2018 Amgen Tour of California Newly Designed Jerseys Revealed Press Release
ASSOS RETURNS AS OFFICIAL RACE JERSEY PARTNER AND EXCLUSIVE TECH APPAREL PROVIDER
LOS ANGELES (Feb. 28, 2018) – Technically-innovative cycling apparel brand ASSOS of Switzerland will provide official race jerseys, VIP and staff apparel and licensed merchandise for the 2018 Amgen Tour of California.
America’s premier cycling stage race, owned and presented by AEG, will cover 645 miles of roadways, highways and coastlines during seven stages from Long Beach to Sacramento May 13-19, 2018. The Amgen Tour of California Women's Race empowered with SRAM, showcasing the world’s best women cyclists, will run concurrently May 17-19, covering 187 miles over three stages.
A time-honored tradition in cycling, daily and overall classification leaders are awarded jerseys that signify the best performers in five categories.
“Heading into year two of our sponsorship of the Amgen Tour of California, we are excited to build upon our momentum and continue to support such a great event,” said Chris MacKay, Global Brand and Digital Marketing Director for ASSOS. “It’s an honor to have ASSOS worn by the daily leaders and the race staff, and we look forward to being on the ground for another year."
The 2018 leader jerseys as well as 2018 Limited Edition and Extra Limited Edition commemorative race jerseys are now available for preorder at www.amgentourofcaliforniastore.com. During the race, jerseys, race apparel and merchandise will be available at the Amgen Tour of California Lifestyle Festival near the finish line each day and online at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
The Amgen Tour of California leader jerseys each represent a specific skill or achievement and are presented to leading riders on-stage at the conclusion of each day’s race for both the women’s and men’s events during a special awards ceremony near the stage finish line:
• Amgen Race Leader Jersey: The prized “yellow jersey” will go to the rider with the lowest cumulative time over the entire race (each day) at the end of each stage. Traditionally yellow, this jersey often changes hands from stage to stage as each day's results are added into the equation. It is possible for a rider to wear this highly contested jersey without winning a stage since it recognizes overall race times, not stage finish results.
• Breakaway from Cancer® / Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM Most Courageous Rider Jersey: This meaningful jersey will be awarded daily to the man / woman respectively who best exemplifies the character of those engaged in the fight against cancer / heart disease – courage, sacrifice, inspiration, determination and perseverance.
• Lexus King of the Mountain (KOM)/Queen of the Mountain (QOM) Jersey: This jersey recognizes the peloton's strongest climber each day – the rider who collects the most points at KOM/QOM locations on designated mountains and hills. Only the first three cyclists to reach the top on rated climbs receive points.
• Visit California Sprint Jersey: Cyclists who specialize in bursts of power and speed, or consistently finish near the top of each stage, have the best chance to wear the respected ”green jersey.” Riders can accumulate points at designated Sprint Lines throughout the course, as well as for finishing the stage in the top ten. “King of California” Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe) will return this year to defend his 7th career California Green Jersey against the likes of world-famous sprinters Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) and Marcel Kittel (Team KATUSHA ALPECIN). Visit California has been a jersey partner since the race's inception in 2006.
• TAG Heuer Best Young Rider Jersey: Returning race partner TAG Heuer has commissioned world-renowned street artist Alec Monopoly to design this coveted jersey for the second year running, which will be awarded daily to the rider under age 25 with the least amount of elapsed time over the entire race to that point. Wearers of this jersey are cycling stars in the making.
Signed apparel from Amgen Tour of California favorites is available through an Amgen Tour of California online auction benefitting American Red Cross Disaster Relief in light of the devastation brought on by wildfires and mudslides throughout the state. Race fans – and California fans – will be able bid on exclusive items from merchandise to behind-the-scenes race experiences to help people affected by disasters. 100 percent of the proceeds from the Amgen Tour of California auction organized by STAPLES Center Foundation support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
In addition to lining the racecourse for free, true cycling fans will once again have the opportunity to experience the race as a VIP from an all-inclusive hospitality tent or through once-in-a-lifetime opportunities. To learn about the exclusive opportunities, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com/vip-passes or call 213-742-7145.
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 world's top professional cycling teams compete along demanding courses across hundreds of miles of California's iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The only U.S. races featured on the prestigious UCI WorldTour, teams selected have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions, and important, world-ranking points are awarded to the top finishers. More information and a route preview is available at 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 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.
For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.
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 120 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.
About ASSOS
After more than forty years making apparel for the most passionate cyclists, ASSOS places great emphasis on delighting the rider who lives to push the limits. In 1976, ASSOS of Switzerland was founded by Toni Maier with an unlikely advancement, the first carbon fiber bicycle frame. Whilst endlessly researching aerodynamics on the bike in the wind tunnel, Toni soon came to realize that the clothing the riders were wearing was in fact the main cause of drag. At this point, Toni turned his attention to clothing and invented the first Lycra® cycling shorts. This invention led to pro teams paying to wear ASSOS shorts during the Tour de France and to date, ASSOS is proud to have played a role in more than 350 gold medals at world championships and Olympic games.
ASSOS works side by side with suppliers and gathers feedback from its internal test team to produce fabrics that offer optimum comfort for the rider. As a result of its continual investment in R&D, the pioneering company is behind additional key innovations that have shaped the evolution of the cycling world and have now become industry standards. These include the first sublimation of a cycling jersey in 1980, the first elastic interface cycling short insert in 2001 and the creation of the fastest bodysuit on earth in 2004.
Today, ASSOS prides itself on supplying total cycling comfort to the top level within competitive cycling through multiple sponsorships of World Tour teams and riders. But away from the medal haul, passionate and ambitious cyclists in more than 30 countries across the globe glean the same benefits from the ASSOS innovation, thanks to the brand’s worldwide distribution via 1,000 independent top bike stores as well as its own boutiques and corporate online store.
Media Contact: Akimbo Communications - Casey Raymer, casey@akimbopr.com, 206.276.8900
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Media Contacts:
Michael Roth, AEG
213-742-7155
mroth@aegworldwide.com
Josh Levitt, Canvas Blue
213-335-5671
JLevitt@canvasblue.com