Defending champion Chris Horner and popular veteran rider Jens Voigt are two of the riders confirmed for the RadioShack Nissan team for the Amgen Tour of California, while up and coming American rider Tejay van Garderen and former US Pro champion George Hincapie will be part of a strong BMC Racing Team selection.
Both squads have announced their lineups for the prestigious race, which begins in Santa Rosa on Sunday and runs for eight days.
Horner beat then-teammate Levi Leipheimer to take the title last year and has made winning the race again as one of his top season goals. He faced a long break from competition as a result of a bad crash in last year’s Tour de France plus a subsequent clot in his lung, but showed a strong return in picking up second in Tirreno Adriatico
Horner will be backed by Voigt, always popular with the fans, plus US champion Matthew Busche, Ben King, George Bennett, Markel Irizar, Tiago Machado and Gregory Rast.
Andy Schleck will not take part in the race, chosing to train instead, while Frank Schleck is riding the Giro d’Italia.
Meanwhile van Garderen will seek to improve on his fifth place overall last year when he lines out in the event. The race’s best young rider believes he made tactical errors in 2011 and that greater experience plus being a year stronger should help him achieve more this time round.
"Last year, when I was put under pressure, I went too deep and lost some big time," he said. "So if I can stay calm this year – and, with the help of the super strong team we have – I hope to be able to reach the podium."
He will be joined by Hincapie, fellow American Brent Bookwalter, Steve Morabito, Steve Cummings, Yannick Eijssen, Tim Roe and Greg Van Avermaet, winner of the 2011 Paris-Tours and someone who has riddent well this season.
According to assistant team director Michael Sayers, the squad is heading to the race in an ambitious frame of mind. "We have a lot of talent and I expect us to race as a team that will have success on both the GC and stages.”
Meanwhile an announcement is expected soon from triple race winner Levi Leipheimer. He was hit by a car on April 1st but is still trying to compete in this year’s Tour of California. He said yesterday that he was undergoing a lot of therapy to speed his recovery from a fracture, and would make a decision soon.
Amgen Tour of California team rosters:
RadioShack Nissan:
George Bennett (NZL), Matthew Busche (USA), Chris Horner (USA), Markel Irizar (SPA), Ben King (USA), Tiago Machado (POR), Gregory Rast (SUI), Jens Voigt (GER)
BMC Racing Team:
Brent Bookwalter (USA), Stephen Cummings (GBR), Yannick Eijssen (BEL), George Hincapie (USA), Steve Morabito (SUI), Tim Roe (AUS), Greg Van Avermaet (BEL), Tejay van Garderen (USA).