American Riders in Amgen Lead the U.S. Cycling Revolution

Most kids learn how to ride a bike before they throw a baseball,
shoot a hoop or kick a soccer ball. In fact, most children learn to
balance on a two-wheels between the ages of four and eight.

Now that you have the keys to the car, are you one of the more
than 57 million people in the United State who are still riding a
bike today?

Aside from the millions who enjoy cycling for health, fitness,
transportation and recreation, part of the cycling revolution in
America has resulted in a marked growth in the number of Americans
who spend their weekends competing in USA Cycling sanctioned
bicycle races. Today, more than 54,000 people are registered as
licensed competitors through USA Cycling, the governing body for
the sport in the U.S. Bike racing has become so popular that the
organization’s membership has doubled since 2002. Currently, it
constitutes the largest membership in the world. With so many
Americans taking up cycling, there’s no doubt that the country is
bound to add to the ten Tour de France titles that it has already
won – three by Greg Lemond and seven consecutive Lance Armstrong
victories. With Armstrong retired from competition, there are
several American riders who are among the best in the world. These
athletes are aiming for Lance’s spot on the podium. This year, the
road to France begins in California.

With the Amgen Tour of California opening the international road
cycling season for many riders, California will be the stage as the
world’s best cyclists vie for their first major international
victory of the year. Let’s take a closer look some of the elite
Americans who are expected to be a factor in the tour.

Levi Leipheimer – Gerolsteiner

This Santa Rosa resident has had remarkable success on an
international stage, finishing sixth overall in last year’s Tour de
France. Levi also finished 3rd in the 2001 Tour of Spain, the
highest finish ever by an American rider in the Spanish grand
tour.

Floyd Landis – Phonak Hearing Systems

A former teammate of Armstrong, Floyd now leads the Phonak.
Floyd lives and trains in Temecula, CA. He finished ninth overall
in last year’s Tour de France. Floyd brings a lot of personality to
the sport and is known to ride wheelies on his road bike down the
Champs-Elysees after the final stage of the race.

Bobby Julich – Team CSC

The altitude in Reno, Nevada agreesl with Julich, who won the
bronze medal in the Olympic Time Trial in Athens and was third
overall in the Tour de France in 1998. In 2005, Bobby was the first
American to win the famed Paris-Nice stage race.

Dave Zabriskie – Team CSC

Utah native Zabriskie won the opening time trial in last year’s
Tour de France and wore the first yellow leaders jersey. Zabriski
is only the third American ever to don the famed Yellow Jersey.
With the other two being Armstrong and Lemond., this 25 year-old is
one of America’s top young prospects.

Fred Rodriguez – Davitamon-Lotto

Rodriguez lives in Emeryville, California and is a three-time
winner of the U.S. National Championship road race. Known for his
speed, Rodriguez has won a stage of the Tour of Spain and the Tour
of Italy. He is also well-known for his own coffee brand, “Fast
Freddie.”

Chris Horner – Davitamon-Lotto

The dominant racer on the U.S. domestic circuit for most of the
early 2000s, Horner went back to Europe in 2005 after a stellar
performance at the 2004 World Championships. Riding for Prodir –
Saunier Duval last year, Horner won a stage of the Tour of
Switzerland and came within yards of a remarkable win in Stage 13
of last year’s Tour de France. Horner is also a former winner of
the San Francisco Grand Prix bike race.

George Hincapie – Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

Hincapie is a former lieutenant for Lance Armstrong at USPS and
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team. He is the only rider to ride
with Lance through all seven Tour de France wins. Last year,
Hincapie won the premier mountain stage during the Tour (Stage 10)
and finished second at one of cycling’s monuments, the
Paris-Roubaix spring classic.

Tom Danielson – Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team

Along with Hincapie, Danielson leads the Discovery Channel Pro
Cycling Team. Danielson won the Tour de Georgia in 2004. A
precocious climbing talent, many look to this Durango, CO to
develop into one of the world’s finest cyclists.

Scott Moninger – Health Net Presented by Maxxis

Moninger is the winningest active American racer, with more than
240 victories to his credit. He was also a member of the U.S. World
Championship Road Team in 1999 in Verona, Italy. Moninger is a
savvy, tactically astute rider with a gift for going uphill.

Danny Pate – Team TIAA-CREF

In 2001, Pate was the World U-23 Time Trial Champion and he is
only one of three Americans to ever win a World Championship on the
road. Danny was second in the 2005 USPRO National Championships in
Philadelphia. This noted climber and time-trialist will lead
TIAA-CREF at the Amgen Tour of California.

Chris Wherry – United Pro Cycling Team

A veteran of the U.S. circuit, Wherry had a phenomenal 2005
season, winning the USPRO National Championships in Philadelphia
and the UCI 2.2. Redlands Classic Stage Race in Redlands, CA.
Wherry will wear the stars-and-stripes of the U.S. National
Champion in the inaugural Amgen Tour of California.