Amgen Tour of California Competitors Announced

SACRAMENTO, Calif.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- AEG, producer and presenter of the 14^th annual Amgen Tour of California , announced rosters for the 2019 weeklong professional cycling race that begins Sunday, May 12 in Sacramento.

Nineteen men’s teams of elite professional cyclists representing 33 countries will contest 773 miles of California’s most scenic highways, mountain roads and coastlines, visiting 13 cities throughout the state for stage starts and finishes, concluding in Pasadena on May 18.

The peloton of 133 riders will include three World Champions, including three-time titleholder Peter Sagan (SVK), who also holds the record for Amgen Tour of California stage wins (16) and the 2015 race title. America’s Greatest Race will showcase 25 U.S. riders, as well as six current National Road Race Champions from around the world.

Known as a battleground destination for sprinters, the all-star lineup of Sagan, Team Dimension Data’s Mark Cavendish (GBR) (winner of 30 stages of the Tour de France, second of all time), Cofidis Solutions Crédits’ Nacer Bouhanni (FRA), Trek-Segafredo’s John Degenkolb (GER) and Team Jumbo-Visma's Danny van Poppel (NED) will be challenged from young riders like UAE Team Emirates’ Jasper Philipsen (BEL), Astana’s 2018 Tour de France stage winner Magnus Cort Nielsen (DEN), and development team talent from the Israel Cycling Academy’s debut, the U.S. National Team and other top Pro Continental teams in the race.

All-arounders and climbers like Jumbo-Visma’s 2017 race champion George Bennett (AUS), Trek-Segafredo’s Richie Porte (AUS) and Tom Skujins (LAT), EF Education First Pro Cycling’s U.S. trio of Tejay van Garderen, Lawson Craddock and Taylor Phinney and BAHRAIN-MERIDA’s Rohan Dennis (AUS) will look for their chances on the weeklong route that includes the longest road days and most climbing in race history.

Final rosters for the Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM will be released in advance of the race, which takes place in Southern California May 16-18.

FAVORITES IN POPULAR CATEGORIES INCLUDE:

General Classification (Overall Contenders)

George Bennett (NZL), Team Jumbo-Visma (TJV)
Tejay van Garderen (USA), EF-Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Richie Porte (AUS), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Felix Grossschartner (AUT), BORA-hansgrohe (BOH)
Lawson Craddock (USA), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Peter Stetina (USA), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Rigoberto Uran (COL), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Tadej Pogacar (SLO), UAE Team Emirates (UAD)

Sprinters

Peter Sagan (SVK), BORA-hansgrohe (BOH)
Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Dimension Data (DDD)
Travis McCabe (USA), USA Cycling National Team (USA)
John Degenkolb (GER), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Rick Zabel (GER), Team KATUSHA ALPECIN (TKA)
Nacer Bouhanni (FRA), Cofidis Solutions Crédits (CDF)
Fabio Jakobsen (NED), Deceuninck – Quick-Step (DQT)
Davide Ballerini (ITA), Astana Pro Team (AST)
Jasper Philipsen (BEL), UAE Team Emirates (UAD)
Cees Bol (NED), Team Sunweb (SUN)
Kristoffer Halvorsen (NOR), Team Ineos (INS)
Ivan Garcia Cortina (ESP), BAHRAIN-MERIDA (BRN)

Climbers

George Bennett (NZL), Team Jumbo-Visma (TJV)
Richie Porte (AUS), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Rigoberto Uran (COL), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Tom Skujins (LAT), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Tejay van Garderen (USA), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Lachlan Morton (AUS), Team Dimension Data (DDD)
Lawson Craddock (USA), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Rob Britton (CAN), Rally UHC Cycling (RLY)

Stage Wins

Peter Sagan (SVK), BORA-hansgrohe (BOH)
Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Dimension Data (DDD)
Travis McCabe (USA), USA Cycling National Team (USA)
John Degenkolb (GER), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Zdenek Štybar (CZE), Deceuninck – Quick-Step (DQT)
Rick Zabel (GER), Team KATUSHA ALPECIN (TKA)
Nacer Bouhanni (FRA), Cofidis Solutions Crédits (CDF)
Fabio Jakobsen (NED), Deceuninck – Quick-Step (DQT)
Davide Ballerini (ITA), Astana Pro Team (AST)
Jasper Philipsen (BEL), UAE Team Emirates (UAD)
Cees Bol (NED), Team Sunweb (SUN)
Kristoffer Halvorsen (NOR), Team Ineos (INS)
Ivan Garcia Cortina (ESP), BAHRAIN-MERIDA (BRN)
George Bennett (NZL), Team Jumbo-Visma (TJV)
Richie Porte (AUS), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Tom Skujins (LAT), Trek-Segafredo (TFS)
Tejay van Garderen (USA), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Lachlan Morton (AUS), Team Dimension Data (DDD)
Lawson Craddock (USA), EF Education First Pro Cycling (EF1)
Rob Britton (CAN), Rally UHC Cycling (RLY)
Evan Huffman (USA), Rally UHC Cycling (RLY)
Maximilian Schachmann (GER), BORA-hansgrohe (BOH)

Fans can stay up to date on the race via daily live airings on NBC Sports Network with the May 18 conclusion live on NBC, and via the free Amgen Tour of California App. The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM UCI WorldTour race showcasing the world’s best women cyclists will run concurrently beginning in Ventura May 16-18.

Amgen Tour of California fans can connect with the race through all of their favorite social media platforms and use #AmgenTOC to join the conversation.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The Amgen Tour of California and the Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM are Tour de France-style cycling road races created and presented by AEG. Running concurrently, the races challenge the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along demanding courses that traverse 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, and award important, world-ranking points to the top finishers. For more information visit the Amgen Tour of California on Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube or www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

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 biologics manufacturing 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 the world's largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential.

About AEG

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 is affiliated with or owns, manages or consults with more than 150 preeminent arenas, stadiums, theaters, clubs and convention centers around the world including STAPLES Center, The O2 Arena, the Sprint Center and the Mercedes-Benz Arenas; AEG Presents, 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 .