May 13/11 8:57 am - Tour of California Unveils Women's Invitational ITT Field

Posted by Editoress on 05/13/11
 

The world's best female cyclists will be competing in the inaugural Amgen Tour of California Women's International Time Trial Challenge presented by Specialized and SRAM in Solvang, California, on Friday, May 20th.  Held in conjunction with Stage 6 of the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, the race will feature a 13-person field comprised of world champions and Olympic medalists battling it out on the same course that their male counterparts will also be competing on later in the day.  The women will be racing for a $10,000 prize pool.

Beginning at 11:30 am PT, the Amgen Tour of California Women's International Time Trial Challenge will traverse the exact 15-mile course as the men participating in the 2011 Amgen Tour of California, with the women leaving at one-minute intervals just before the beginning of the professional men's time trial at 12:30 pm PST.

"We have assembled a tremendous field for this race, and we are looking forward to showcasing the incredible athleticism of these world-class competitors," said Andrew Messick.  "It is an honor to have such elite cyclists participate in the inaugural Amgen Tour of California Women's International Time Trial Challenge, and we anticipate a great day of cycling."

(Editor's note:  This is an non-UCI sanctioned event, and coflicts with the Chrono Gatineau and GP Gatineau)

The 2011 Amgen Tour of California Women's International Time Trial Challenge roster includes the very best in international and domestic female cyclists, including:

• Kristin Armstrong (USA): Olympic Gold Medal Winner - Time Trial (Beijing), 2008; World Time Trial Champion - 2006, 2009; US National Time Trial Champion - 2006, 2007; US National Road Champion - 2004, 2006
• Charlotte Becker (Germany): German National Road Champion - 2010; Winner GP Ciudad de Valladolid - 2010
• Emilia Fahlin (Sweden): Swedish National Time Trial Champion - 2009, 2010; Swedish National Road Champion - 2008; 2nd Place, European Time Trial Championship - 2010
• Janel Holcomb (USA): 3rd Place, SRAM Tour of the Gila Time Trial - 2011
• Heather Jackson (USA): 3rd Place, US National Track Cycling, Omnium - 2009; 2nd Place, Oceanside 70.3 Triathlon - 2011; 3rd Place, US National Track Cycling, 3K Pursuit - 2009; Holds numerous Ironman 70.3 bike course records
• Amanda Miller (USA): Stage Winner Merco Classic - 2011; Stage Winner Tour of New Zealand - 2011; 2nd Place San Dimas ITT - 2011
• Amber Neben (USA): World Time Trial Champion - 2008; Stage Winner ITT and Overall, San Dimas - 2011; Stage Winner ITT and Overall, Redlands - 2011; 2nd Place, US National Time Trial - 2010; Winner Giro d’Italia Time Trial - 2009
• Jessica Phillips (USA): US National Time Trial Champion - 2009; 7th SRAM Tour of the Gila - 2011; 14th World Championships, Time Trial - 2009; US National Road Champion - 2002
• Emma Pooley (Great Britain): World Time Trial Champion - 2010; UK National Time Trial Champion - 2010; UK National Road Champion - 2010; UK National Time Trial Champion - 2009; Olympic Silver Medal Winner (Beijing) - 2008
• Rhae Shaw (Canada): Winner, Madera SR, Stage 2 Time Trial - 2011; 2nd Place, SRAM Tour of the Gila Time Trial - 2011; 2nd Place, Sea Otter Classic Time Trial - 2011; 3rd Place, Hawaii 70.3 Triathlon (bike course record) - 2009
• Alison Starnes (USA): Winner, Merco Cycling Classic, General Classification - 2011; Winner, Merco Cycling Classic, Time Trial - 2011; Winner, Nature Valley Grand Prix, Time Trial (leaders jersey) - 2010; 2nd Place, Cascade Cycling Classic Time Trial - 2010
• Evelyn Stevens (USA): US National Time Trial Champion - 2010; 2nd Place Redlands ITT - 2011; 2nd Place, US National Time Trial - 2009
• Tara Whitten (Canada): World Champion Omnium Track Cycling- 2010; World Champion Points Classification Track Cycling- 2010; Commonwealth Games Time Trial Champion - 2010