2009 Tour of California - Final Selection of Teams Announced
Amgen Tour of California issues final cut of 17 teams for the third edition of the tour of the "Golden State.". World Class Field of Champions: Cancellara, Leipheimer, Freire and Armstrong

Lance Armstrong, Levi Leipheimer Fabian Cancellara and Oscar Freire will Lead Race’s Best-Ever Field of Seventeen Teams to Compete in February 14-22 Stage Race
Joining the previously announced eight ProTour teams, nine additional Pro Continental and Continental teams have been confirmed for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California by AEG, presenter of the professional cycling race. The nine-day stage race will feature 17 of the world’s top professional teams, including world-renowned riders Lance Armstrong, two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, three-time World Champion Oscar Freire and 2008 Olympic gold medal winner and world champion Fabian Cancellara, racing more than 750-miles from the state’s capitol, Sacramento, to San Diego County.

2009 Amgen Tour of California Teams
· Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
· Astana (KAZ)
· Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA)*
· BMC Racing Team (USA)*
· Cervelo Test Team (SUI)*
· Colavita/Sutter Home P/by Cooking Light (USA)*
· Fly V Australia p/by Successful Living Foundation Team (AUS)*
· Garmin-Chipotle (USA)
· Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)*
· Liquigas (ITA)
· Ouch Presented by Maxxis (USA)*
· Quick Step (BEL)
· Rabobank (Netherlands)
· Rock Racing (USA)*
· Saxo Bank (DEN)
· Team Columbia (USA)

· Team Type 1 (USA)*
*Newly announced

"These 17 teams represent the strongest field we have had at the Amgen Tour of California. We are delighted to have some of the world’s best and most established teams and we welcome the new teams who will be racing with us for the first time,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The level of competition and talent for the fourth-annual Amgen Tour of California rivals the top races in the world and demonstrates the importance of the United States to professional cycling.”

Along with the Pro Tour teams, the growing class of top domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis (formerly Team Health Net) and Rock Racing, and new competitors Cervelo Test Team, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team and Team Type 1.

"The BMC Racing Team for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will possibly be the strongest roster that we've fielded in any race since the inception of the program,” said Gavin Chilcott, manager of the BMC Racing Team, which is based in Northern California. “New talent has joined the team, and our two-week training camp in Northern California will be ideal preparation for the race. We've investigated some of the courses, and overall I am very pleased with the prospects for our group this year."

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

Team Type 1 Solvang Camp
Team Type 1 is holding their pre-season training camp in Santa Barbara, Solvang and the Santa Ynez Valley area from January 23 to February 2, 2009.

Solvang is host city for the Stage 6 Individual Time Trial on Friday, February 20, 2009. According to Tracy Farhad, Executive Director of the Solvang Conference & Visitors Bureau, “We are thrilled to have Team Type 1 training in this area again this season. Team Type 1 members are doing outreach to our youth at Solvang Elementary School next week as well as hosting a private training session for Solvang’s Race of Truth amateur cyclists during their stay.” She added, “We are proud that 7-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong who has trained here for many years has said this is an ideal cycling area. From rolling country lanes through vineyards to strenuous mountain climbs, there is something for every level of cycling ability. Velkommen to Solvang and Santa Barbara County, cyclists!” For complete details of all Amgen Tour of California race-related activities, Race of Truth, Gala, sponsorship and viewing packages in Solvang, visit www.tourofcalifornia-solvang.com 

Team Presentation Charity Gala
The City of Sacramento, the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau and AEG will host the Official Team Presentation and Gala for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California on Thursday, Feb. 12, 2009, at Sacramento’s Memorial Auditorium. A portion of the proceeds from the black tie-optional event will benefit Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer™ initiative — a complementary component to Amgen’s race sponsorship that is designed to increase awareness of the important resources available to cancer patients from prevention to education, and patient care to advocacy and financial support.

Details
The program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Memorial Auditorium.
Red Jersey tickets are $300 each or $2,500 for a table of 10.
Yellow Jersey VIP/sponsored tables are $3,000 for eight seats. Yellow Jersey VIP tables are closer to the stage and include an invitation to a VIP reception.  A portion of the ticket price is tax deductable.
For tables and tickets, or information, contact Stacy Mello at 916-808-8984 or smello@cityofsacramento.org For additional information on weekend events, call the Sacramento Convention & Visitors Bureau at 916-808-7777.

• Discuss this race and the sport with other cycling fans from around the world on the Daily Peloton.com Forums and Chat Room.
• Sponsor the daily peloton & advertise your product - contact us.
• Do you have a passion for cycling and a yen to write? contact us.

About the Amgen Tour of California - The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course. Building on last year's third-annual stage race, which attracted 1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 750 miles over nine days from February 14-22, 2009. www.amgentourofcalifornia.com

About Amgen - Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures 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
 To learn more about Amgen’s Breakaway from Cancer initiative, visit www.breakawayfromcancer.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 Women’s Professional Soccer league team, the Los Angeles Sol, 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