Final team selections for Tour of California

Joining the previously announced eight ProTour teams, nine additional Pro Continental and Continental teams have been confirmed for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California by AEG, presenter of the professional cycling race. The nine-day stage race will feature 17 of the world’s top professional teams, including world-renowned riders Lance Armstrong, two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, three-time World Champion Oscar Freire and 2008 Olympic gold medal winner and world champion Fabian Cancellara, racing more than 750-miles from the state’s capitol, Sacramento, to San Diego County.

The complete 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster will feature 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 we have had at the Amgen Tour of California. We are delighted to have some of the world’s best and most established teams and we welcome the new teams who will be 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 professional cycling.”