The Bend Memorial Clinic Cascade Cycling Classic coming up July 9-13 in Bend, Oregon, has turned into the top alternative for US riders who cannot compete in the 2008 Tour de France.
Heading the roster at the Cascade Classic will be Levi Leipheimer, left, and Chris Horner of Team Astana, which was banned by Tour organizers.
Also competing: Tom Danielson of Garmin-Chipotle, as well as that team's Tyler Farrar of Wenatchee, Washington, and Tom Peterson of North Bend, Washington. Those three were passed over by their team.
Other teams that will have riders at Cascade include Rock Racing, BMC, HealthNet, Team Type 1 and Toyota United.
See the full roster.
While Horner told VeloNews he'd probably ride the Cascade back in April, BikePortland broke the news about Leipheimer.
This is the 29th year for the Cascade Classic, which also features classifications for pro women, men's masters, and Cat 2 and Cat 3/4 racers.
The 6 stage race is comprised of three road races in the eastern Oregon countryside, as well as a time trial and two criteriums.
Cascade technical director Brad Ross told BikePortland that Leipheimer is the first Tour de France podium finisher (3rd in 2007) to compete at Cascade. Leipheimer is also a two-time winner of the Tour of California.
Horner and Danielson are both former champions at the Tour de Georgia.
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