Joining the previously announced eight ProTour teams, nine additional Pro Continental and Continental teams have been confirmed for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California by AEG, presenter of the professional cycling race.

The nine-day stage race will feature 17 of the world’s top professional teams, including world-renowned riders Lance Armstrong, two-time defending champion Levi Leipheimer, three-time World Champion Oscar Freire and 2008 Olympic gold medal winner and world champion Fabian Cancellara, racing more than 750-miles from the state’s capitol, Sacramento, to San Diego County.

The complete 2009 Amgen Tour of California roster will feature the following seventeen professional cycling teams:

Ag2r-La Mondiale (FRA)
Astana (KAZ)
Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA)*
BMC Racing Team (USA)*
Cervelo Test Team (SUI)*
Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light (USA)*
Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team (AUS)*
Garmin-Chipotle (USA)
Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA)*
Liquigas (ITA)
Ouch Presented by Maxxis (USA)*
Quick Step (BEL)
Rabobank (Netherlands)
Rock Racing (USA)*
Saxo Bank (DEN)
Team Columbia (USA)
Team Type 1 (USA)*
*Newly announced

"These 17 teams represent the strongest field we have had at the Amgen Tour of California.  We are delighted to have some of the world’s best and most established teams and we welcome the new teams who will be racing with us for the first time,” said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports.  “The level of competition and talent for the fourth-annual Amgen Tour of California rivals the top races in the world and demonstrates the importance of the United States to professional cycling.”

Along with the Pro Tour teams, the growing class of top domestic teams will be represented by return competitors Bissell Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing Team, Colavita/Sutter Home Presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly Cycling Team, OUCH Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis (formerly Team Health Net) and Rock Racing, and new competitors Cervelo Test Team, Fly V Australia presented by Successful Living Foundation Team and Team Type 1.

"The BMC Racing Team for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will possibly be the strongest roster that we've fielded in any race since the inception of the program,” said Gavin Chilcott, manager of the BMC Racing Team, which is based in Northern California.  “New talent has joined the team, and our two-week training camp in Northern California will be ideal preparation for the race.  We've investigated some of the courses, and overall I am very pleased with the prospects for our group this year." 

Several of the 17 professional cycling teams will hold their pre-season training camps in California, which will give residents across the state an opportunity to watch these elite athletes prepare for one of the top professional cycling races in the United States.