About The Tour
"From day one, AEG has been committed to creating the world's most popular and important annual cycling events. Our vision and mission has been to put cycling on the map in America while showcasing some of the best cyclists in the world who, have grown up here, have trained here, but have lacked the world class races that they have had to travel outside of the United States to find. The Amgen Tour of California clearly gives our domestic cyclists this opportunity while creating an international showcase for the state of California and a world-class event that will one day, rival the Tour de France."— Tim Leiweke
President & CEO, AEG
As America's most successful cycling race, the Amgen Tour of California is one of the nation’s largest and most recognized annual sporting events. An eight-day event, this prestigious cycling road race features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world. One of only two American races listed as a UCI 2.HC event on the international professional cycling calendar, the Amgen Tour of California awards important, world-ranking points to the top finishers. The Amgen Tour of California brings the drama and excitement of professional cycling to California for the seventh consecutive year in 2012.
This year, 18 of the world’s top professional cycling teams competed in a challenging course that included nearly 800 miles of scenic California highways and roadways. With a reputation for attracting prominent teams, the 2011 race included UCI ProTeams, such as BMC Racing Team [USA], Team Garmin-Cervelo [USA], HTC-Highroad [USA], Team RadioShack [USA], Liquigas-Cannondale [ITA], Sky Procycling [GBR], Rabobank Cycling Team [NED], Saxo Bank Sunguard [DEN], and Leopard Trek [LUX]. The Pro Continental and Continental Teams were represented by Bissell Pro Cycling Team [USA], Jelly Belly powered by Kenda [USA], Kelly Benefit Strategies – OptumHealth [USA], Team Spidertech Powered by C10 [CAN], Team NetApp [GER], Team Type 1-sanofi [USA], United Healthcare Pro Cycling [USA], Kenda/5-Hour Energy Pro Cycling p/b Geargrinder [USA] and Jamis-Sutter Home [USA].
The 2011 Amgen Tour of California once again included a broadcast partnership with the Amaury Sports Organization (ASO), owner of the Tour de France. ASO brought its Tour de France television production team to California and shot the entire race in HD. California, and bicycle racing, has never looked better than it did in 2011.
The VERSUS network, official U.S. broadcaster of the Tour de France and considered to be the foremost broadcaster of cycling and outdoor sports in the United States, broadcast 27 hours of live and taped nightly television coverage of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California. Separate agreements with international broadcasters were also in place to televise the race in 216 countries and territories worldwide.
The creator, owner and producer of the Amgen Tour of California is California-based sports and entertainment presenter AEG Sports. Management and cycling specialists Medalist Sports serves as the logistical arm of the race, with California-based Amgen serving as the event’s title sponsor. All three of these race partners have held these roles since the inception of the Amgen Tour of California in 2006.
AEG remains committed to presenting the Amgen Tour of California as a free sporting event that is a dedicated to promoting the great sport of road cycling, healthy living and bicycle safety. AEG is also committed to the local communities that host the race as a means of increasing tourism and economic development throughout the state of California, as well as educating Californians and enthusiasts worldwide about maintaining a healthy lifestyle.
