Race officials for the Amgen Tour of California are asking that highway artists limit their endeavors to chalk this year; no paint.
That's a shame. Here's a picture of some road grafitti from last year's Tour of California on Sierra Road. When cyclists pass over it on Stage 3 this year, it might be one of the few mentions of Floyd Landis, the winner of the 2006 Tour …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/18/tour-of-california-bike-race-requests-no-painting/
When the inaugural Amgen Tour of California wrapped up last year, the organizers proudly announced that no riders tested positive for banned substances.
It turns out the cyclists weren't tested for one of the most dangerous of blood-doping agents — EPO, which is made by Tour sponsor Amgen. What a goof. No wonder it's difficult for some people to take pro cycling seriously.
The New York Times reports that company officials were “angry and surprised” that the EPO tests weren't administered. Amgen's EPO has a very legitimate use to treat anemia in kidney dialysis and cancer patients, and Amgen aimed to inform about the drug's proper use with its sponsorship. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/17/slight-oversight-in-last-years-tour-of-california-doping-tests/
(Update: Where to catch live video, audio, and real-time course maps…) In just a few days, Sunday to be exact, you'll be able to turn on the TV and watch 144 professional cyclists competing against the scenic San Francisco skyline. Then it's on across the Golden Gate Bridge, wine country, the emerald Coastal Range and more.
Still snowbound on your bicycle trainer in front of the TV? You can see how the other half rides as the Versus cable network (formerly OLN) offers at least 10 hours of same-day coverage of the 2007 Amgen Tour of California running Sunday through Feb. 25.
While the only live action is broadcast on Sunday and the final stage (the other stage highlights are retaped for evening viewing), you can still keep up with live bike race updates throughout the day on your computer or cell phone. …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/16/where-to-follow-the-2007-tour-of-california-bike-race/
The final roster for the 2007 Amgen Tour of California is posted on the bike race website, and it's a more impressive group than I expected. This is going to be exciting.
We already knew that many of the world's top teams were showing up to race in the 8-stage race beginning Sunday; now we learn they're sending many of their best cyclists into the fray.
One of the surprises is Norwegian Thor Hushovd for Credit Agricole. He won the prologue and Stage 20 at the 2006 Tour de France, and his close sprint finishes earned him a 3rd overall in the green jersey competition ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/15/huge-pool-of-cycling-talent-for-tour-of-california/
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). …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/10/health-net-announces-tour-of-california-bike-race-team/
It's now less than two weeks until the 2007 Amgen Tour of California begins, and I keep seeing names of major league cyclists who plan to compete in the 8-stage bicycle race.
The latest are Michael Rasmussen of Denmark and Freddie Rodriguez of the US. Add them to a list that already includes Italian Ivan Basso; Americans Levi Leipheimer, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson (all Discovery), David Zabriskie, Christian Vande Velde, and Bobby Julich (all CSC); CSC's Juan Jose Haedo (winner of two stages last year); and world champion Paolo Bettini (QuickStep).
Rasmussen of the Rabobank cycling team is the guy wearing the polka-dot King of the Mountain jersey ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/02/05/big-names-at-2007-tour-of-california-bike-race/
American Levi Leipheimer will lead the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling team at the 2007 Amgen Tour of California, Feb. 18-25.
Filling out the Discovery roster at the 2nd annual California tour is Ivan Basso, George Hincapie, Tom Danielson, Tony Cruz, Brian Vandborg, Jason McCartney and Tomas Vaitkus.
Leipheimer (pictured in 2006) is returning to the squad after an absence of several years (he previously rode for the team as US Postal in 2000 and 2001). He most recently rode at leader of Germany's Gerolsteiner squad …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/31/leipheimer-leads-discovery-bicycling-team-at-2007-california-tour/
Italian cyclist Ivan Basso's first race appearance in a Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team jersey will be at the Tour of California, where he'll ride against former teammates on Team CSC.
Basso, who once again is aiming to win the Giro d'Italia and Tour de France in the same year, hinted that he'll ride the Tour of California (February 18-25) in support of another Discovery team newcomer, American Levi Leipheimer.
You can be sure that all eyes will be on the 29-year-old from the opening prologue in San Francisco to the finish in Long Beach to determine his level of fitness and how well he gets along with his new team ….
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/29/ivan-basso-faces-old-teammates-in-tour-of-california/
One month to go and the Amgen Tour of California has announced the 18 professional bicycling teams for the Feb. 18-25 stage race from San Francisco to Long Beach.
The list of cycling teams includes 10 US-based teams and 9 teams on the UCI Pro Tour.
I'm looking forward to this. Last year's inaugural race included wins by George Hincapie for Discovery and Levi Leipheimer, above, for Gerolsteiner (he's now with Discovery also).  Notably absent in 2007 will be overall winner Floyd Landis, who is fighting blood doping charges.
The teams listed for the 2007 Tour of California, and links to websites where rosters can be found …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2007/01/17/bicycle-teams-announced-for-2007-tour-of-california/
It may seem like we're in the throes of winter, but spring comes early to parts of the West Coast where the Amgen Tour of California bike race is only 10 weeks from now.
The organizers of the February 18-25 event have been pumping out press releases for months, and the best news I've seen so far is that VERSUS (the network formerly known as OLN) will broadcast nightly recaps of the day's cycling action.
The network has pledged to provide 14 hours of coverage …
Permanent link to this article: https://www.bikingbis.com/2006/12/07/tv-schedule-for-2007-tour-of-california-bike-race/
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