Following a successful season debut in the 2009 Tour of Qatar, Team Columbia-Highroad sprint ace Mark Cavendish says he will be aiming high in the 2009 Tour of California, which starts this weekend. Cavendish took two wins in three days in Qatar, and is now ready for action in the nine-day leading American race.

“California is a massively important race for our team, and we’ve got a really strong line-up for the general classification,” Cavendish commented. “I’ve looked at the route and it’s a very tough course, a lot tougher than last year. On paper, there’s only one stage that seems certain to end in a bunch sprint, so I will be targeting that one for sure. I only hope the weather will be better than it was last year!”

“I like racing in America. The crowds and atmosphere are great, I saw that last year both in California and in the Tour of Missouri. It’s definitely something special.”

Cavendish will spend the build-up to America’s biggest stage race in a team training camp in Solvang along with the seven other Columbia-Highroad riders due to participate in California. Amongst them is American veteran George Hincapie, winner of a stage in the 2008 Tour of California, three- times World time trial Champion Michael Rogers and Tour de France Yellow Jersey holder Kim Kirchen. Australian Mark Renshaw, who will be racing as a lead-out man for Cavendish during the 09 season, also forms part of the team line-up.

“Of those taking part,  only me and [Canadian teammate] Michael Barry have come from Qatar, which finished last Friday. This week before California we’ll be training and recovering from the long flight over. My condition’s good, I think everybody saw that in Qatar where I got two stage wins. I’m motivated too - whenever I’m racing, that's never a problem,” a self confident Cavendish told Roadcycling.com.

Team Columbia-Highroad for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California (February 14th - 22nd): Mark Cavendish (GB), George Hincapie (USA), Kim Kirchen (Lux), Mark Renshaw (Aus), Michael Rogers (Aus), Adam Hansen (Aus), Michael Barry (Can) and  Thomas Lövkvist.