Defending Champion Levi Leipheimer in Twelfth Place after Hometown Stage

SANTA ROSA (May 17, 2010) – The second stage of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California brought excitement to the thunderous crowds at the finish in Santa Rosa, home to the BMC Racing and three-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer (USA) of Team RadioShack, who is currently in 12th place overall. After a challenging day of cycling through stormy conditions, Brett Lancaster (AUS) of Cervélo TestTeam took the stage win, as well as the overall lead in the General Classification.

Covering 109.5 miles/176.2 km and beginning in the city of Davis, which recently was named the best cycling town in the United States by Bicycling Magazine, the Stage 2 route included evenly spaced climbs and spectacular views. Proudly boasting no withdrawals after yesterday’s crashes, the peloton gave the enthusiastic crowd in Davis something to cheer for as they lined up at the start. The stage began with a series of attacks with little result until mile 12 when the first break formed and included Karl Menzies (AUS) of UnitedHealthcare Presented by Maxxis, Jay Robert Thomson (RSA) of Fly V Australia, Andrew Randell (CAN) of SpiderTech Powered by Planet Energy, Thomas Rabou (NED) of Team Type 1 and Michael Friedman (USA) of Jelly Belly Presented by Kenda. With the break of five riders, which would end up leading the race for the majority of the day, pulling away to create a minute-and-a-half gap over the pack, Menzies took the first sprint in Winters, followed by Rabou and Randell.

After 20 miles of flat roads while building a six-minute gap, the break headed into the first King of the Mountains (KOM) climb of the day, a short, but steep section leading to the Monticello Dam on Highway 128, and Rabou emerged victorious. Another long, flat section along Lake Berryessa, and the official feed zone, took the riders to their second climb up Howell Mountain Rd. (Cat. 2). Seizing the opportunity, Rabou attacked the break as Thomson and Friedman fell behind, but was soon caught by Menzies and Randell and the group of three crested the climb four minutes ahead of the peloton, with Rabou taking the KOM. Shortly after, the original breakaway of five reformed on the fast descent into Napa Valley.

“It didn’t get cold at all today. There were many crowds, especially on the climbs, and that made me feel warm inside,” said Rabou.

As the riders steadily approached the Oakville Grade (Cat. 3), the third KOM of the day, at 84.1miles/135.4 km and 1.9 miles long, Friedman once again dropped off the pace, leaving four riders to lead the breakaway. With weather conditions working against them, this proved to be a decisive climb for the riders, splitting apart the bunch with challenging circumstances and several crashes. With the end of the stage drawing near, a group of 12 riders, including Leipheimer, pulled away from the pack to form a chase group. After tackling the final KOM of the day, Trinity Grade (Cat. 2), the original break, the chase group and additional riders came together to form a lead group of approximately 25 riders, led by Team RadioShack. In a competition that came down to a very close finish in Santa Rosa, Lancaster took the stage win to the cheers of thousands of fans.

“In the rain, there are times when you just have to close your eyes and go for it. You just have to watch out for the white lines and the cat eyes on the road,” said Lancaster. “Honestly, I didn’t think I would be in the Amgen Leader Jersey, but today I felt fantastic. It was my special day.”

After a long, hard day of racing, Lancaster claimed the Amgen Race Leader Jersey and the Herbalife Sprint Jersey. The Rabobank Best Young Rider Jersey went to Peter Sagan (SVK) of Liquigas. Rabou, whose mother is currently battling cancer, took Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer® Most Courageous Rider Jersey and the California Travel & Tourism King of the Mountains (KOM) Jersey.

The top-three general classification leaders after today are Lancaster in first, Sagan in second and Menzies in third.

“Now that we have moved past the only day of rain anticipated for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California, we are looking forward to clear skies and beautiful weather for the rest of the race,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports, presenter of the race. “Davis and Santa Rosa have been such great partners and the record crowds on the course today really prove the enthusiasm and appetite there is for professional cycling in California. We are looking forward to another great day tomorrow as we return to two iconic cities that really embody the spirit of the state – San Francisco and Santa Cruz.”

Continuing its partnership for the fifth year, Amgen utilizes the race to raise awareness for the Breakaway from Cancer® initiative.

“For nearly 30 years, Amgen has tapped the power of pioneering science and innovation to discover and develop vital medicines,” said Stuart Arbuckle, vice president and general manager, Amgen Oncology. “That’s why Amgen is proud to sponsor the Amgen Tour of California and to continue the Breakaway from Cancer initiative as a vehicle to raise awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship.”

Amgen created the national Breakaway from Cancer initiative in 2005 as a complementary component to its sponsorship of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California. Through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen and its four nonprofit partners are dedicated to empowering patients with education, resources and hope.

Today’s activities featured cancer survivor Sharon Cucinotta who fired the official start gun to begin the ride from Davis to Santa Rosa, and cancer survivor Miss Sonoma County Alison Levie had the honor of awarding Rabou with Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider Jersey.

For access to resources or to learn more, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.com.

STAGE 3 TOMORROW:
Tuesday, May 18 – San Francisco to Santa Cruz (113.3 mi/152.3 km)
Start Time: 11:15 a.m. PT
Estimated Finish Time: 3:30-4 p.m. PT
Satellite Feed Time: 4:50 – 5 p.m. PT
(Coordinates can be found at http://www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/news/media-info.html)

Starting at Ocean Beach, Stage 3, sponsored by The Home Depot, will cover nearly 120 miles from San Francisco, which hosted the Prologue for the inaugural year of the Amgen Tour of California, to Santa Cruz. The route will take the riders south down the California coastline on Highway 1, flanked by the picturesque backdrops of the Pacific Ocean on one side and Redwood forests on the other. This coastal stage will include three long, but moderate climbs on Tunitas Creek Rd., La Honda Rd. and Bonny Doon Rd., which will all be followed by lengthy and fast descents. The sprint to the finish will follow W. Cliff Dr. along Monterey Bay to an exhilarating conclusion to Stage 3 at the world famous Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk.

For full results, archived footage, GPS data, course information, race play-by-play and more, please visit the official race website at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

In addition to the website, fans can view the race on the daily VERSUS broadcasts. Stage 3 will air live on VERSUS tomorrow at 2 p.m. PT/5 p.m. ET.

Nigel Ready to Ski

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. May 14, 2010 – Eight-year-old Nigel Holland was diagnosed with cancer nearly two years ago. His courage and sheer determination to beat cancer is recognized at this year’s Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake Friday, May 21. Nigel will ride in a procession on the final stretch of the race course during opening ceremonies as part of the Amgen Tour of California’s Breakaway from Cancer® national initiative to increase awareness of important resources available to people affected by cancer – from prevention through survivorship.

“Nigel has truly become a beacon of hope for anyone fighting cancer or any other type of illness,” said City of Big Bear Lake Mayor Liz Harris.

Directly following the race is an awards ceremony; Nigel Holland will present the official Amgen Breakaway from Cancer Most Courageous Rider jersey for Stage 6. The jersey is awarded to the cyclist who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer — courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination and perseverance. 

 “Amgen is proud to honor individuals like Nigel, who inspire others in the fight against cancer,” said Kathryn West, director of advocacy at Amgen. “Breakaway from Cancer was founded on the knowledge that it takes a team to overcome this disease and the Big Bear community exemplifies the commitment to helping others.”

Opening ceremonies for Amgen Tour of California’s Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake begin Friday, May 21 at 1 p.m., two hours before the pro cyclists cross the finish line. The location of the ceremonies is at Summit Blvd. near the finish line between Big Bear Blvd. and Snow Summit Mountain Resort. The schedule of events includes a pep rally featuring local presenting sponsor Big Bear Vacations and other local businesses. Miss Big Bear will parade to the finish line, followed by Nigel Holland in a decorated Breakaway from Cancer vehicle. Opening Ceremonies close with an exclusive glory ride that gives participants of Tour de Big Bear an opportunity to ride through the finish line. To learn more about the 2010 Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake log onto www.thebigbearclimb.com or visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

A day spent spreading cycling love to Big Bear students. Special thanks to Dan, Kyle, Joy, and Phil!

Cyclists at the Middle School

Delivering a message of cycling, health, safety, and determination in anticipation of the Tour of California’s Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake. (Big Bear Middle School.)

Team Possibilities

Warming up the crowd at Big Bear Elementary. Most of the kids had bikes, and most knew who Lance Armstrong was. Most popular question: “What do you do if your bike breaks?”

Kyle at the Elementary School

Hand cyclist Kyle Massey at Baldwin Lane Elementary, showing his tattoo with the date he fell 5 stories from a balcony.

Big Bear Lake Middle School Students

Big Bear Middle School students posing for Team PossAbilities from Redlands.

Cyclists at North Shore Elementary School

Kyle, Dan, and Joy sharing cycling insights at North Shore Elementary. Snow still remains on Snow Summit ski runs in the background due to the severe Winter.

Students at North Shore Elementary School

Big Bear Elementary students listening politely, until the free water bottles came out at the end. Dan was mobbed and almost pushed off the stage.

Additional Resources

• The Adobe Tour Tracker – real time bicycle race info | FlexDaddy – The AMGEN Tour of California … how cool is this, The Adobe Tour Tracker 2.0! The 8 day, 700 mile race has a multitude of information viewable in real-time.
• Amgen Tour of California – Who’s Favored To Win | Busy Buzz Blogging – Amgen Tour of California – Who’s Favored To Win – The Amgen Tour of California kicks off today and you can watch it on Versus (*Update: It appears that they.
• Amgen Tour of California – California news | USA News – U.S. national champion George Hincapie and Norwegian sprinter Alexander Kristoff will hunt for stage wins while the BMC Racing Team will look to Hincapie and Swiss Steve Morabito for the overall at the Amgen Tour of California. …

Partial View of Big Bear Lake

BIG BEAR LAKE, Calif. May 3, 2010 – Big Bear Lake offers unique vantage points for spectators to watch the Amgen Tour of California’s Stage 6 finish from a boat on the lake. The seven-mile long lake provides a variety of viewing options to watch the world’s best cyclists race toward the finish line from Big Bear Dam to Stanfield Cutoff. Race fans can either launch a boat at one of Big Bear’s public launch ramps, or boat rentals are amply served by five marinas that offer a fleet of pontoon boats, fishing boats and kayaks.

Some of the best viewing spots from a boat are 1/4 mile from Big Bear Dam on the north shore. Here boaters can watch the peloton enter Big Bear Lake with the option to follow the cyclists for two and a half miles along the north shore. Some other key viewing spots for boaters are just east of the City of Fawnskin, about 4.3 miles from the dam. Boaters who choose to get closer to the finish line can view the race on the north shore approximately one mile west of Stanfield Cutoff. The area offers a wide open clearing overlooking Alpine Pedal Path. Another hot spot for boaters is on the east end of the lake at Stanfield Cutoff, the roadway that connects the north shore with the south shore.

“With a boat you can watch cyclists enter at Big Bear Dam, or catch the final sprint to the finish line at Stanfield Cutoff,” said Holloways Marina Owner Loren Hafen. “A boat gives you some unique opportunities to see the action of the race, compared to those watching from the side of the road.”

For spectators who opt to watch the race from the roadside have some great spots to choose from, too. Summit Blvd is the final stretch to the finish line at Snow Summit Mountain Resort, which is expected to be the most sought after viewing location. It is highly recommended spectators arrive before 10 a.m. to stake out a spot near the finish line area along Summit Blvd. The closest parking lot to the finish line is at Garstin Drive and Fox Farm Road, and is based on a first-come, first serve basis. The cost is $10 per vehicle. Other nearby parking options that offer free parking is at Moonridge Avenue and in Big Bear Village.

For spectators who want to be at or near the finish line, but don’t want to hassle with crowds may elect to rent a condominium on Summit Blvd. or near Snow Summit Mountain Resort. Condos provide private balconies and decks that overlook the crowd with clear views of the finish line. These private rentals are great for hosting race-day gatherings and after parties with friends. For a list of available rentals at or near the finish line log onto www.bigbear.com/bigbearclimb or call 1-800-424-4232 to make reservations.

Stanfield Cutoff is a point where cyclists are expected to punch it into high gear and give it their all. There are places to park vehicles along the roadside and view the race. Also, The Duane Boyer West Public Boat Launch Ramp, which is 1/4 mile from Stanfield Cutoff, has a large public parking area available. The next portion of the final stretch, from Big Bear Blvd. to Sandalwood Drive, has wide open spaces with sidewalks and lots of parking options, including the Stater Brothers and Interlocken Shopping Center parking lots.

Hwy. 38 on the north shore has a wide array of places to watch the race, too. Some areas near the dam that provide parking include North Shore Landing and The Carol Morrison East Public Boat Launch Ramp. The City of Fawnskin has ample parking and plenty of room to view the race, including some restaurants and bars that are directly on the course. There are also some lodging options in this area including North Shore Cabins, The Inn at Fawnskin, Windy Point Inn and private home rentals from Big Bear Vacations. Side roads on Hwy. 38 that have places to park and offer great viewing areas include North Shore Lane, Polique Canyon Road and Holcomb Valley Road. Spectators may park on these roads as long as all four tires are off the roadway. Also, there are U.S. Forest Service parking areas along Hwy. 38 including Grout Bay Park, Cougar Crest Trailhead, Juniper Point and The Woodland Trail. U.S. Forest Service parking areas do require vehicles to display a National Forest Adventure Pass, which can be purchased at Big Bear Discovery Center for $5.

For race day information, traffic advisories and lodging availability for the Amgen Tour of California Stage 6 finish in Big Bear Lake visit www.thebigbearclimb.com or call 800-424-4232.

Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger
Prologue Post-Race Awards Ceremony Comments
“The Amgen Tour of California is the biggest race in the United States. California is one of the most beautiful places in the world, and we have some of the most extraordinary athletes in the world; this is a great event. What is so great about this race is that it moves around every year, so people from all over the world can see the beauty of California; it’s what makes this race spectacular.”

Amgen Tour of California

Partnership Between SRAM, Speedplay,
Specialized and Zipp Creates Official Support Team

LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2010) – The SRAM Neutral Race Support (NRS) team will be the official neutral support partner of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California AEG, presenter of the professional cycling road race set for May 16-23, announced today. The team, which will combine their expertise to provide world-class neutral race support for all the cyclists participating in the race, was created out of a partnership that includes Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM.

SRAM will bring three fully equipped neutral support vehicles, two support motos and one non-caravan support truck to the race, which is considered to be the most important cycling event in the United States. Seen in more than 100 premier international events, SRAM’s signature red vehicles have become synonymous with first-rate support for world-class races.

“This partnership serves a great tradition in bike racing, neutral race support for every rider, and in bringing together four powerful cycling brands – Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM – every rider can be confident in the service and support they’ll receive,” said Michael Zellmann, SRAM road PR manager. “From the SRAM perspective it’s an honor to be a part of this race that has established such a great tradition in such a short time, the Amgen Tour of California is on par with any stage race in the world.”

Responsible for wheel changes and mechanical assistance, the neutral support team’s experienced race mechanics will step in to aid any cyclist that has a mechanical issue, in the event the team car can’t reach them in time. Additionally, the neutral race support bike will be a Specialized bike, featuring Speedplay pedals.

“The combination of resources and expertise from Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM will create a ‘dream team’ of neutral race support for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The range of product, innovation and commitment to cycling shown by these companies demonstrates the continued enthusiasm towards, and growth of, professional cycling in the United States. This support team will be a great addition to the race.”

In addition to providing neutral support for the race, SRAM and the Amgen Tour of Californiawill be creating the Bike Manufacturers Challenge Powered by SRAM, a virtual competition between component, frame, wheel and pedal manufacturers based on rider and team performance at the Amgen Tour of California. The Bike Manufacturers Challenge Powered by SRAM will be featured on the official race website (www.amgentourofcalifornia.com), as well as during the official broadcast of the race on VERSUS.

Considered to be cycling’s most important and successful stage race in the United States, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will travel along a more than 800-mile course from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks, title-sponsor Amgen’s hometown community. During the race, elite international and domestic cycling teams will traverse the state from north to south with scheduled stops in the following host cities: Nevada City (new city for 2010), Sacramento, Davis, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Modesto, Visalia, Bakersfield (new city for 2010), Palmdale (new city for 2010), Big Bear Lake (new city for 2010), Los Angeles (new city for 2010) and Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village (new city for 2010)/Agoura Hills (new city for 2010).