2008 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA FACT SHEET

OVERVIEW:             America's most successful cycling race, the Amgen Tour of California, is an eight-day “rolling festival” through California that has in its first two years already become one of the nation’s largest and most recognized annual sports events.  This international, world-class cycling road race features elite professional teams and athletes from around the world competing for the highest prize purse of any cycling race in North America. The Amgen Tour of California will bring the drama and excitement of a professional cycling stage race to the California coast for a third year in 2008, along with complementary events and festivals planned in each of the host cities along the route.

WHEN & WHERE:     Scheduled over eight consecutive days from February 17-24, 2008, the Amgen Tour of California will showcase more than 750 miles of scenic California highways, roadways and coastline drives.  Host cities include: Palo Alto (new city for 2008), Sausalito, Santa Rosa, Sacramento Modesto (new city for 2008), San Jose, Seaside, San Luis Obispo, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita and Pasadena (new city for 2008). 

TEAMS:    Teams and riders participating in the third annual race will include Tour de France top competitors, world champions and Olympic medalists.

2007 RESULTS:        2007 Top Riders                                                                   2007 Top Teams        

ATTENDANCE:         The 2007 Amgen Tour of California drew more than 1.6 million spectators from February 18-25, surpassing the inaugural year’s turnout and setting records in attendance for any single sporting event in California, as well as for any cycling event ever held in the United States.  Additionally, fans and enthusiasts from across the U.S. and around the world will be able to tune in via nightly television broadcast updates on VERSUS and online at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com. 

ECONOMIC IMPACT:    The 2007 Amgen Tour of California and related activities had an estimated $100 million economic impact on the participating host cities throughout the course of the race.

FESTIVAL:      The Amgen Tour of California will once again feature a free Lifestyle Festival presented by Health Net in each finish city with family-friendly activities, demonstrations and cycling displays.

SPONSOR:      Returning this year as the title sponsor of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, Amgen will continue to leverage its race sponsorship to raise awareness of its mission to serve patient and the promise of medical breakthroughs made possible through biotechnology.  In line with its mission, Amgen is striving to make a real impact in further supporting cancer patients and their families nationwide through the Breakaway from Cancer™ education and fundraising initiative. In 2007, through Breakaway from Cancer, Amgen raised more than $1 million to support vital non-profit services and programs for the millions of Americans affected by the disease.  Based in Thousand Oaks, Calif., Amgen's invaluable support of the inaugural Amgen Tour of California has helped to ensure its success and impact beyond the sporting arena.