The 2013 Amgen Tour of California, the largest cycling event in America, will take place throughout California from May 12-19.  A world-class field of 16 elite professional cycling teams has been assembled for the race, which will make stops in the City of Santa Clarita on Tuesday, May 14, and Wednesday, May 15.

“Santa Clarita is very excited to welcome these professional racing teams as they ride through the community for the one of the best events on the international calendar taking place right here in California,” said Mayor Bob Kellar.  “Every year, the Amgen Tour of California attracts the top teams and riders in the world, and the City is thrilled to be a part of one of the world’s greatest showcases for professional cycling.”

This year’s event will be headlined by eight of the world’s top ranking pro teams along with UCI Pro Continental and Continental squads, collectively representing nine countries. Among the American teams are the top two U.S. pro teams, BCM Racing Team of Santa Rosa, whose roster included current world road champion Philippe Gilbert of Belgium, and eight time participant team Garmin-Sharp of Denver, which will be defending its record-setting three Overall Team Standings wins.

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“The Amgen Tour of California is a big objective of mine because it’s not very often that we get to race in front of a home crowd. So I’m really going to relish that,” said Tejay van Garderen, BMC Racing Team. “If we can go into the hometown of the BMC Racing Team (Santa Rosa) on the last day in the leader’s jersey, that would be a special feeling. I’d love to be able to do that and to pay back the team for the support it’s given to me. To get the reception of the crowd in a situation like that would definitely be a career highlight.”

Also returning for their sixth year of California competition are the Omega Pharma- Quick-Step Cycling Team of Belgium, featuring Tom Boonen, the first biker to win all four “cobbled classics” in Europe. Other top World Tour Teams in this year’s ride include perennial powerhouse RADIOSHAP LEOPARD TREK of Luxembourg (whose roster includes 2011 Amgen Tour of California champion Chris Horner), Australia’s top team ORICA- GreenEDGE, Denmark’s top professional club Team Saxo-Tinkoff, the Netherlands’ Vancansoleil- DCM Pro Cycling Team, and Italy’s top team Cannondale Pro Cycling.  

For more information about the event, visit www.AmgenTourOfCalifornia.com. For information about the Santa Clarita stages for the race, visit www.Santa-Clarita.com/TourOfCA or call the City’s Arts and Events Division at (661) 286-4018.

• Article: Amgen Bike Race To Come Through Santa Clarita
• Source: Santa Clarita News
• Author: Kevin Kelton

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