Although the Tour of California is not a Pro Tour race, it still manages to draw some of the best teams in the world of professional bicycling. And even though the Giro D'Itlaia is going on at the same time (drawing many top riders), the Tour of California manages to get a solid field of the sports top stars.
Every edition of the Tour of California has featured world champions and this year is no exception. Thor Hushovd is here with the new Garmin-Cervelo squad. He is the current road race world champion and he was easily recognizable in his world champions rainbow stripes.
I was able to get a few good pictures of Thor and the rest of the Garmin-Cervelo squad before the start of Stage1 and Stage 2.
The other world champion racing in California this year is Oscar Freire. I believe this is his first time racing the Tour of California, and although he didn't win any stages he really animated the break during Stage 2 and almost held out for the win.
Many of the winners of this years classics are racing here in California. This is Nick Nuyens, winner of the Tour of Flanders. And below is Johan Van Summeren, the surprise winner of Paris Roubaix.
To round out the classics winners, Matthew Goss, winner of this year's Milan San Remo is also here racing for HTC.
This year there are some new faces in the peleton represent some of the up and coming stars of the sport. Ben King, the current American road race champ is here with Team Radio Shack. Ben is wearing his stars and stripes kit.
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