The Health Net Pro Cycling Team presented by Maxxis will put former Phonak and Rabobank cyclists in the race for the overall title at the Amgen Tour of California, Feb. 18-25.
The US-based team will be lead by former Pro Tour riders Ryder Hesjedal (Phonak) and Rory Sutherland (Rabobank).
Hesjedal finished 4th overall at the Pro Tour Volta a Cataluña while helping teammate Santiago Botero to 2nd overall. Sutherland won the best young rider competition en route to 3rd overall at the 2005 Tour of Denmark.
San Diego-area native and resident Kyle Gritters will take the place of Nathan O’Neill on the roster. O’Neill sustained a hip injury when he was hit by a motorist while training in his native Australia just days after winning his record eighth Australian National Time Trial Championship.
Another threat on the squad is Karl Menzies, who won the opening stage of the Tour Down Under in Australia this year and held the leader's jersey for three days, finishing in second place.
The complete roster of the Oakland-based team competing in California are:
Russell Downing (GBr)
Kyle Gritters (USA)
Ryder Hesjedal (CAN)
Tim Johnson (USA)
Karl Menzies (TAS)
Shawn Milne (USA)
Kirk O’Bee (USA)
Rory Sutherland (AUS)
See the Daily Peloton for details/ More Tour of California news
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