[AEG] – The 2014 Amgen Tour of California will feature more professional women’s racing than any previous race of its kind on U.S. soil when America’s largest cycling event hosts two days of action-packed competition. Invitations are now being extended to the world’s best women cyclists to convene an elite international roster of competitors to assemble in downtown Sacramento May 11 to compete in a circuit race surrounding the California Capitol. The following day, a field of nearly two dozen of the world’s top-ranked time trialists will have the opportunity to race against the clock during a time trial in Folsom.

The 2014 Amgen Tour of California, held May 11-18, will begin in the state capitol of Sacramento with circuit races for both the men and women. Shortly after the men roll out from the start line at the steps of the Capitol building to kick-off the eight-stage race, the women will take to the street to show off the power and technique that they are known for throughout the world. By invitation and application, women from the top professional, national and composite teams will compete along a four-corner,1.25-mile circuit course surrounding the Capitol for the overall title as well as part of the  $10,000 purse being offered by race organizers. Cyclists not already selected for the next day’s time trial will have one last opportunity to gain a spot based on their finish.

“As a founding sponsor of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial, we’re proud to again join with AEG in showcasing some of cycle sport’s fastest and most celebrated athletes on the roads of California,” said Alex Wassmann, SRAM Road Sports.

The very next day, Monday, May 12, the Women’s Time Trial will be held in the gold rush town of Folsom, preceding the men’s time trial over the same yet-to-be-announced course. This invitation-only race (plus the top three finishers from the day before not already qualified for the time trial) also includes a prize purse of $10,000.

“Through the years, AEG has been proud to provide a worldwide platform to the top women cyclists in the world. We’ve staged a women’s criterium from 2008 to 2010, and a time trial since 2011,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “This year, we’re thrilled to announce not one but two days of professional women’s racing with the inclusion of a circuit race and a time trial – more opportunity for the stars of the sport to shine, and more reason for cycling fans to come out or tune in to follow the best racing event on U.S. soil.”

The women’s races will both be streamed live on the Amgen Tour of California Tour Tracker app, and online at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race created and presented by AEG that challenges the world’s top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course that traverses hundreds of miles of California’s iconic highways, byways and coastlines each spring. The teams chosen to participate have included Olympic medalists, Tour de France contenders and World Champions. More information is available at www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About SRAM

SRAM is a global manufacturer of high performance bicycle components, founded 1987 in Chicago, Illinois. We believe in the Power of Bicycles and so we create components and experiences that inspire consumers and expand the potential of cycling. To learn more about us, please visit www.SRAM.com or Facebook/SRAMUSA.

About Amgen

Amgen is committed to unlocking the potential of biology for patients suffering from serious illnesses by discovering, developing, manufacturing and delivering innovative human therapeutics. This approach begins by using tools like advanced human genetics to unravel the complexities of disease and understand the fundamentals of human biology. Amgen focuses on areas of high-unmet medical need and leverages its biologics manufacturing expertise to strive for solutions that improve health outcomes and dramatically improve people’s lives. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen has grown to be the world’s largest independent biotechnology company, has reached millions of patients around the world and is developing a pipeline of medicines with breakaway potential. For more information, visit www.amgen.com and follow us on www.twitter.com/amgen.

About AEG

AEG is one of the leading sports and entertainment presenters in the world. AEG, a wholly owned subsidiary of The Anschutz Company, owns or controls a collection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, StubHub Center, Sprint Center, The O2, Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE and Best Buy Theater Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings (NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately held shares of the Los Angeles Lakers and the Amgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG Live, the organization’s live-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to all aspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety of programming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEG today at www.aegworldwide.com.