(See Tour of California folder for race updates, info)
A who's who of top US pro cyclists will compete in this month's Amgen Tour of California bike race. While race organizers emailed out a list of six “elite Americans” who might be a factor in race, it by no means covered all the high-profile racers who are expected to compete.
The top US riders bicycling in the February event are:
George Hincapie (Discovery Channel) — Lance Armstrong's long-time teammate on Postal and Discovery, Hincapie (left) achieved a stage win at last year's Tour de France.
But Discovery is also sending American Tom Danielson, winner of last year's Tour de Georgia, a stage race very similar to Tour of California. Danielson has said his goal this year is winning the Giro d'Italia.
Chris Horner (Davitamon-Lotto) — A former winner of the SF Grand Prix, came within a few yards of winning a stage at last year's Tour. Three-time US Pro Cycling Champion and Los Angeles native “Fast” Freddie Rodriguez, a participant in last year's Tour, is expected to compete also.
Bobby Julich (Team CSC, right) — Another long-time American in Euro cycling, Julich last year became the first US rider to ever win the week-long spring classic Paris-Nice; he was also a bronze medal winner in the 2004 Olympics.
CSC also is sending American David Zabriskie. The time trial specialist won the opening stage of the 2005 Tour de France and wore the yellow jersey until the end of the 4th Stage team time trial when he crashed within sight of the finish line. Only two other Americans have worn the yellow jersey — Armstrong and Greg Lemond.
Floyd Landis (Phonak) — Also a former teammate of Armstrong, Landis is the titular head of the Phonak team. He finished 9th overall in the 2005 Tour de France and has big designs on this year's Tour.
Levi Leipheimer (Gerolsteiner) — Yet another former Armstrong teammate, Leipheimer finished sixth for his Germany-based team in last year's Tour de France; he's finished in the top 10 the past four attempts. He also plucked the win for last year's Tour of Germany from T-Mobile's Jan Ullrich. The bike race passes through Santa Rosa, Leipheimer's adopted hometown.
Scott Moninger (HealthNet) — Boasts the most wins — 240 — of any US bike racer.
That's just a list of the top Americans. There are 16 teams sending riders to the inaugural Tour of California. Other top riders include:
Gilberto Simoni (Saunier Duval-Prodir) — The Italian is a former winner of the Giro d'Italia, a three-week stage race around Italy. That team is also sending Spaniards Jose Benitez and Jose Marchante.
Paolo Savoldelli (Discovery) won the last year's Giro d'Italia and a stage of the Tour de France. He's been mentioned as a possible team leader for this year's Tour.
There may be other top guns in the race, but Jeff Corbett of the HealthNet tream says the race may actually favor lesser known riders. Corbett told the San Francisco Chronicle recently that the best riders are probably pacing themselves to get ready for the Tour de France in July.
See the Tour of California website for a complete list of teams for the Feb. 19 – 26 bike race.
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