LOS ANGELES, January 16, 2007 – Joining previously announced DiscoveryChannel Pro Cycling Team, Team CSC, Predictor-Lotto and Health Net ProCycling Team, 14 additional teams, including U.S. teams Toyota-United ProCycling Team, Jelly Belly Cycling Team and Colavita/Sutter Home Presentedby Cooking Light Team, have been confirmed for the 2007 Amgen Tour of Californiaby AEG, promoter and operator of the professional cycling race. The650-mile, eight-day stage race, modeled after the Tour de France, willfeature 18 of the world’s top professional teams racing from San Franciscoto Long Beach February 18-25.
The 2007Amgen Tour of California roster includes the following 18 professionalcycling teams:BMC Racing Team (USA)*Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light Team (USA)*Crédit Agricole (FRA)*Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (USA)Gerolsteiner (GER)*Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA)Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)*Liquigas Pro Cycling Team (ITL)*Navigators Insurance Cycling Team (USA)*Predictor-Lotto (BEL)Priority Health Cycling Team Presented by Bissell (USA)*Quick Step-Innergetic (BEL)*Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands)*T-Mobile Team (GER)*Team CSC (DEN)Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle (USA)*Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA)*USA Cycling National Development Team (USA)**Newly announced"With the tremendous success of last year’s race and the very positive‘word of mouth’ among the professional cycling community, we were extremelyfortunate that not only did all of the top teams from 2006 ask to returnbut we were also able to add some of the new favorites entering the upcomingracing season,” said Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports. "Thesuccess of the 2006 race, combined with an updated, world-class coursewill ensure a level of competition that is unprecedented in the UnitedStates."Split between teams who compete on the UCI Pro Tour and those who racepredominately in the United States, the field of 144 athletes will be oneof the most diverse, accomplished groups of cyclists ever assembled fora stage race in the U.S."We are very excited, and looking forward to the 2007 Amgen Tour ofCalifornia," said Ed Beamon, team manager for the Navigators InsuranceCycling Team. "As an American team that competes around the world, it isvery gratifying to know that one of the best events on the internationalcalendar is right here in America. It’s just great to know that wecan get the season started with a world class event, against the best competitionin the world, on our home soil."Along with Pro Tour teams, the growing class of top domestic teams willbe represented by return competitors Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team, JellyBelly Cycling Team and Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking LightTeam, and new competitors Priority Health Cycling Team, USA Cycling NationalDevelopment Team and Northern California-based BMC Racing Team."It's a privilege to be invited again to the Amgen Tour of Californiawhich has such a competitive field," said Danny Van Haute, manager of theJelly Belly Cycling Team. "The Jelly Belly riders are excited aboutthe event and are very positive, as I am, for some great results."Several of the 18 professional cycling teams will hold their pre-seasontraining camps in California, which will give residents across the statean opportunity to watch these elite athletes prepare for one of the topprofessional cycling races in the United States.For more information about the teams competing in the 2007 Amgen Tourof California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.