On Sunday, May 15, 2016 some of the greatest cyclists in the world (who aren’t currently riding the Giro d’ Italia) will be lining up on the shores of San Diego Harbor to kick off the Amgen Tour of California. Among those names are of course Sagan, Wiggins, Cavendish, Degenkolb, Kristoff and Alaphilippe.
“In an Olympic year, it is especially exciting to welcome so many elite competitors and Olympic gold hopefuls to the golden state,” said Kristin Klein, president of the race and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “The Amgen Tour of California is filled with talent this year, and as we kick off a new decade of California racing, fans will be treated to the most exciting edition yet.”
For the official word from the Tour of California (and the complete 2016 race roster), please follow the jump.
2016 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA ROSTERS ANNOUNCED
California to Host Cycling Icons – World Champions, Olympic Medalists, Hopefuls and Tour de France Champ – in All-Star Lineup that includes Sagan, Wiggins, Cavendish, Degenkolb, Kristoff and Alaphilippe
LOS ANGELES (May 13, 2016) – AEG, presenter of the Amgen Tour of California (May 15-22), announced rosters for the eleventh annual stage race. One of the most important races on the international calendar, the event attracts some of the brightest cycling stars in the world to the golden state each May. This year’s field includes 11 World Champions, five Olympic medalists and Rio Olympic hopefuls.
The Amgen Tour of California is known for epic sprinter shootouts, and the 2016 edition will pit reigning World Champion and UCI’s top-ranked rider Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), also the California defending champion and Sprint record holder, against rivals Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka), who came away with the green jersey last year, John Degenkolb (Team Giant-Alpecin) and Alexander Kristoff (Team KATUSHA).
In addition to Sagan, general classification hopefuls include 2014 race champion Bradley Wiggins, back with his development squad (Team WIGGINS), French sensation Julian Alaphilippe (Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team), who placed second by seconds last year, Laurens ten Dam (Team Giant-Alpecin), Rohan Dennis (BMC Racing Team), Andrew Talansky (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team) and Lawson Craddock (Cannondale Pro Cycling Team), two-time Best Young Rider at the Amgen Tour of California.
With 144 cyclists (18 teams), and the most ever WorldTour teams, preparing to face-off over a 782-mile course from Southern to Northern California May 15-22, some of the favorites in the most popular categories include:
General Classification (Overall Contenders)
· Andrew Talansky (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT) Attached is the provisional roster as of today – some substitutions pending. Final rosters will be available in the media workroom Saturday/Sunday.
· Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Team WIGGINS (WGN)
· Bryan Coquard (FRA), Direct Énergie (DEN)
· George Bennett (NZL), Team Lotto NL – Jumbo (TLJ)
· Janez Brajkovic (SLO), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (UHC)
· Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (EQS)
· Lachlan Morton (AUS), Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis (JBC)
· Laurens ten Dam (NED), Team Giant-Alpecin (TGA)
· Lawson Craddock (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Peter Kennaugh (GBR), Team Sky (SKY)
· Peter Stetina (USA), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· Rohan Dennis (AUS), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Tom Skujins (LAT), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff
Sprinters
· Alexander Kristoff (NOR), Team KATUSHA (KAT)
· Ben Swift (GBR), Team Sky (SKY)
· Danny Van Poppel (NED), Team Sky (SKY)
· Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Haimar Zubeldia Agirre (ESP), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· John Degenkolb (GER), Team Giant-Alpecin (TGA)
· John Murphy (USA), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (UHC)
· Keil Reijnen (USA), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (DDD)
· Mark Renshaw (AUS), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (DDD)
· Niccolo Bonifazio (ITA), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff (TNK)
· Ryan Anderson (CAN), Direct Énergie (DEN)
· Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (DDD)
Climbers
· Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (EQS)
· Laurens ten Dam (NED), Team Giant-Alpecin (TGA)
· Lawson Craddock (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Phil Gaimon (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Robin Carpenter (USA), Holowesko Citadel p/b Hincapie Sportswear (HSD)
· Tom Skujins (LAT), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Will Routley (CAN), Rally Cycling (RLY)
Stage Wins
· Alex Howes (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Alexander Kristoff (NOR), Team KATUSHA (KAT)
· Brent Bookwalter (USA), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Danny Pate (USA), Rally Cycling (RLY)
· Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Jasper Stuyven (BEL), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· Javier Megias (ESP), Team Novo Nordisk (TNN)
· John Murphy (USA), UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (UHC)
· Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx–Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (EQS)
· Keil Reijnen (USA), Trek – Segafredo (TFS)
· Logan Owen (USA), Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling Team (AHB)
· Mark Cavendish (GBR), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (DDD)
· Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff (TNK)
· Samuel Sanchez (ESP), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Stijn Vandenbergh (BEL), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (EQS)
· Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Tyler Farrar (USA), Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka (DDD)
Individual Time Trialists (2016 Time Trial takes place May 26 in Folsom)
· Andrew Talansky (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Team WIGGINS (WGN)
· Julian Alaphilippe (FRA), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team (EQS)
· Lawson Craddock (USA), Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (CPT)
· Maciej Bodnar (POL), Tinkoff (TNK)
· Peter Kennaugh (GBR), Team Sky (SKY)
· Rohan Dennis (AUS), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Taylor Phinney (USA), BMC Racing Team (BMC)
· Tom Zirbel (USA), Rally Cycling (RLY)
“In an Olympic year, it is especially exciting to welcome so many elite competitors and Olympic gold hopefuls to the golden state,” said Kristin Klein, president of the race and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “The Amgen Tour of California is filled with talent this year, and as we kick off a new decade of California racing, fans will be treated to the most exciting edition yet.”
Race fans can keep up with the race with live nightly coverage on NBC Sports Network (May 15-21) and NBC (May 22 race conclusion) and the Microsoft Tour Tracker App for desktop and mobile, and connect with the race through all of their favorite social media platforms. Links are available at the Social drop-down menu at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com and fans can use #AMERICASGREATESTRACE to join the conversation.
For further information about the Amgen Tour of California and to experience the race like never before with VIP Access, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.
TINKOFF TNK RUS
– Peter Sagan SVK
– Erik Baska SVK
– Adam Blythe GBR
– Oscar Gatto ITA
– Michael Gogl AUT
– Michael Kolar SVK
– Juraj Sagan SVK
– Nikolay Trusov RUS
– Maciej Bodnar* POL
Managers: Ricardo Scheidecker, Patxi Vila Errandonea
ETIXX–QUICK-STEP EQS BEL
– Julian Alphilippe FRA
– Tom Boonen BEL
– Maxime Bouet FRA
– Nikolas Maes BEL
– Ariel Maximiliano Richeze ARG
– Zdenek Stybar CZE
– Petr Vakoc CZE
– Martin Velits SVK
– Laurens de Plus* BEL
– Davide Martinelli* ITA
Managers: Brian Holm, Jan Schaffrath
TEAM SKY SKY GBR
– Peter Kennaugh GBR
– Andrew Fenn GBR
– Gianni Moscon ITA
– Lars-Petter Nordhaug NOR
– Alex Peters GBR
– Danny Van Poppel NED
– Xabier Zandio ESP
Managers: Brett Lancaster, Gabriel Rasch
TEAM DIMENSION DATA FOR QHUBEKA DDD RSA
– Mark Cavendish GBR
– Matthew Brammeier IRL
– Bernhard Eisel AUT
– Tyler Farrar USA
– Nathan Haas FRA
– Jacques Janse van Rensburg RSA
– Mark Renshaw AUS
– Daniel Teklehaimanot ERI
– Nicolas Dougall* RSA
– Reinardt Janse van Rensburg* RSA
Managers: Rolf Aldag, Roger Hammond
TEAM KATUSHA KAT RUS
– Alexander Kristoff NOR
– Jacopo Guarnieri ITA
– Marco Haller AUT
– Vladimir Isaychev RUS
– Tiago Machado POR
– Michael Morkov DEN
– Jhonatan Restrepo Valencia COL
– Jurgen Van den Broeck BEL
– Nils Politt* GER
– Angel Vicioso* ESP
Managers: Xavier Florencio Cabre, Torsten Schmidt
BMC RACING TEAM BMC USA
– Rohan Dennis AUS
– Brent Bookwalter USA
– Jean-Pierre Drucker LUX
– Taylor Phinney USA
– Samuel Sanchez ESP
– Michael Schär SUI
– Greg Van Avermaet BEL
– Danilo Wyss SUI
– Tom Bohli* SUI
– Floris Gerts* NED
Managers: Valerio Piva, Jackson Stewart
TEAM WIGGINS WGN GBR
– Bradley Wiggins GBR
– Mark Christian GBR
– Jonathan Dibben GBR
– Owain Doull GBR
– Samuel Harrison GBR
– Liam Holohan GBR
– Christopher Latham GBR
– Andrew Tennant GBR
– Scott Davies * GBR
– Jake Kelly* GBR
Manager: Simon Cope
CANNONDALE PRO CYCLING TEAM CPT USA
– Andrew Talansky USA
– Patrick Bevin NZL
– Lawson Craddock USA
– Phillip Gaimon USA
– Benjamin King USA
– Alan Marangoni ITA
– Toms Skujins LAT
– Wouter Wippert NED
– Alex Howes* USA
– Ruben Zepuntke * GER
Managers: Juan Manuel Garate, Charles Wegelius
TREK
– SEGAFREDO TFS USA
– Peter Stetina USA
– Julian Arredondo COL
– Julien Bernard FRA
– Niccolo Bonifazio ITA
– Markel Irizar ESP
– Kiel Reijnen USA
– Jasper Stuyven BEL
– Haimar Zubeldia ESP
– Frank Schleck* LUX
– Edward Theuns* BEL
Managers: Alain Gallopin, Luc Meersman
DIRECT ENERGIE DEN FRA
– Bryan Coquard FRA
– Ryan Anderson CAN
– Antoine Duchesne CAN
– Fabrice Jeandesboz FRA
– Brian Nauleau FRA
– Adrien Petit FRA
– Romain Sicard FRA
– Angelo Tulik FRA
Managers: Jimmy Engoulvent, Benoit Genauzeau
TEAM GIANT-ALPECIN TGA GER
– John Degenkolb GER
– Soren Kragh Andersen DEN
– Roy Curvers NED
– Koen De Kort NED
– Caleb Fairly USA
– Ramon Sinkeldam NED
– Sindre Skjoestad Lunke NOR
– Laurens Ten Dam NED
– Carter Jones* USA
– Zico Waeytens * BEL
Manager: Aike Visbeek
TEAM LOTTO NL – JUMBO TIJ NED
– Dylan Groenewegen NED
– George Bennett NZL
– Timo Roosen NED
– Mike Teunissen NED
– Dennis van Widen NED
– Alexey Vermeulen USA
– Robert Wagner GER
– Maarten Wynants BEL
– Paul Martens* GER
– Sep Vanmarcke* BEL
Managers: Frans Maassen, Richard Plugge
UNITEDHEALTHCARE UHC USA
– Janez Brajkovic SLO
– Marco Canola ITA
– Jonathan Clarke AUS
– Daniel Eaton USA
– Daniel Alexander Jaramillo COL
– Christopher Jones USA
– John Murphy USA
– Tanner Putt USA
– Carlos Eduardo Alzate Escobar* COL
– Matthew Busche* USA
Managers: Hendrik Redant, Michael Tamayo
AXEON – HAGENS BERMAN AHB USA
– Tao Geoghegan-Hart GBR
– William Barta USA
– Geoffrey Curran USA
– Gregory Daniel USA
– Ruben Guerreiro POR
– Krists Neilands LAT
– Logan Owen USA
– Neilson Powless* USA
– Colin Joyce* USA
– Phil O’Donnell* USA
Managers: Jeffry Louder, Axel Merckx
JELLY BELLY P/B MAXXIS JBC USA
– Jordan Cheyne CAN
– Angus Morton AUS
– Lachlan David Morton AUS
– Chris Putt USA
– Jacob Rathe USA
– Michael Sheehan USA
– Taylor Sheldon USA
– Ben Wolfe USA
– Joshua Berry* USA
– Alexandr Braico* MDA
Managers: Matthew Rice, Danny Van Haute
HOLOWESKO CITADEL P/B HINCAPIE HSD USA
– Miguel Bryon USA
– Robin Carpenter USA
– Oscar Clark USA
– Andzs Flaksis LAT
– Andrei Krasilnikau BLR
– Joseph Lewis AUS
– Travis MacCabe USA
– Rob Squire USA
– MacKenzie Brennan* USA
– John Hornbeck* USA
Managers: Thomas Craven, Bobby Julich
TEAM NOVO NORDISK TNN USA
– Stephen Clancy IRL
– Joonas Henttala FIN
– David Lozano ESP
– Javier Megias Leal ESP
– Andréa Peron ITA
– Charles Planet FRA
– Martijn Verschoor NED
– Christopher Williams AUS
– Brian Kamstra* NED
– Nicolas Lefrancois* FRA
Managers: Pavel Cherkasov, Vassili Davidenko
RALLY CYCLING RLY USA
– Jesse Anthony USA
– Rob Britton CAN
– Adam De Vos CAN
– Evan Huffman USA
– Emerson Oronte USA
– Danny Pate USA
– Thomas Soladay USA
– Tom Zirbel USA
– Bradley Huff* USA
– Pierrick Naud* CAN
Managers: Jonas Carney, Patrick McCarty
*Replacement possible. Final roster to follow.
Total Riders
205
Total Countries Represented
31