, with the launch of Rock Racing merchandise. Rock Racing’s new line of apparel will be distributed to high-end specialty stores throughout the United States beginning in March 2008. The Rock Racing brand will be available in all of North America, Europe and Asia by 2010. The line will also expand its scope beyond cycling to provide a full line of premium sports apparel. The Rock Racing line premiers with jerseys, bibs, arm and leg warmers, hats, shoe covers, socks and track suits. As is true with all Rock & Republic lines, Rock Racing merchandise is designed and manufactured in-house using high quality fabric imported from Europe.

“The addition of Rock Racing as a founding partner of the Amgen Tour of California is a perfect fit,” said Kristin Bachochin, senior director of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Having an organization truly committed to promoting the sport of cycling is not only important to the growth of the Amgen Tour of California but also to recreational cyclists everywhere.”

A new addition to the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, the Rock Racing Podium Girls will be visible hostesses outfitted in Rock Racing apparel and featured daily at race functions as well as within the online and televised race coverage. The Rock Racing Podium Girls will award winner jerseys on stage during the awards ceremonies at the conclusion of each of the race’s eight stages. Additionally, they will appear at rider sign-in each morning and conduct meet-and-greets in the finishing cities, allowing fans the opportunity to meet their favorite Rock Racing Podium Girl.

In addition to active participation in the awards ceremonies, Rock Racing’s sponsorship will include a presence at the Health Net Lifestyle Festival and on course signage.

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 ROCK RACING
Michael Ball, CEO/Creative Director of Rock & Republic, channels his energy and passion for racing, fashion and living on the edge by creating new ideas. In 2002, Michael changed the face of the fashion industry when he launched the now infamous Rock & Republic. With the same signature aggressive approach, he now plans to change the face of the racing world.

First in his plans was to bring together a collection of young professional world-class riders to create the powerful and eclectic Rock Racing-Cycling. Cycling already offers intense competition, speed, thrilling chases, crashes and primal entertainment. The sponsorship integrates the Rock & Republic aesthetic into cycling; creating stylized uniforms for various races and bringing high-end fashion with an adventurous flair to the cycling tour. So, when the Rock Racing Cycling Team shows up for a race they arrive with the same flare and edge that is synonymous with Rock & Republic.

Rolling up in style, their Cadillac Escalades and the Rock Racing trailer deliver the first excitement of the day. Don’t expect just ordinary kits—not when Michael Ball is sponsoring you! The kits have a different color and design elements for each race, adding both style and sex appeal to the sport. But this team of riders is really what the excitement is all about. Ball challenged Haldane Morris to put together an all-star team comprised of all southern California riders, and he delivered. With the identity of each of the riders to be announced shortly, it is safe to say that the Rock Racing riders have the heart and desire to win like no other U.S. team. All fearless professional cyclists, this team shares the aggressive approach that has become Michael Ball’s signature.

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