May 13, 2011 (Lake Tahoe, CA) – Today at the AToC press conference, Phil Liggett, whose famous voice has been heard on the majority of its North American pro cycling TV coverage, announced that at least 219 countries (even Iceland) will be tuning in for what is predicted to be the toughest race yet in an historical 8-day stage race from South Shore Tahoe to Thousand Oaks, home of Amgen, the tour’s Sponsor, in southern California.

Along with other major AToC heads, Liggetts’ insights, predictions – and safety warnings – welcomed a half dozen top riders on the panel for brief questions. Missing this year was the controversy surrounding former TdF victors like Lance Armstrong and Floyd Landis. Yet despite past big names opting to stay in Europe or retiring, this year’s race will ensure that spectators are privy to huge thrills as the race begins in snow-covered peaks amid alpine meadows looping around arguably the most scenic stage yet at AToC – Lake Tahoe,California.

Although some big names from years past are missing like Tom Boonen (Quick Step), Ivan Basso (Liquigas), and Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), a healthy crop of emerging stars are raising the international stakes, competing here along with three-time AToC Champion Levi Leipheimer (Radioshack), Andy Schleck (Leopard-Trek) and Canadian sensation, Ryder Hesjedal (Garmin Cervelo), who fared well here last year. Joining Hesjedal on the start line are six members of Canada’s first Pro Conti team, SpiderTech p/b C10, directed by Canadian legend Steve Bauer – for all Canadians racing click HERE.

In its sixth edition, all sides agree that this year’s 8-stage course will prove to be most challenging. For the first time two of the stages feature mountaintop finishes and cross over to another state (Nevada) in the Sierra Nevada Mountain range bordering Nevada and California.

This year nineteen international pro teams will compete in the snow-flurried roads around the perimeter of Lake Tahoe and Squaw Valley, the 1960 Winter Olympic village, in what promises to be a tough first stage ending at the popular ski resort, North Star. As of yet, the first two stages may be altered before they even start depending on the ice and weather as 3-5 inches of snow are predicted to fall on Sunday morning.

The riders will also be passing the infamous Donner Pass (where most of the pioneer Donner party lost their lives as the few remaining turned to cannibalism to survive). If snow storms persist on Sunday, the attrition here will no doubt take its toll on the peloton.

All of the riders today opined that this year could have a different outcome as right after the Individual time trial in Solvang, there is Mt. Baldy to weed out the crop of GC contenders, considered to be “…as tough as a mountain top finish at the Giro,” claimed Leipheimer, three-time AToC champion.

Andy Schleck, making his fourth AToC appearance, who last year was “just glad to show up”, was decidedly more optimistic this time saying, “If I can follow Levi in the climbs, I can do a nice race.”

Leipheimer, with 22 days in the yellow jersey and six stage wins to his credit, didn’t suggest that the race was his yet. “We have other top guns who can come out on top, like Chris Horner, I’ve been on and off this year so far but feel really good this past month and as always I’m particularly motivated to win this race.”

The defending champ, who has won numerous time trials in Solvang, has competition this year with Taylor Phinney (BMC Racing Team) to contend with, a TT specialist and US ITT National champion, who “…will be giving it all in Solvang.”

This year, for the first time, thirteen international pro women have been cherry-picked to compete in the TT at Solvang a half hour before the men’s race, including Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong and Canadian road and track star Tara Whitten, who recently won Omnium gold at the Track Worlds in Alpeldoorn, The Netherlands.

Look for the two mountain-top finishes on Stage 4 with the Sierra Road finish in San Jose, and stage 7 at Mt. Baldy to be the crushing highlights of an unpredictable and unprecedented Tour of California in 2011. It looks like only those who can both climb and churn out a respectable ITT will be on top of the podium once again, And watch for the Canadians in the mix to bring a few surprises to the Tour this year.

For more AToC Press Conference quotes click here.
For weather updates for the start of Stage 1 click here.