On Sunday, May 15, the Amgen Tour of California will kick off with a 175km long stage around San Diego. From there on the race will head north leaving only the opening stage as a chance for victory to the fast guys, before the race will conclude on May 22 in Sacramento.
The first real test for the overall will be stage 3 with an uphill finish at Santa Barbara County, which covers the Gibraltar road climb for the first time. The stage 6 time trial in Folsom will be another challenge for anyone who has GC ambitions, as will the stage to Lake Tahoe the day before.
Team Dimension Data for Qhubeka will be prepared for all race situations and has travelled with a well-rounded team to California. Mark Cavendish will spearhead the line-up of our African team and will be eying success on the flat run-ins. With Bernhard Eisel, Mark Renshaw, Matt Brammeier and Tyler Farrar he will have a strong support around him. Nathan Haas, Daniel Teklehaimanot and Jaques Janse van Rensburg will be our trump cards for an active and offensive racing on the hilly stages.
Roger Hammond – Sports Director
Jacques Janse van Rensburg – Rider