This week owner and presenter of the Amgen Tour of California, AEG announced the men’s and women’s cycling teams that are confirmed to race the 13th annual event to kick off in Long Beach on Sunday, May 13. The annual stage races are the only American races on the UCI WorldTour calendar and draw some of the best teams and cyclists from around the world to compete.

Amgen Tour of California Returns to Long Beach Mother’s Day With Circuit Race

During the 2018 edition of the tour the men will cover 645 miles during seven stages from Long Beach to Sacramento May 13-19, while the world’s best women cyclists will compete May 17-19 covering upwards of 187 miles over three stages during the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Race empowered with SRAM.

“The Amgen Tour of California attracts top talent, and comes at an important time in our season – it’s the most prestigious race in America, and also serves as a stepping stone to hone our racing lineup and form for the Tour de France in July,” said KATUSHA ALPECIN Team Director Dmitri Konyshev in a statement.

In addition to the sprinters announced in February – Peter Sagan (BORA-hansgrohe), Marcel Kittel (KATUSHA ALPECIN), Mark Cavendish (Team Dimension Data) – the 2018 Amgen Tour of California boasts a peloton of World and National Champions, Olympic medalists and Tour de France veteran cyclists including:

  • Sagan’s teammate Rafal Majka, who holds three Tour de France stage wins and two King of the Mountain titles there, as well as a Stage 2 win at the 2017 California race
  • Tony Gallopin (AG2R La Mondiale), a 2014 Tour de France stage winner, who claimed the Yellow Jersey for a day
  • Sacramento, Calif.-area resident Nielson Powless (LottoNL-Jumbo), the 2016 Amgen Tour of California Best Young Rider
  • American all-arounder Ian Boswell (KATUSHA ALPECIN), who placed 5th overall in last year’s race
  • Northern California rider Peter Stetina (Trek-Segafredo), who placed 2nd on the Gibraltar stage in 2016
  • Young Australian sprinter Caleb Ewan (Mitchelton-SCOTT), who placed 2nd at the recent Milan—San Remo classic

To enter the King of California sweepstakes for a chance to meet the tour’s all-time leader in stage wins, Peter Sagan, visit the link here.

During the three-day women’s competition, to begin in Elk Grove on May 17, three of the current top-five UCI ranked teams will compete. UnitedHealthcare’s Katie Hall (Oakland), winner of Stage 2 in South Lake Tahoe in 2017, is expected to return to the peloton, alongside three-time National Champion and 2016 race champion Megan Guarnier (San Mateo) with the USA Cycling National Team, according to the release.

“The Amgen Tour of California has long been dedicated to elevating women’s cycling,” Ronny Lauke, Canyon//SRAM team manager, said in a statement. “It’s a special race that attracts the highest level of competition and is a major focus on our calendar every year.”

Kasia Niewiadoma of Canyon//SRAM is collecting early season results and will likely contend alongside Ventura native Alexis Ryan. Powerhouse Chloé Dygert is likely to race with TWENTY20 Pro Cycling p/b Sho-Air along with San Diego native Jennifer Valente, who together won silver in the 2016 Olympic team pursuit. Tustin-based Coryn Rivera (Team Sunweb), who accomplished a Stage 3 victory last year, plans to return following her historic Tour of Flanders win earlier this spring, according to AEG.

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“The team and I had some great results at the Amgen Tour of California last year and we will be back this year looking to build on that – it’s a fun race in beautiful locations, plus holds a lot of personal meaning for me being in my home state and country,” stated Southern California native Coryn Rivera.

2018 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA TEAMS (MEN)
AG2R La Mondiale (FRA)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
BORA-hansgrohe (GER)
Hagens Berman Axeon Cycling Team (USA)
Holowesko|Citadel p/b Arapahoe Resources (USA)
Mitchelton-SCOTT (AUS)
Quick-Step Floors (BEL)
Rally Cycling (USA)
Team Dimension Data (RSA)
Team EF Education First-Drapac p/b Cannondale (USA)
Team KATUSHA ALPECIN (SUI)
Team LottoNL-Jumbo (NED)
Team Sky (GBR)
Team Sunweb (GER)
Trek-Segafredo (USA)
UAE Team Emirates (UAE)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)

AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA WOMEN’S RACE EMPOWERED WITH SRAM TEAMS
Astana Women’s Team (KAZ)
BePink (ITA)
CANYON//SRAM Racing (GER)
Hagens Berman | Supermint Pro Cycling (USA)
Mexican National Team (MEX)
Rally Cycling (USA)
Swapit/Agolico Cycling Pro Team (MEX)
Team Illuminate (USA)
Team Sunweb (NED)
Team TIBCO-Silicon Valley Bank (USA)
Trek–Drops (GBR)
TWENTY20 Pro Cycling p/b Sho-Air (USA)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team (USA)
USA Cycling National Team (USA)
Wiggle High5 Pro Cycling (GBR)

For more information, check out the website here.

Asia Morris is a Long Beach native covering arts and culture for the Long Beach Post. You can reach her @hugelandmass on Twitter and Instagram and at [email protected].