Pedal Dancer®: Professional Cycling Teams

Showing posts with label Professional Cycling Teams. Show all posts

12 May 2016

List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016

The Riders - a complete list of competitors

The rider startlist and bib numbers have been finalized and made available by ProCyclingStats.com, a day after quite a different startlist was released by Amgen Tour of California media personnel. Whomever starts on Sunday morning is now committed to ride their way to Sacramento (no more changing the roster!).

~~The official 2016 startlist of riders (rider roster, squads) has not yet been released by organizers of the Amgen Tour of California, but~~ I got impatient because I am headed to the race tomorrow. However on the ProCyclingStats.com startlist of riders you can click on each name and see a photo of the rider and their palmares (the career race history), a great way to get familiar with who will be racing at the Tour of California.

Through reading news reports and rider twitter accounts (some are already in California training pre race), I can add to the list of riders who will be racing in California at the 2016 Amgen Tour of California this week. ATOC typically leaves the announcement of the startlists until just before the start as teams formalize their squads having recovered from recent illnesses or races.

Team rider startlists

There will be a thrilling list of riders to compete in California this week. Tom Boonen is coming to California!! Julian Allaphilippe will be returning in 2016, he won the best young rider jersey in 2015 and won the stage to Mt Baldy. Peter Sagan is coming back with his teammate and brother Juraj Sagan. Mark Cavendish and Bradely Wiggins will both return in 2016. Team BMC has an action packed team, their red jerseys should be a frequent sight on the podium.

I am super excited to see Tom Boonen and Mark Renshaw race again and am looking forward to watching the other powerful sprinters including Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), Peter Sagan (Tinkoff), Alexander Kristoff (Katusha), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data), Ben Swift (SKY), John Degenkolb (Giant-Alpecin), Niccolo Bonifazio (Trek-Segafredo), Bryan Coquard (Direct Energie), Dylan Groenewegen (LottoNL-Jumbo), Brad Huff (Rally), Rob Britton (Rally), Robin Carpenter (Holowesko-Citadel), Wouter Wippert (Cannondale), Travis McCabe (Holowesko-Citadel), and John Murphy (UHC).

Because I am a huge fan of the Spring Classics I will be like a giddy fan to see Greg van Avermaet, John Degenkolb, Alexander Kristoff, Zdenek Stybar and Tom Boonen in California. I wouldn't be able to get anywhere near them in Belgium; which also stands true for Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins. I also look forward to watching the young Axeon Hagens Berman team and observing the French riders on Team Direct Energie enjoy their time in California. Although 'enjoy' is a loose term once they experience the tough level of competition in this tour.

Recommended Read: Preview: What you need to know about the 2016 Amgen Tour of California, by Neal Rogers. Who writes, "Sagan returns to the race that he’s done every year since 2010, along the way compiling a total of 13 stage wins (a record),five points jerseys (a record), one best young rider’s competition (2010), and one overall victory." "Mark Cavendish (Dimension Data), a nine-time California stage winner and two-time points classification winner."

Pedal Dancer Race Preview for 2016 Tour of California on TourChaser.com: tourchaser.com/race-preview-atoc

FULL STARTLIST - 2016 Amgen Tour of California, 144 riders to compete:* to be updated with bib numbers after the official announcement of the ATOC startlist.

Tinkoff
1 Sagan, Peter
2 Baška, Erik
3 Blythe, Adam
4 Gatto, Oscar
5 Gogl, Michael
6 Kolar, Michael
7 Sagan, Juraj
8 Trusov, Nikolay

Etixx - Quick Step
11 Allaphilippe, Julian
12 Boonen, Tom
13 Bouet, Maxime
14 Maes, Nikolas
15 Richeze, Ariel Maximilliano
16 Stybar, Zdenek
17 Vakoc, Petr
18 Velitz, Martin

Team Sky
21 Kennaugh, Peter
22 Fenn, Andrew
23 Kiyrienka, Vasil
24 Moscon, Gianni
25 Nordhaug, Lars Petter
26 Peters, Alex
27 van Poppel, Danny
28 Zandio, Xabier

Dimension Data
31 Cavendish, Mark
32 Brammeier, Matthew
33 Eisel, Bernhard
34 Farrar, Tyler
35 Nathan Haas
36 Janse van Rensburg, Jacques
37 Renshaw, Mark
38 Teklehaimanot, Daniel

Team Katusha
41 Kristoff, Alexander
42 Guarnieri, Jacopo
43 Haller, Marco
44 Isaychev, Vladimir
45 Machado, Tiago
46 Mørkøv, Michael
47 Restrepo, Jhonatan
48 van den Broeck, Jurgen

BMC Racing Team
51 Bookwalter, Brent
52 Dennis, Rohan
53 Drucker,Jean-Pierre
54 Phinney, Taylor
55 Sánchez, Samuel
56 Schar, Michael
57 Van Avermaet, Greg
58 Wyss, Danilo

Team Wiggins
61 Wiggins, Bradley
62 Christian, Mark
63 Doull, Owain
64 Kelly, Jake
65 Latham, Christopher
66 Patten, Daniel
67 Tennant, Andrew
68 Thompson, Michael

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team
71 Talansky, Andrew
72 Bevin, Patrick
73 Craddock, Lawson
74 Gaimon, Phillip
75 King, Benjamin
76 Marangoni, Alan
77 Skujiņš, Toms
78 Wippert, Wouter

Trek - Segafredo
81 Stetina, Peter
82 Arredondo, Julián David
83 Bernard, Julien
84 Bonifazio, Niccolo
85 Irizar, Markel
86 Reijnen, Kiel
87 Stuyven, Jasper
88 Zubeldia, Haimar

Direct Energie
91 Coquard, Bryan
92 Anderson, Ryan
93 Duchesne, Antoine
95 Nauleau, Bryan
96 Petit, Adrien
97 Sicard, Romain
98 Tulik, Angelo

Team Giant - Alpecin
101 Degenkolb, John
102 Kragh Andersen, Søren
103 Curvers, Roy
104 de Kort, Koen
105 Sinkeldam, Ramon
106 Fairly, Caleb
107 Skjøstad Lunke, Sindre
108 ten Dam, Laurens

Team LottoNL - Jumbo
111 Groenewegen, Dylan
112 Bennett, George
113 Roosen, Timo
114 Teunissen, Mike
115 van Widen, Dennis
116 Vermeulen, Alexey
117 Wagner, Robert
118 Wynants, Maarten

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team
121 Brajkovic, Janez
122 Canolo, Mario
123 Clarke, Jonathan
124 Eaton, Daniel
125 Jaramillo, Daniel Alexander
126 Jones, Christopher
127 Murphy, John,
128 Putt, Tanner

Axeon Hagens Berman (U23 team)
131 Geoghegan Hart, Tao
132 Barta, Will
133 Curran, Geoffrey
134 Daniel, Greg
135 Guerreiro, Ruben
136 Neilands, Krists
137 Owen, Logan
138 Powless, Nielson

Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis
141 Morton, Lachlan David
142 Cheyne, Jordan
143 Morton, Angus
144 Putt, Chris
145 Rathe, Jacob
146 Sheehan, Michael
147 Sheldon, Taylor
148 Wolfe, Ben

Holowesko-Citadel Racing Team
151 Carpenter, Robin
152 Clark, Oscar
153 Flaksis, Andzs
154 Hornbeck, Jonathan
155 Krasilnikau, Andrei
156 Lewis, Joe
157 Squire, Rob
158 McCabe, Travis

Team Novo Nordisk
161 Clancy, Stephen
162 Henttala, Joonas
163 Lozano, David
164 Megias Leal, Javier
165 Peron, Andrea
166 Planet, Charles
167 Verschoor, Martijn
168 Williams, Christopher

Rally Cycling
171 Anthony, Jesse
172 Britton, Rob
173 De Vos, Adam
174 Huffman, Evan
175 Nalo, Patrick
176 Oronte, Emerson
177 Pate, Danny
178 Routley, Will

All of these riders will be racing again in 2016: (All Photos ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer®)

American Brent Bookwalter (BMC).

Latvian Tom Skujins (Cannondale).

From the U.K. (Isle of Man) Mark Cavendish (now with Dimension Data).

Australian Rohan Dennis (BMC).

American Tyler Farrar (Dimension Data).

Slovakian Peter Sagan (Tinkoff).

American Taylor Phinney (BMC).

American Lawson Craddock (now with Cannondale).

American Logan Owen (Axeon Hagens Berman).

Mark Renshaw (now with Dimension Data).

Julian Allaphilippe (Etixx-Quickstep).

Laurens ten Dam (now with Giant-Alpecin).

WHO WILL WEAR BIB #1 IN 2016?

It is tradition that the previous year's overall stage winner, if returning to the race in the current year, wear the #1 jersey. His team being recognized as the first team, thus wear #1-8. The other teams are ordered according to race organizers preference, eighteen teams total with eight riders each. At the Tour of California, as is usual, you will see the ProTour teams listed on the roster before the Pro Continental or Continental teams.

Peter Sagan will wear #1 on his jersey at the Tour of California. He will be racing hard in 2016 to wear #1 again in 2017.

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

22 April 2016

Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California

The best bikes and clothing at the Amgen Tour of California

This is a repeat of my blog post on Team bike and team jerseys at the Amgen tour of California. Somehow I posted two versions, so in this version I have elaborated on clothing and equipment sponsors for each team.

"You look so pro!"

The look is called pro, but being pro requires a legion of support staff and dedicated sponsors and partners. I know the riders work hard but they get to race on the best bike equipment in the industry. Sponsors give huge amounts of equipment or support to the teams in hopes that the spectators will see the high level of performance and want it for themselves.

Peter Sagan, the perfect model for promoting cycling apparel. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

UCI WorldTour

Equipment on the bike and on the rider:

BMC Racing Team (USA) - BMC bikes, Shimano, Mavic, Garmin, FSA, Rock Tape, fi’zi:k. Pearl Izumi clothing, Giro helmets, Oakley glasses.
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Cannondale bikes, Shimano, Mavic, Garmin, FSA, Rock Tape, fi’zi:k. Castelli clothing, POC helmets and glasses.
Dimension Data (South Africa) - Cervélo bikes, Roto Uno / Shimano, ENVE, Continental, fi’zi:k, Speedplay, Rotor, Lizard Skins. Met helmets, Oakley glasses.
Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium) - Specialized bikes, Shimano, HED, Rovel, FSA. Vermarc clothing, Specialized helmet and glasses.
Giant – Alpecin (Germany) - Giant bikes, Shimano, Vittoria, Pro, Pioneer, Polar. Exteondo clothing, Giant helmets, Oakley glasses.
Katusha (Russia) - Canyon bikes, SRAM, Zipp, Quarq. Katusha clothing, Giro helmets.
LottoNL – Jumbo (Netherlands) - Bianche bikes, Shimano, FSA, Selle San Marco, Vittoria. SMS Santini clothing, Bell helmets, New Balance apparel.
Sky (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes, Shimano, PRO, Stages, fi’zi:k. Rapha clothing, Kask helmets, Oakley glasses, Asics apparel.
Tinkoff (Russia) - Specialized bikes, Shimano, FSA, Roval, HED, Look, Prologo, SRM. Sportful clothing, Oakley glasses.
Trek – Segafredo (USA) - Trek bikes, Shimano, Bontrager, SRM. Bontrager helmets, Oakley glasses.

Did you know Segafredo is one company making up the MZB group based in Italy, they are the world's largest coffee producers.

Trek bikes ready to race. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

UCI Professional Continental

Direct Énergie (France) - BH bikes, Shimano / FSA
Novo Nordisk (USA) - Colnago bikes
United Healthcare (USA) - Wilier bikes, Shimano

UCI Continental

Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) - Specialized bikes, SRAM
Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA) - Felt bikes, Shimano
Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA) - Argon bikes
Rally Cycling (USA) - Diamond Back bikes, SRAM
Team Wiggins (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes, SRAM

Bikes lined up before the stage at ATOC in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

The staff our outfitted in team clothing as well.

Getting the bikes ready. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

Buy Apparel

You can buy Amgen Tour of California apparel and classification jerseys at the ATOC Shop. Champion Systems is the jersey sponsor for the classification jerseys at the Tour of California.

Classification jerseys for the 2016 Amgen Tour of California

You can buy some of the ProTour team jerseys at www.probikekit.com or at boutique.letour.fr or find some of the old kits at www.cyclingbox.com.

Need a bike?

Of particular interest to the amateur cyclist's price point (depending on the build) would be the bikes of Team Katusha, Team Giant-Alpecin, Novo-Nordisk, Holowesko-Citadel, Direct Energie, Trek-Segafredo and Rally.

If you have no budget (or just want to drool over extravagant bikes) check out the bikes of Team SKY, Tinkoff, BMC, Etixx-Quickstep, United Healthcare, Axeon Hagens Berman, Dimension Data or the magnificent Team Wiggins team bike.

Win a BMC bike

You have a chance to win a BMC bike custom painted by Taylor Phinney, enter bike contest on VeloNews.
Guess whose bike this is? You will see it at the Tour of California in May (but you can't have it).

This is one of Peter Sagan's bikes. A very colorful Specialized Venge. Photo via tinkoffteam.com

Eighteen men's teams will compete in the 2016 Amgen Tour of California. These are the team jerseys and bikes, listed by: team website, country, jerseys, bikes and some of the equipment used on the bikes. Each team has a large group of equipment, goods and service suppliers (including cars!) which can be found on their team websites.

Read more about the WorldTour sponsors: Pro Team Sponsors – What Do They Do? By Inner Ring (descriptions of the products sponsors make).

One of my favorite sponsor combos: A Mini Cooper with Giant Bikes.

Let's take a look at what you will see as fans out on the road during the upcoming eight stages of the Amgen Tour of California. If you attend a start of any stage, be sure to walk by the team buses and check out the bikes lined up securely outside.

MEN'S TEAMS

UCI WorldTour Teams

BMC Racing Team (USA)

BMC team equipment on the bike: BMC bikes, Shimano, fi’zi:k, SRM, Continental. Pearl Izumi clothing, Giro helmets, Oakley glasses.

BMC team BMC Teammachine SLR01 Dura Ace Di2. Photo via bmc-switzerland.com

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA)

Cannondale team equipment on the bike: Cannondale bikes, Shimano, Mavic, Garmin, FSA, Rock Tape, fi’zi:k. Castelli clothing, POC helmets and glasses.

Cannondale team Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-MOD. Photo via www.cannondale.com

Dimension Data (South Africa)

Dimension Data team equipment on the bike: Cervelo bikes, Roto Uno / Shimano, ENVE, Continental, fi’zi:k, Speedplay, Rotor, Lizard Skins. Oakley glasses, Met helmets.

Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium)

Etixx-Quickstep team equipment on the bike: Specialized bikes, Shimano, HED, Rovel, FSA. Vermarc clothing, Specialized helmet and glasses.

Giant – Alpecin (Germany)

Giant-Alpecin team equipment on the bike: Giant bikes, Liv, Shimano, Vittoria, Pro, Pioneer, Polar. Exteondo clothing, Giant helmets, Oakley glasses.

Katusha (Russia)

Katusha team equipment on the bike: Canyon bikes, SRAM, Zipp, Quarq. Katusha clothing, Giro helmets.

Katusha swapped from Shimano to SRAM this year, and from Mavic to Zipp wheels this years, they also ride Canyon bikes, all products continuing to grow in tremendous popularity in the United States among amateur cyclists.

LottoNL- Jumbo (Netherlands)

LottoNL-Jumbo team equipment on the bike: Bianche bikes, Shimano, FSA, Selle San Marco, Vittoria. SMS Santini clothing, Bell helmets, New Balance apparel.

Sky (Great Britain)

SKY team equipment on the bike: Pinarello bikes, Shimano, PRO, Stages, fi’zi:k. Rapha clothing, Kask helmets, Oakley glasses, Asics apparel.

SKY team Pinarello Dogma F8. Photo via pinarello.com

Tinkoff (Russia)

Tinkoff team equipment on the bike: Specialized bikes, Shimano, FSA, Roval, HED, Look, Prologo, SRM. Sportful clothing, Oakley glasses.

Tinkoff team Specialized Tarmac. Photo via tinkoffteam.com

Trek - Segafredo (USA)

Trek-Segafredo team equipment on the bike: Trek bikes, Shimano, Bontrager wheels and parts, SRM. Bontrager helmets, Oakley glasses.

Did you know Segafredo is one company making up the MZB group based in Italy, they are the world's largest coffee producers.

Trek-Segafredo team Trek Madone. Photo via treksegafredo.com

UCI Professional Continental Teams

Direct Énergie (France)

Direct Énergie team equipment on the bike: BH bikes, Sigma, Shimano, FSA, Vision, Prologo, Hutchinson, Look.

Novo Nordisk (USA)

Novo Nordisk team equipment on the bike: Colnago bikes, Maxxis, Selle Italia, Stages, Pioneer, Catlilke helmets.

UnitedHealthcare (USA)

United Healthcare team equipment on the bike: Wilier bikes, Shimano, Maxxis, Pioneer, Deda, San Marco, Rocktape.

United Healthcare team Wilier Trestina

UCI Continental Teams

Axeon Hagens Berman (USA)
The Directeur Sportif for the team is Jonkheer ("The Honourable") Axel Merckx, son of Eddy Merckx who has been made a baron in Belgium.

Axeon-Hagens Berman team equipment on the bike: Specialized bikes, SRAM, Quarq, Zipp, Speedplay.

Axeon-Hagens Berman team Specialized Tarmac. Photo via 2016.axeoncycling.com

Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA)

Holowesko - Citadel team equipment on the bike: Felt bikes, Shimano, Mavic, Michelin, Pro, Prologo.

Holowesko - Citadel team Felt bikes. Photo via twitter.com/TeamHincapie/

Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA)

Jelly Belly-Maxxis team equipment on the bike: Argon bikes, Maxxis, FSA, Prologo, Speedplay, Tocktape, Cateye and Jelly Beans.

Jelly Belly-Maxxis Argon 18. Photo via @JellyBellyTeam

Rally Cycling (USA)

Rally Cycling team equipment on the bike: Diamond Back bikes, SRAM, Mavic, HED, Kenda, Speedplay.

Team Wiggins (Great Britain) (Wikipedia)

Team Wiggins team equipment on the bike: Pinarello bikes, SRAM, Zipp, fi’zi:k.

Pinarello Dogma Wiggins team. Photo via twitter.com/OfficialWIGGINS

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

Coming soon: Startlist and bib number Amgen Tour of California 2016; National and World Championship jerseys at the Tour of California; and stories from the race.

Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California

The best bikes and clothing at the Amgen Tour of California

When the speed is so great, a team jersey is the recognizable symbol that lets us know instantly which rider won by an inch over the finish line. When combined in mass, team jerseys create a blur of color symbolic of the pro peloton in movement. Together with the clatter of bikes on rough pavement and the sound of wheels slicing through the air, the colorful jerseys create the atmosphere of professional bike racing.

Inside that blur of color is a dynamic mental struggle and physical fight to stay at the front of the race. From the fan's perspective the jersey, helmet, sunglasses, socks, shoes, and particularly the bike of a professional cyclists gives the impression of a calm, well trained, well equipped, well prepared athlete.

The look is called pro, but being pro requires a legion of support staff and dedicated sponsors and partners. Team jerseys are the symbol of this sport. Team bikes make it all happen in a display of dream machines.

Let's take a look at what you will see as fans out on the road during the upcoming eight stages of the Amgen Tour of California. If you attend a start of any stage, be sure to walk by the team buses and check out the bikes lined up securely outside.

Getting the bikes ready. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

Of particular interest to the amateur cyclist's price point (depending on the build) would be the bikes of Team Katusha, Team Giant-Alpecin, Novo-Nordisk, Holowesko-Citadel, Direct Energie, Trek-Segafredo and Rally. If you have no budget (or just want to drool over extravagant bikes) check out the bikes of Team SKY, Tinkoff, BMC, Etixx-Quickstep, United Healthcare, Axeon Hagens Berman, Dimension Data or the magnificent Team Wiggins team bike.

Guess whose bike this is? You will see it at the Tour of California in May. Peter Sagan's bikes. A very colorful Specialized Venge. Photo via tinkoffteam.com

Eighteen men's teams will compete in the 2016 Amgen Tour of California. These are the team jerseys and bikes, listed by: team website, country, jerseys, bikes and some of the equipment used on the bikes. Each team has a large group of equipment, goods and service suppliers (including cars!) which can be found on their team websites. Read more about the WorldTour sponsors: Pro Team Sponsors – What Do They Do? By Inner Ring (descriptions of the products sponsors make).

MEN'S TEAMS

UCI WorldTour Teams

BMC Racing Team (USA) - BMC bikes

BMC team equipment on the bike: BMC, Shimano, fi’zi:k, SRM, Continental.

BMC team BMC Teammachine SLR01 Dura Ace Di2. Photo via bmc-switzerland.com

Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Cannondale bikes

Cannondale team equipment on the bike: Cannondale, Shimano, Mavic, Garmin, FSA, Rock Tape, fi’zi:k.

Cannondale team Cannondale SuperSix Evo Hi-MOD. Photo via www.cannondale.com

Dimension Data (South Africa) - Cervélo bikes

Dimension Data team equipment on the bike: Cervelo, Roto Uno / Shimano, ENVE, Continental, fi’zi:k, Speedplay, Rotor, Lizard Skins.

Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium) - Specialized bikes

Etixx-Quickstep team equipment on the bike: Specialized, Shimano, HED, Rovel, FSA.

Giant – Alpecin (Germany) - Giant bikes

Giant-Alpecin team equipment on the bike: Giant Liv, Shimano, Vittoria, Pro, Pioneer, Polar.

Katusha (Russia) - Canyon bikes

Katusha team equipment on the bike: Canyon, SRAM, Zipp, Quarq. Katusha swapped from Shimano to SRAM this year, and from Mavic to Zipp wheels this years, they also ride Canyon bikes, all products continuing to grow in tremendous popularity in the United States among amateur cyclists.

LottoNL- Jumbo (Netherlands) - Bianche bikes

LottoNL-Jumbo team equipment on the bike: Bianche bikes, Shimano, FSA, Selle San Marco, Vittoria.

Sky (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes

SKY team equipment on the bike: Pinarello, Shimano, PRO, Stages, fi’zi:k.

SKY team Pinarello Dogma F8. Photo via pinarello.com

Tinkoff (Russia) - Specialized bikes

Tinkoff team equipment on the bike: Specialized, Shimano, FSA, Roval, HED, Look, Prologo, SRM.

Trek - Segafredo (USA) - Trek bikes

Trek-Segafredo team equipment on the bike: Trek, Shimano, Bontrager, SRM

Trek-Segafredo team Trek Madone. Photo via treksegafredo.com

UCI Professional Continental Teams

Direct Énergie (France) - BH bikes

Direct Énergie team equipment on the bike: BH bikes, Sigma, Shimano, FSA, Vision, Prologo, Hutchinson, Look.

Novo Nordisk (USA) - Orbea bikes

Novo Nordisk team equipment on the bike: Colnago, Maxxis, Selle Italia, Stages, Pioneer. Catlike helmets.

UnitedHealthcare (USA) - Wilier bikes

United Healthcare team equipment on the bike: Wilier, Shimano, Maxxis, Pioneer, Deda, San Marco, Rocktape.

United Healthcare team Wilier Trestina

UCI Continental Teams

Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) - Specialized bikes
The Directeur Sportif for the team is Jonkheer ("The Honourable") Axel Merckx, son of Eddy Merckx who has been made a baron in Belgium.

Axeon-Hagens Berman team equipment on the bike: Specialized, SRAM, Quarq, Zipp, Speedplay.

Axeon-Hagens Berman team Specialized Tarmac. Photo via 2016.axeoncycling.com

Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA) - felt bikes

Holowesko - Citadel team equipment on the bike: Felt, Shimano, Mavic, Michelin, Pro, Prologo.

Holowesko - Citadel team Felt bikes. Photo via twitter.com/TeamHincapie/

Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA) - Argon bikes

Jelly Belly-Maxxis team equipment on the bike: Argon, Maxxis, FSA, Prologo, Speedplay, Tocktape, Cateye and Jelly Beans.

Jelly Belly-Maxxis Argon 18. Photo via @JellyBellyTeam

Rally Cycling (USA) - Diamond Back bikes

Rally Cycling team equipment on the bike: Diamond Back, SRAM, Mavic, HED, Kenda, Speedplay.

Team Wiggins (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes (Wikipedia)

Team Wiggins team equipment on the bike: Pinarello, SRAM, Zipp, fi’zi:k

Oh, and wait until you see the team cars and buses at Tour of California!

One of my favorite sponsor combos:

UCI WorldTour
BMC Racing Team (USA) - BMC bikes, Shimano
Cannondale Pro Cycling Team (USA) - Cannondale bikes, Shimano
Dimension Data (South Africa) - Cervélo bikes, Roto Uno / Shimano
Etixx – Quick-Step (Belgium) - Specialized bikes, Shimano
Giant – Alpecin (Germany) - Giant bikes, Shimano
Katusha (Russia) - Canyon bikes, SRAM
LottoNL – Jumbo (Netherlands) - Bianche bikes, Shimano
Sky (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes, Shimano
Tinkoff (Russia) - Specialized bikes, Shimano
Trek – Segafredo (USA) - Trek bikes, Shimano

UCI Professional Continental
Direct Énergie (France) - BH bikes, Shimano / FSA
Novo Nordisk (USA) - Colnago bikes
UnitedHealthcare (USA) - Wilier bikes, Shimano

UCI Continental
Axeon Hagens Berman (USA) - Specialized bikes, SRAM
Holowesko – Citadel Racing Team (USA) - Felt bikes, Shimano
Jelly Belly – Maxxis (USA) - Argon bikes
Rally Cycling (USA) - Diamond Back bikes, SRAM
Team Wiggins (Great Britain) - Pinarello bikes, SRAM

Bikes lined up before the stage at ATOC in 2015. ©Photo by Karen Rakestraw of Pedal Dancer Photography®

More Pedal Dancer® race coverage 2016:

Coming soon: Startlist and bib number Amgen Tour of California 2016; National and World Championship jerseys at the Tour of California; and stories from the race.

16 August 2015

It's that excitement before a race - Team Presentation

You know the feeling: who will line up, who will win.

It begins by figuring out where the race is, what the terrain will be like and then studying the rosters. Followed by nervous guessing of who will be the strongest on each stage. Who looks good heading into the start and who will falter in the mountains. This race will unfold over days, but sometimes you can see in a rider's eyes, or stature, whether they have shown up for a race fully prepared both physically and mentally.

Nerves show in the eyes and in the shoulders. Maybe even in the gait of the walk. Of course the stats matter too: who has done well at this altitude in the past, who has done well this season, and who has a lot to prove for contracts next year. This race means a lot to the racers in it: the young men who have been given a chance to prove themselves, and also to the (relatively) old Ted King who is making this race his last in the United States. Farewell Ted, it has been fun.

Last evening, at the opening Team Presentation in Steamboat Springs, we got our first glimpse of the competitors. I spent the night learning new faces and matching those faces with their palmares to learn even more about the riders I am unfamiliar with racing in this year's USA Pro Challenge. I am excited to watch a new crop of riders race, to see opportunities taken and hard victories fought.

The best part of the evening was watching the teams approach the back stage area and pass each other in lines giving low fives in a row, as if they were at a basketball game. Slap slap, hug - as they would embrace friends on other teams they had not seen in awhile. As Phil and Paul spun tales and earned laughs on stage, the riders were happy to be with their newly formed squads of eight back stage.

A local who was kind enough to watch my dog Jack at her home during the ceremony, commented how exciting it was to actually see Phil Liggett on stage in Steamboat, the voice we all wake up early in the morning to every July. I enjoyed being reunited with the photographers whom I now call friends and get to see at various races: Oran, Mary, Darrell, Brian.

Some photos to share from yesterday:

Raise your hand if you get excited (not afraid) when you see this sign.

This is what it is like to ride your bike on the road with the pros of Tinkoff Saxo. It is worth coming early for this experience.

Watching the teams out training today on the course of Stage 1. I believe this is Evan Huffman of Team SmartStop with his now long hair.

"I'll tell the jokes," Phil Liggett said, until Taylor Phinney got on stage and had everyone laughing.

Respect for Taylor Phinney. Great to see him back racing in Colorado. with Rohan Dennis

BMC Power team in Colorado this evening Sevenpelicans (Jackson Stewart), jim ochowicz, Fabio Baldato, and team owner Andy Rihs at the Pro Challenge

Rohan Dennis commented about this tweeted photo: I swear Caruso Damiano looked like Manuel Senni this morning #cangrowabeardquick

The calm confidence of Brent Bookwalter of BMC Pro Team

Current National Champion Road Matthew Busche with a thrilled public relations representative from Steamboat.

Being in Steamboat Springs makes me want to go out and buy a pair of Cowboy Boots. These were seen at the Team Presentation.

The Cycling Academy bikeGEEEEKS on stage at the Team Presentation

Emerson Oronte signs the Pearl Izumi I will endure I will enjoy board. Team SmartStop

Lars Michaelsen, Sport Director of Tinkoff Saxo in Colorado

Australian Adam Phelan at the Team Presentation last night Drapac Cycling

You know I couldn't resist - Cycling Legs - Drapac Cycling

Dutch stagiaire Jasper Bovenhuis (Nl) #33 for Cannondale-Garmin

It was michael schar of BMCProTeam who reached the top of Independence Pass first from the Aspen side in 2013

Backstage watching Brian Hodes of veloimages get his shots of TeamHincapie

Caja Rural-Seguros RGA

Five of the riders of Team Novo Nordisk

Lexus cars are used for many of the teams during this stage race

And this about sums up road tripping in Colorado

This is the landscape of Stage 1 on Monday

Fun laughs at the end of the evening with Darrell Parks, Brian Hodes and Mary Topping as these great photographers tried to capture a rainbow behind the landmark Rabbit Ears Motel sign. Notice the advance photography equipment in use.

Tubing on the Yampa River. What to do when you are not wearing lycra

I continue my road trip with my labradoodle Jack Denny ....

I just watched the train roar past as I uploaded these photos.

Stage 1 begins tomorrow, more information here on the Pedal Dancer® Guide Page to the race: How to see Stage 1 of USA Pro Challenge 2015

PEDAL DANCER GUIDE PAGES

12 May 2016

List of Riders Amgen Tour of California 2016

22 April 2016

Bikes, Equipment and Clothing at the Tour of California

Team jerseys and team bikes at the Tour of California

16 August 2015

It's that excitement before a race - Team Presentation