America's Premier Cycling Race Gets Underway As Amgen Tour of California Launches Its Second Decade

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The 2016 Amgen Tour of California includes 10 UCI WorldTour Teams, the most in race history, as some of the top cyclists in the world face off across nearly 800 miles of California terrain May 15-22, visiting 12 Host Cities from San Diego to Sacramento.

2016 marks the debut of the UCI Women's WorldTour, which brings the highest level of professional women's cycling competition to cities around the world. The four-day Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered with SRAM May 19-22 marks the U.S. debut of the Women's WorldTour and will showcase some of the best talent in the sport. The peloton will include two-time Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong and eight Rio Olympic hopefuls.

The eight-stage men's event began Sunday with 18 of the world's most decorated and esteemed teams competing for one of the sport's most coveted titles. World Champion and reigning race champion Peter Sagan of Tinkoff roared to victory in a bunch sprint to the finish line in Mission Beach, San Diego, putting him back into the yellow leader jersey he wore at the race's conclusion last year.

"I came here [to the Amgen Tour of California for] the first time in 2010…it was a very nice race, very good organization, very nice hotels, food… Also, the level of the race is very good, and it's also very good for preparation because it's good weather. Now it's the Giro and Tour of California. And I prefer to come here to train and prepare. And also I like California for the fans, and I've won a lot of stages here, and I'm very happy always to return here," said Sagan of his 14^th Amgen Tour of California career victory (the race's all-time record holder for stage wins).

The Amgen Tour of California is known for epic sprinter shootouts, and the 2016 edition pits UCI's top-ranked rider Sagan (Tinkoff) against rivals Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka), who came away with the green jersey last year, John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) and Alexander Kristoff (Team KATUSHA).

In addition to Sagan, general classification hopefuls include 2014 race champion Bradley Wiggins, back with his development squad (Team WIGGINS), French sensation Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team), who placed second by seconds last year, Laurens ten Dam (Team Giant-Alpecin), Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing Team), Andrew Talansky (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) and Lawson Craddock (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team), two-time Best Young Rider at the Amgen Tour of California.

"It will be a special return to the Amgen Tour of California… the last edition I raced, I ended the week atop the podium. This time, I'm bringing my own team as part of our prep for the Rio Games. It's one of the best races in the world, we have some great young talent in the team, and so I'm excited to see what we can do," said Wiggins, who won the Amgen Tour of California in 2014.

One of the select few pro cyclists from California, Peter Stetina will endeavor to improve his 2014 6^th place finish on his new team Trek-Segafredo as he mounts his return from a career-threatening injury last season.

The 18 professional men's teams in the 2016 Amgen Tour of California include:

UCI WorldTour (10):

• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA)
• Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (BEL)
• Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (RSA)
• Team Giant – Alpecin (GER)
• Team KATUSHA (RUS)
• Team Lotto NL – Jumbo (NED)
• Team Sky (GBR)
• Tinkoff (RUS)
• Trek – Segafredo (USA)

UCI Professional Continental Teams (3):

• Direct Énergie (FRA)
• Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
• UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)

UCI Continental Teams (5):

• Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (USA)
• Holowesko | Citadel Racing Team p/b Hincapie Sportswear (USA)
• Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (USA)
• Rally Cycling (USA)
• Team WIGGINS (GBR)

Since its inception in 2006, the Amgen Tour of California has become one of the most important races on the international cycling calendar, showcasing the most accomplished cyclists from around the world. In addition, the event provides cyclists the opportunity to preview their prospective competition leading to the Tour de France, and this year, the Summer Olympic Games.

It's a banner year for women's cycling with the Rio Games on the horizon and roster slots to be determined, as well as the first-ever UCI Women's WorldTour.

The Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race Empowered by SRAM will be the first North American stage race of the inaugural Women's WorldTour. The race will be more competitive than ever, with 7 of the top-10 UCI-ranked teams in contention, including current top-ranked Wiggle High5. Among Twenty16 – Ridebiker's roster will be Kristin Armstrong (Memphis, Tenn.), the most decorated woman cyclist in U.S. history, including six National Championship titles between time trial and road racing and two World Time Trial Championships.

"The Women's WorldTour is coming to home soil, and I couldn't be more excited. This amazing opportunity will showcase women's cycling on the biggest stage in our sport! The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race will bring the best of the best including Olympians, World Champions and National Champions representing countries from across the world – and not to mention the event lands just three months before Rio!" said Armstrong, a two-time Olympic gold medalist in Time Trial and hopeful for the U.S. Rio team.

The peloton will be the most impressive yet with other notable riders to include Evelyn Stevens (Claremont, Calif.), winner of last year's time trial as well as the 2013 overall title, and fellow Californian Allie Dragoo riding for Twenty16 – Ridebiker. Boels–Dolmans' Megan Guarnier (Glen Falls, New York), reigning Road Race National Champion and bronze medalist at the 2015 Road Race World Championships, will make things exciting for the peloton, which includes:

• BePink (ITA)
• Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (NED)
• Canyon/SRAM Racing (GER)
• Colavita | Bianchi p/b Vittoria Women's UCI Pro Team (USA)
• Cylance Pro Cycling (USA)
• Drops Cycling Team (GBR)
• Hagens Berman | Supermint Pro Cycling Team (USA)
• Hitec Products (NOR)
• Podium Ambition Pro Cycling p/b Club La Santa (GBR)
• Rabo-Liv Women Cycling Team (NED)
• Rally Cycling (USA)
• Team TIBCO-SVB (USA)
• Twenty16 – Ridebiker (USA)
• UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
• USA Cycling (USA)
• Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling (USA)
• Weber Shimano Ladies Power (ARG)
• Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR)

"Over the past decade, we've built the gold standard for cycling in America and one of the most respected races in the world for both men and women," said Kristin Klein, president of the Amgen Tour of California and executive vice president of AEG Sports. "Each year, we deliver premier teams and the best riders to race against the backdrop of beautiful California, and this year, fans have the added excitement of  cheering for cyclists who will represent their countries this summer in Rio." 

For further information about the Amgen Tour of California and to experience the race like never before with VIP Access, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.  

About the Amgen Tour of California
The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California's iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions. Amgen Tour of California is listed on the international professional cycling calendar (2 HC, meaning "beyond category"), awarding important, world-ranking points to the top finishers. More information is available at amgentourofcalifornia.com.

This year, the men's course will cover nearly 800 miles over eight days through 12 host cities, including San Diego (first-time host), South Pasadena (first-time host), Santa Clarita, Thousand Oaks, Santa Barbara County, Morro Bay (first-time host), Monterey County, Lodi, South Lake Tahoe (first-time host), Folsom, Santa Rosa and Sacramento. The Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease Women's Race empowered with SRAM will run for the latter half of the men's race (May 19-22) as the U.S. debut event on the inaugural UCI Women's WorldTour (WWT).

About Amgen
Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology.

Amgen focuses on areas of high unmet medical need and leverages its expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people's lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be one of the world's leading independent biotechnology companies, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

About AEG
Founder and operators of the Amgen Tour of California and headquartered in Los Angeles, California, AEG is the world's leading sports and live entertainment company. With offices on five continents, AEG operates in the following business segments: AEG Facilities, which owns, manages or consults with more than 120 preeminent arenas, stadiums, theaters, clubs and convention centers around the world including The O2 Arena, the Sprint Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arenas; AEG Live, which is dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performances, including producing and promoting global and regional concert tours, music and special events and world-renowned festivals; AEG Real Estate, which develops world-class venues, as well as major sports and entertainment districts like STAPLES Center and L.A. LIVE; AEG Sports, which is the world's largest operator of sports franchises and high-profile sporting events;  and AEG Global Partnerships, which oversees worldwide sales and servicing of sponsorships including naming rights, premium seating and other strategic partnerships. Through its worldwide network of venues, portfolio of powerful sports and music brands, AXS.com ticketing platform, AXS cable television channel and its integrated entertainment districts, AEG entertains more than 100 million guests annually. More information about AEG can be found at www.aegworldwide.com.

Media Contacts:
Michael Roth, AEG
213-742-7155
[email protected]

Josh Levitt, Canvas Blue
213-335-5671
[email protected]

SOURCE AEG

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