Santa Clarita will host the Stage 7 start of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. The roster features the following 17 professional cycling teams:

· Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)

· Astana (KAZ)

· Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA)*

· BMC Racing Team (USA)*

· Cervelo Test Team (SUI)*

· Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light (USA)*

· Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team (AUS)*

· Garmin-Chipotle (USA)

· Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)*

· Liquigas (ITA)

· Ouch Presented by Maxxis (USA)*

· Quick Step (BEL)

· Rabobank (Netherlands)

· Rock Racing (USA)*

· Saxo Bank (DEN)

· Team Columbia (USA)

· Team Type 1 (USA)*

*Newly announced

"These 17 teams represent the strongest field ever at the Amgen Tour of California. We are delighted to welcome some of the world’s best and most established teams, as well as new teams racing with us for the first time,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. “The level of competition and talent for the fourth-annual Amgen Tour of California rivals the top races in the world and demonstrates the importance of the United States to pro cycling U.S.”

Along with the Pro Tour teams, the growing class of top domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis (formerly Team Health Net) and Rock Racing, and new competitors Cervelo Test Team, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team and Team Type 1.

Several of the 17 professional cycling teams will hold their pre-season training camps in California, which will give residents across the state an opportunity to watch these elite athletes prepare for one of the top professional cycling races in the United States.

“The amount of energy and excitement the Amgen Tour of California brings to town is absolutely electric,” said Mayor Frank Ferry. “On February 21 the eyes of the world will be on us and we can’t wait to host Lance Armstrong and many of the top cyclists in the world when
America’s top cycling event comes to town.”

Kicking off the countdown to the Amgen Tour of California, the City of Santa Clarita will host Hit the Trail, a community bike ride and rally to kick off the countdown to the Amgen Tour of California, on Saturday, January 24 from 10:00 a.m. to 1 p.m. Local residents are invited to enjoy a leisurely bike ride along the City’s off-street bike trails from one of three starting points en route to Bridgeport Park, where participants of all ages will enjoy food, fun and giveaways. For more information on Hit the Trail, including the location of bike ride starting points, visit santa-clarita.com/tourofca.

The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course. Building on last year's third-annual stage race, which attracted 1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expanded to cover more than 750 miles over nine days from February 14-22, 2009.

For more about AEG, please contact Michael Roth at (213) 742-7155 or at mroth@aeg-la.com. For more information regarding tour routes and event details, please contact Nicole Okoneski at (213) 428-8793 or nokoneski@golinharris.com. For more about the teams competing in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.