Who is joining us at the Tour of California?
It was officially announced that Philippe Gilbert, Tejay van Garderen, Peter Sagan, Andy Schleck, Tyler Farrar, and Sylvain Chavanel will compete in the Tour of California's eight stages beginning May 12, 2013. Tom Boonen will not be coming to California, bummer. Neither will Chris Horner who is out with knee pain.
See the 16 teams for the 2013 Tour of California: Teams for 2013 Tour of California Announced.
Also visit the official Team page on the Amgen Tour of California website.
See the preliminary (not official) start list of riders for the 2013 Tour of California, By Pro Cycling Stats. Or another (confirmed) list by VeloNews.com Confirmed rosters for the 2013 Amgen Tour of California.
Beginning tomorrow morning in Italy, the Giro d'Italia launches. The roster is official for the Giro, and any rider competing in the Giro will obviously not be in California enjoying the sunny weather, nice hotels, friendly fans, and shorter 1-week tour with stiff competition. See the list (and some of my photos*) of the Riders at the 2013 Giro d'Italia.
ATOC - American Tour
Riders for 2013 Amgen Tour of California
The official roster (start list) has been released, but thre prevailing sources do not agree: view Pro Cycling Stats rider list here. Or the roster (with gaps) from VeloNews.com.
I encourage all fans to get to know the European riders, they are incredible athletes and HUGE in their home-countries. To have the kind of access that we are afforded as fans at the Tour of California is a big deal.
BMC: Tejay van Garderen, Philippe Gilbert, Marco Pinotti, Thor Hushovd, Brent Bookwalter
Cannondale: Peter Sagan, Ted King, Damiano Caruso,
Omega Pharma-Quick-Step: Sylvain Chavanel,
Orica GreenEDGE: Lee Howard, Cameron Meyer, Wesley Sulzberger, Baden Cooke
RadioShack Leopard Trek: Andy Schleck, Haimar Zubeldia, Jens Voigt, Matthew Busche, Ben King
Team Garmin-Sharp: Tyler Farrar, Lachlan Morton, Johan Vansummern, David Zabriskie
Team Saxo-Tinkoff: Michael Morkov, Micahel Rogers, Timmy Duggan
Vacansoleil-DCM: Thomas de Gendt, Juan Antonia Flecha, Lieuwe Westra
Looking back at the podium - 2012 General Classification winners of the Amgen Tour of California
Final General Classification last year
- GESINK, Robert (RABOBANK) 29:14:52
- ZABRISKIE, David (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:46
- DANIELSON, Thomas (GARMIN-BARRACUDA) + 0:54
2013 Pedal Dancer top bets for overall win at Tour of California
- Tejay van Garderen
- Sylvain Chavanel
- Thomas de Gendt
- Peter Sagan
- I am also a huge fan of Philippe Gilbert, Ted King, Thor Hushovd and Johan Vansummeren, and fully expect to see Jens Voigt in a breakaway!
Riders to watch for at the Tour of California
I would like to share some photos I took in 2012 that will help you recognize these riders at the race. As a fan it is one thing to recognize a rider in their team kit, racing down the road with the announcer telling us who is in the breakaway or returning to the team car, it is another thing to recognize a rider quickly outside a team bus with their glasses and helmet off, or walking around a host city in plain street clothes.
Recognizing your favorite rider is a big part of the fun of being a fan the races..... learn these faces. All photos ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® click any image to enlarge
David Zabriskie
 |
| David Zabriskie at 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Tejay van Garderen at 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Tejay van Garderen at 2012 USA Pro Challenge ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Sylvain Chavanel at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Sylvain Chavanel at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Peter Sagan at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| a more recognizable photo of Peter ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Ted King at 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Philippe Gilbert before the 2012 Tour of Flanders ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Thor Hushovd before the 2012 Tour of Flanders in Belgium ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Timmy Duggan at 2012 Tour of California, (who now rides for Saxo Bank-Tinkoff) ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Brent Bookwalter at 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Bert Grabsch at 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Michael Rogers (R) at 2012 Tour de France, now rides for Saxo Bank-Tinkoff ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Johan Vansummeren at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Haimar Zubeldia at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
(I never saw Andy Schleck in 2012, I hope 2013 will be a much better year for him. Last time I watched Andy Schleck race was in 2011 at the Tour of California, glad he will be back in 2013.)
 |
| Andy Schleck at 2011 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Jens Voigt at the 2012 Tour of California ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Matthew Busche at 2012 USA Pro Challenge ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Tyler Farrar at 2012 USA Pro Challenge ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Kristijan Koren (L) and teammate Daniel Oss at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
 |
| Tom Boonen at the 2012 Tour of California ©Photo by Willie Reichenstein for PedalDancer.com |
 |
| Chris Horner at 2012 Tour de France ©By Karen at Pedal Dancer® |
Wow, what a great year it was for taking photos as a fan. I can't wait to head out to the race next week. Did you read my plan for going to Stage 4 & 5 in Santa Barbara? California Here I come!
See the 8 stage routes of the 2013 Tour of California: 2013 Tour of California Route Maps & Stage Info or more information at TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
According to Pro Cycling Stats - the top 15 competitors are:
1.SAGAN Peter2635
2.CHAVANEL Sylvain1356
3.VAN GARDEREN Tejay1262
4.GILBERT Philippe1240
5.WESTRA Lieuwe824
6.MEERSMAN Gianni764
7.ROGERS Michael688
8.LEUKEMANS Bjorn574
9.DE GENDT Thomas570
10.ZUBELDIA Haimar522
11.FARRAR Tyler495
12.PINOTTI Marco445
13.FLECHA Juan Antonio416
14.HOWARD Leigh370
15.CARUSO Damiano358
But this is a bike race, so you never know who will win!
