According to the AEG start list for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California, released Friday, 128 riders from 16 elite professional cycling teams will be participating in the eighth annual race, which kicks off on Sunday in Escondido.

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For the first time in the race’s history, it will run south to north, covering nearly 750 miles of California’s highways, roadways and coastlines over eight days, concluding on Sunday, May 19.

The Amgen Tour will pass through the Santa Clarita Valley on Tuesday, May 14 and Wednesday, May 15, with a Stage 3 finish on Magic Mountain Parkway and a Stage 4 start on Town Center Drive. 

For more information about the Santa Clarita portion of the race, including road closures, click here.

“As is our goal every year, the field features a great mix of international and domestic teams, as well as the world’s cycling superstars alongside the next generation of top riders,” said Executive Director of the race and Senior Vice President of AEG Sports Kristin Bachochin. “We’re thrilled to welcome each and every rider to California for what is going to be the most exciting Amgen Tour of California yet.”

The Amgen Tour of California attracts world-famous cyclists, in addition to talented younger athletes

“The Amgen Tour of California is obviously the toughest and biggest race in America. So just to be able to compete in it at such a young age and to be here with Bontrager is such an honor,” said 21-year-old cyclist Lawson Craddock.

Featured cyclists are listed below.

World Champions:

• Philippe Gilbert (2012 road race)
• Thor Hushovd (2010 road race, 1998 U23 time trial)
• Michael Rogers (2003 – 2005 time trial)
• Bert Grabsch (2008 time trial)
• Cameron Meyer (2010 madison, team pursuit, points – track; 2011 madison – track; 2012, points race – track)
• Michael Hepburn (2013, 2011-2010 team pursuit – track; 2012-2013 individual pursuit – track)
• Michael Morkov (2009 madison – track)

Current National Champions:

• Timmy Duggan (USA, road)
• David Zabriskie (USA, time trial)
• Marc de Maar (AHO, road race; time trial)
• Cameron Meyer (AUS, time trial)
• Ryan Roth (CAN, road race)
• Sylvain Chavanel (FRA, time trial)
• Matt Brammeier (IRE, road race)
• Peter Sagan (SVK, road race)
• Laurent Didier (LUX, road race)
• Lieuwe Westra (NED, time trial)
• Maciej Bodnar (POL, time trial)

Tour de France Stage Winners:

• *Thor Hushovd (10)
• Jens Voigt (3)
• Sylvain Chavanel (3)
• Andy Schleck (3)
• *Tyler Farrar (2)
• *David Zabriskie (2)
• Philippe Gilbert (1)
• Baden Cooke (1)
• Haimar Zubeldia (1)
• Juan Antonio Flecha (1)
• Matteo Tosatto (1)

*NOTE: includes team time trial wins

Grand Tour Overall Podium Finishers:

• Andy Schleck (1st, 2010 Tour de France; 2nd, 2011, 2009 Tour de France)
• Thomas de Gendt (3rd, 2012 Tour of Italy)

If you are unable to attend the race when it passes through Santa Clarita, you can follow it via daily broadcasts on NBC Sports Network and NBC or by downloading the free Tour Tracker app, which features live race updates, rider background and full race results.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2013 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 stretches across nearly 750 miles of California roadways, highways and coastlines.

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, bone disease and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives.

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 Best Buy Theater Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the 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.

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