Race organizer AEG has confirmed participants for the third annual Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial Race, presented by SRAM, which will begin in San Jose at 12:45 p.m. Friday, May 17. This year’s invitation-only event will showcase 15 riders, including several event veterans, from the ranks of Olympians, world champions, national champions, and champions of other prestigious cycling events.

The women’s race is an ancillary event of the 2013 Amgen Tour of California 8-day cycling stage race, and will take place prior to the men’s Stage 6 individual time trial, using the same course the men will ride later that day. The race against the clock will be headlined by riders from top women’s teams, including Specialized-lululemon, TIBCO, Exergy Twenty16, NOW and Novartis for MS, Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies, and Vanderkitten, as well as several individual racers.

“As the largest stage race in the country, the Amgen Tour of California provides a unique opportunity to highlight the many facets of cycling,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “We are honored to host another worldwide showcase for the best women in the sport today, and to provide even more depth and thrills for the millions of fans who will tune in that week.”

The full Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial Race roster includes:

Exergy Twenty16: Alison Tetrick (USA), Mara Abbott (USA) and Kristin McGrath (USA)

NOW and Novartis for MS: Alison Powers (USA) and Robin Farina (USA)

Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies: Jade Wilcoxson (USA) and Brianna Walle (USA)

Specialized-lululemon: Evelyn Stevens (USA) and Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER)

TIBCO: Jasmin Glaesser (CAN) and Meredith Miller (USA)

Vanderkitten: Rhae Shaw (CAN)

Katie Compton (USA)

Amber Neben (USA)

Julie Dibens (GBR)

For additional rider information, visit amgentourofcalifornia.com/peloton/womens-tt.

The Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial Race will offer a $10,000 prize, as well as potentially help shape the outcome for another important race on the women’s calendar – the USA Cycling Professional Road & Time Trial National Championships on May 25 in Chattanooga, TN.

“It’s thrilling to ride in such a coveted event as the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Time Trial Race,” said Kurt Stockton, Team Director and Race Team Manager, NOW and Novartis for MS Women’s Pro Cycling Team. “As an added bonus, the full-length course is the ideal preparation for the 19 miles that will determine the 2013 U.S. Time Trial Champion – you can bet riders will be fine tuning and putting in every ounce as they prepare for that competition.”

The San Jose time trial is a 19.6-mile course that begins on Bailey Avenue and features a climb soon after the riders push off the start ramp. As the racers navigate around beautiful lakes and golf courses, they will prepare for the most difficult finish posed by any Amgen Tour of California time trial course. Once they make the final right turn on the route, they will face the strenuous, three kilometer climb up Metcalf Road to the finish at Metcalf Motorcycle Park. The riders will gain nearly 1,000 feet in elevation and attack several pitches with a grade of 10 percent or more.

“The time trial in San Jose is going to be a real test,” said Specialized-lululemon rider Evelyn Stevens, who competed in the 2012 Olympic Games. “They saved the best for last on this course – the climb to the finish line will definitely be a feat to tackle with so much elevation gain so quick. It will be awesome to watch and participate in.”

Fans who cannot attend the race in person will be able to tune into the racing excitement and see real-time results from the women’s and men’s races on the Tour Tracker at www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2013 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 from May 12-19, 2013. For more information about the men’s and women’s races, please visit www.AmgenTourofCalifornia.com.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative human therapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of the first companies to realize the new science’s promise by bringing safe and effective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgen therapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions of people around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease, rheumatoid arthritis, bone disease and other serious illnesses. With a deep and broad pipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancing science to dramatically improve people’s lives. To learn more about our pioneering science and our vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com. 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, The Home Depot 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, the Bay to Breakers foot race 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.