Good morning everyone! Are you chomping at the bit for the start of this years race? Are you all following the drama surrounding the Astana team and them being banned from the ASO events, Tour de France and many of the spring classics.

Well yesterday I began my journey north for the start of the 2008 Tour of California. The drive north on Hwy 101 to the Palo Alto area takes around 5 hours without any sort of traffic. Good news for me, there was none. Now most of the teams were due to begin assembling in the Prologue area late Thursday or early Friday. My job this year is much different then in years previous.
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With just a few days remaining until the start of the Tour of California, pro riders are descending up on California. The opening stage will kick off with a 3.4km prologue time trial in Palo Alto on Sunday.

Few teams can claim such a meteoric rise in the pro ranks as the Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast pro cycling team. A year ago Jonas Carney was grabbing the reigns of a brand new team with a lot of goals. Fast forward 12 months and he is leading many of those same athletes plus some high performance new additions to the Tour of California.
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Good day everyone. As we get closer and closer to the event kick off I will post posting, as close to live, photos as I can.

There will be link to a 2008 Tour of California web photo gallery that will be updated as fast as my phone will upload the photos.

Enjoy and stay tuned.

That same edge and style will soon be available to cyclists around the world, with the launch of Rock Racing merchandise. Rock Racing’s new line of apparel will be distributed to high-end specialty stores throughout the United States beginning in March 2008. The Rock Racing brand will be available in all of North America, Europe and Asia by 2010. The line will also expand its scope beyond cycling to provide a full line of premium sports apparel. The Rock Racing line premiers with jerseys, bibs, arm and leg warmers, hats, shoe covers, socks and track suits. A new addition to the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, the Rock Racing Podium Girls will be visible hostesses outfitted in Rock Racing apparel and featured daily at race functions as well as within the online and televised race coverage.

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G'Day everyone. Your friendly local bike wrench is heading on the road again with the men in Yellow, Mavic Neutral for the 2008 Tour of California. It is my hope to get a daily journal of the events and daily goings on at this years race from inside the barricades and the yellow cars.

After my successful trip to Colorado last month I was able to hang out with the now head of the Special Service Course (SSC) division of Mavic. Oh yeah for those of you that own Mavic products and all ways wondered what that SSC meant on your wheels, that is what it means. Read More...

One Show Only !!
Confirmed for one night only - Your favorite German and his Aussie sidekick.

Friday, February 8th at 6:00 pm. An evening of fun, laughs, racing strategy and some kickin' prizes. Bob Roll is back and this time it's finally about someone else!!! Jens Voigt and Stuart O'Grady from the # 1 ranked cycling team in the world - CSC Professional Cycling Team are on hand to discuss their racing exploits and talk team shop for the 2008 Amgen Tour of California.

Tickets are going fast and seating is limited. The evening will also include a VIP reception and big raffle prizes. Proceeds to benefit the Breakaway from Cancer Initiative.
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Driving on the 101 yesterday and low and behold I see one of the new security measures rolling north for the start of Tour of CA. This is one of the many steps that the Department of Homeland security is taking to ensure the safety of the riders and spectators for this years race. Read More...

Team High Road has changed its headquarters from Germany to the USA, it was announced yesterday evening. The UCI ProTour Council (UPTC) met in Geneva and said that "it approved the change of nationality of the High Road team. This team will now be domiciled in the United States rather than Germany."

The team confirmed the change in a press release, calling itself, however, an "international" team. It noted that it had moved its headquarters from Bonn, Germany, to San Luis Obispo, California, as approved by the International Cycling Union (UCI).

"We are an International team and proud of it," said team owner Bob Stapleton, from the USA. "We are open to committed athletes from wherever they come from. One of the simple pleasures of this team is the international diversity and personal character each athlete brings to the team." Read More...

Organizers of the 2008 Tour of California professional cycling road race assembled late Tuesday to unveil and discuss a new anti-doping protocol which will be introduced and administered during the upcoming race beginning February 17. Presenters of the Amgen Tour of California, AEG Sports president, Andrew Messick along with USA Cycling CEO Steve Johnson spoke candidly about the new anti-doping program as being the most comprehensive anti-doping program in cycling history.

The program is said to exceed a cost of more than one hundred thousand [US] dollars and is funded by the organizers. It will include a summary of blood samples taken from every rider entered in the event prior to the start of the race and tested for blood manipulations and EPO along with urine samples of thirty percent of the riders. The samples will be tested for banned substances like steroids, hormones, diuretics and various masking agents. Read More...

LOS ANGELES, CA All of the professional cyclists competing in the 2008 Amgen Tour of California will attend the "black tie and spandex" evening reception and be introduced on stage.

Many of these athletes have competed in the Tour de France and the last two Amgen Tour of California races in 2006 and 2007. In addition to the professional cyclists who will race in the Amgen Tour of California, celebrities, local dignitaries, legendary cyclists and retired racers will participate in the festivities. Representatives from host cities throughout the state also will attend, as will executives from AEG and race sponsor Amgen. The evening will include an elegant dinner by celebrity caterer Dan McCall, the team presentation, a runway fashion show including the latest in cycling gear, live entertainment and dancing to the music of "Encore." Guests also will have an opportunity to bid on one-of-a-kind live and silent auction items. The program will begin at 6 p.m. at the Big Bike Tent outside the Spinnaker Restaurant in downtown Sausalito. Proceeds from the Gala will benefit Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer(tm) education and fundraising initiative. Red Jersey tickets are $250.00 each or $2,500.00 for a table of 10. Yellow Jersey VIP/sponsored tables are $3,000.00 for 8 seats. VIP/sponsor tables will be located on the Gala runway ramp, and include complimentary valet parking, as well as an "Ultra VIP Access" pass that provides entrance to all Sausalito Race Weekend events, including the Tour de Cuisine, Sunday, Feb. 17 and the Biker's Brunch on Race Day, Monday, Feb. 18. For tables and tickets or information, contact Susan Roe at 415-331-3126 or sroe@gordonrees. Tickets also are available online at www.tourofcalifornia-Sausalito.com, or by calling the Sausalito Chamber of Commerce at 415-331-7262. For additional information on weekend events, call the Sausalito Race Hotline at 415-289-4109.