Strong field of cyclists heading to South Lake Tahoe for 2-day Amgen race

The teams for this Spring's Amgen Tour of California and Amgen Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM Women’s Race empowered with SRAM have been announced, and they contain some of the most decorated cyclists in the world.

AEG, the producer and presenter of the 2017 tours, made the announcement today.

The men's Amgen Tour of California runs from May 14-20 and the Amgen Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM Women’s Race empowered with SRAM starts in South Lake Tahoe on May 11,with the final race on May 14.

2016 race champion Megan Guarnier (Glens Falls, NY), a three-time National Champion, will return to California to defend her title with UCI’s number-one ranked team after last season, Boels-Dolmans.

“I was so proud to win last year's Amgen Breakaway from Heart DiseaseTM Women’s Race empowered with SRAM, the most prestigious race in my home country. It was one of the highlights of my season, and I can't wait to see what's ahead for me and my team in California this May,” said Guarnier, who finished 2016 as UCI's top-ranked woman rider and now calls San Mateo, Calif. home.

2015 race champion Trixi Worrack (GER), who suffered a near career-ending injury as a result of a crash last year, will return with her Canyon/SRAM team to take another crack at the title. Sho-Air TWENTY20’s 20-year-old sensation Chloé Dygert (Bremerton, Wash.), who won Olympic silver and a World Championship title as part of the Women's Pursuit Team last year, will return to the race this year as well.

“Last year’s competition was the first UCI Women’s WorldTour race I competed in. To race alongside my coach and mentor Kristin Armstrong [a race ambassador for 2017] and finish the week wearing the Best Young Rider’s jersey was an amazing experience. I can’t wait to race the truly beautiful roads of California against a world-class field. This year’s race is going to be awesome!,” said Dygert.

“This is an exciting year for California, and for cycling. The 32 teams coming to race in the 2017 Amgen Tour of California truly represent the best of the best,” said Kristin Klein, race president and executive vice president of AEG Sports. “These men and women give their all to create some of the most memorable sporting moments I’ve ever witnessed. It’s a testament to the growth of cycling and this race that our fans – out on the course and in other countries who watch TV broadcasts and online updates – continue to grow in number year over year, along with the level of competition.”

May 11, 2017 - Women's Road Race - Overall Stage Start will being and end at Heavenly Mountain Resort. The racers will circle Lake Tahoe in a clockwise direction, ending with a brutal final climb back to the resort.

May 12, 2017 - Women's Stage 2 - A new road racecourse awaits the women for Stage 2. The racers will return to Heavenly Mountain Resort for the start, heading west and then south on CA-89. This will take them over the 7,740-foot summit of Luther Pass where they will contest the first of three QOMs for the stage followed by a quick descent into the spectacular Carson River Basin. The route will then take the riders on a loop through the Washoe Reservation before heading northeast into Nevada. A left turn will take them north on Kingsbury Grade. The “Grade” has never been attempted in any previous Amgen Tour of California stage. This is an 8-mile climb that gains 2,700’ in elevation. The second QOM will come at an elevation of 7,400’. The final QOM of the stage will await the riders at the finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

The teams who will be in South Lake Tahoe this May:

Astana Women’s Team (KAZ)
BePink Cogeas (ITA)
Boels-Dolmans Cycling Team (NED)
Canyon/SRAM Racing (GER)
Cylance Pro Cycling (USA)
Drops (GBR)
Hagens Berman | Supermint (USA)
Lares-Waowdeals Women Cycling Team (BEL)
Rally Cycling (USA)
Sho-Air TWENTY20 (USA)
Team Colavita | Bianchi (USA)
Team Sunweb (NED)
Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank (USA)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Visit Dallas DNA Pro Cycling (USA)
Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR)

The men's tour will not be in Lake Tahoe this year. They start in Sacramento, go through several cities including San Jose, Pismo Beach, Santa Barbara, Big Bear Lake and finishing in Pasadena.