Scheduled over nine consecutive days from February 14-22, 2009, the racewill visit 16 host cities for official stage starts and finishes, withcommunities along the route getting the chance to see, firsthand, a lineupof some of the most elite, recognizable teams and athletes in the world.Host cities for the Prologue and eight stages include: Sacramento, Davis(new city for 2009), Santa Rosa (site of the Women's Criterium), Sausalito,Santa Cruz (new city for 2009), San Jose, Modesto, Merced (new city for2009), Clovis (new city for 2009), Visalia (new city for 2009), Paso Robles(new city for 2009), Solvang, Santa Clarita, Pasadena, Rancho Bernardo (newcity for 2009) and Escondido (new city for 2009).

"San Jose is proud to lend our City streets to the Amgen Tour of Californiafor the fourth straight year," said San Jose Mayor Chuck Reed. "As a startcity, residents will be given an exciting opportunity to interact withworld-class cyclists before they make their departure for the third stageof the competition."

In San Jose, the race will begin its Stage 3 start, noon, Tuesday, February17, at San Fernando and Almaden. Riders will then make their way throughthe central and northeastern part of the City to Sierra Road en route totheir final destination in Modesto.

"Each year, we continue our commitment to upgrading and enhancing everyelement of the Amgen Tour of California, not only for the cyclists, butalso for the spectators along the route, by creating an even morechallenging and exciting race," said Andrew Messick, president of AEGSports, presenter of the race. "The added element of the Amgen Tour ofCalifornia Women's Criterium in Santa Rosa allows us to bring professionalwomen's cycling to the fans as well, even further enhancing the raceexperience."

One of the most anticipated professional cycling races in the world, the2009 Amgen Tour of California will be staged over a more challenging route,and will, once again, include a women's criterium. Highlights of the 2009Amgen Tour of California race route include:

Prologue: Sacramento (Saturday, February 14, 2009)Start time: 1:30 p.m.Start Location: Intersection of Capitol Mall and 9th St.Finish Location: Intersection of L St. and 11th St.

The first day of racing in the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be ashort, but intense, individual time trial of just less than three miles,known as a Prologue. The flat and fast route will likely take eachindividual cyclist less than five minutes to finish. Although it is short,the Prologue will be packed with excitement and high speed. With the startand finish lines separated by only two blocks, spectators will have theopportunity to easily see the racers at both the start and finish lines.Showcasing the State Capitol, the Capitol Mall area and the well-knownTower Bridge, the Prologue will provide a crowd-pleasing day of racingexcitement.

Stage 1: Davis to Santa Rosa (Sunday, February 15, 2009)Start Time: NoonStart Location: Intersection of C St. and 3rd St. in DavisFinish Location: Intersection of 3rd St. and Santa Rosa Ave. in Santa Rosa

A new stage for the Amgen Tour of California, the route from Davis to SantaRosa will provide plenty of scenic settings for both the cyclists and thespectators. Beginning in the city of Davis, which recently was named thebest cycling town in the United States by Bicycling Magazine, the routeincludes evenly spaced climbs throughout the stage and spectacular views.After 20 miles of flat roads, the riders will meet their first climb up ashort, but steep section leading up to the Monticello Dam. Another long,flat section along Lake Berryessa will take the riders to their secondclimb up Howell Mountain Rd., followed by a fast descent into Napa Valley.After one final climb and a steep descent from Calistoga Road, the cyclistswill finish the race with circuit laps in downtown Santa Rosa. In previousyears, Santa Rosa fans have set the mark for one of the largest and mostenthusiastic crowds of the entire race.

Additionally, fans in Santa Rosa will have the opportunity to watch thesecond-annual Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium. Held inconjunction with Stage 1 of the Amgen Tour of California, the Women'sCriterium will begin at 1 p.m. and will showcase some of the world's topprofessional women cyclists competing for $15,000 in prizes. Set as acategory Pro 1/2 race, the Amgen Tour of California Women's Criterium willhave a limit of eight riders per team. Once again using portions of theStage 1 men's finishing circuit in Santa Rosa, the Women's Criterium willbring the thrill of professional women's cycling to fans in the hours justbefore the men's finish in downtown Santa Rosa.

Stage 2: Sausalito to Santa Cruz (Monday, February 16, 2009)Start Time: 8:30 a.m.Start Location: Spinnaker Restaurant at 100 Spinnaker Dr. in SausalitoFinish Location: Intersection of Front St. and Cooper St. in Santa Cruz

Starting on the northern side of the San Francisco Bay, Stage 2 will covermore than 100 miles from Sausalito to Santa Cruz. The stage will beginwith a scenic start in Sausalito on the water and will head south over oneof the most iconic structures in the country, the Golden Gate Bridge, andthen through the streets of San Francisco. The route will then take theriders west down the California coastline on Highway 1, flanked by thepicturesque backdrops of the Pacific Ocean on one side and Redwood forestson the other. This coastal stage will include two long, but moderateclimbs on Tunitas Creek Road and Bonny Doon Road, which will be followed bylengthy and fast descents. The sprint to the finish in Santa Cruz willprovide an exciting conclusion to Stage 2 of the race.

Stage 3: San Jose to Modesto (Tuesday, February 17, 2009)Start Time: NoonStart Location: Intersection of San Fernando St. and Almaden Blvd. in SanJoseFinish Location: Intersection of I St. and 12th St. in Modesto

Fans of the Amgen Tour of California may recognize part of Stage 3 from the2008 race when the cyclists traveled from Modesto to San Jose; however, in2009, the racers will be traveling the route in reverse with severalchanges. Beginning with a climb that is synonymous with cycling and theAmgen Tour of California, the cyclists will head up Sierra Road (1,930 ft.)within the first five miles of the stage. This epic climb will be adefining moment in the race and will create an action-packed day of racingfor the cyclists and the fans alike. After completing the Sierra Roadclimb, the riders will face fast and flat roads full of twists and turns(Calaveras Road alone has more than 40 switchbacks) before climbingPatterson Pass. The stage will finish with two circuits in downtownModesto.

Stage 4: Merced to Clovis (Wednesday, February 18, 2009)Start Time: 11 a.m.Start Location: City Hall at the intersection of N St. and 18th St. inMercedFinish Location: Intersection of Bullard Ave. and Pollasky Ave. in Clovis

Stage 4 will introduce two new host cities and the Sierra Mountains to theAmgen Tour of California. With four KOMs ("King of the Mountain"competitions) and several sprints, Stage 4 will be a test for the riderswith consistently hilly and technical terrain. From the start in Merced tothe finish in Clovis, this stage will be characterized by consistentclimbing surrounded by the beautiful mountain scenery. Fans can watch theclimbs, always a spectator favorite, at any of the four locations -- Hwy140, twice on Hwy 49 and Crane Valley Road. Coming to a finish in Old TownClovis, this stage will introduce the beauty of Central California to theAmgen Tour of California.

Stage 5: Visalia to Paso Robles (Thursday, February 19, 2009)Start Time: 10 a.m.Start Location: Intersection of Aceqia Ave. and Church St. in VisaliaFinish Location: Intersection of Spring St. and 11th St. in Paso Robles

At more than 130 miles, Stage 5, sponsored by Rabobank, is the longeststage of the race. A new course for the 2009 Amgen Tour of California,Stage 5 will begin with a neutral start of parade laps through Visalia'sdowntown area. Once the race wends its way through the start in Visalia,the riders will experience an amazing contrast between the previous day ofracing in the Sierra Mountains, as they head through the vast stretch offlat roads on the San Joaquin Valley floor. For the first 100 miles of thestage, the riders will have virtually no protection from the wind, creatinga challenging ride. Winding its way back to the coast, the route, whichwill include two sprints, will pass by vast cattle ranches and farms.Packed full of rolling hills and large horse farms, the final 30-mile runinto Paso Robles will be a fast sprint to the finish.

Stage 6: Solvang Individual Time Trial (Friday, February 20, 2009)Start Time: NoonStart Location: Intersection of Mission Drive and 1st St.Finish Location: Copenhagen Dr.

The quaint Danish village of Solvang hosts some of the ProTour teamsannually for training camps, as well as some of the largest cycling eventsin the United States. With the start and finish lines located only oneblock apart, Stage 6 is an ideal location for spectators to view the race.The route will highlight the beautiful Santa Ynez Valley, winding throughquaint towns, vineyards, farms, and one short, but steep climb up BallardCanyon. This year's short, flat and fast time trial will create achallenging test for the riders and is expected to be a decisive day of therace.

Stage 7: Santa Clarita to Pasadena (Saturday, February 21, 2009)Start Time: NoonStart Location: Town Center Drive in Santa ClaritaFinish Location: West Drive, alongside the Rose Bowl in Pasadena

The race from Santa Clarita to Pasadena proved to be a difficult one duringthe final stage of the 2008 Amgen Tour of California, and this year will beno different. The first 25 miles of Stage 7, sponsored by Herbalife,include a gradual climb from Santa Clarita, through Acton, to theintersection of Angeles Forest Road. The route continues uphill,showcasing the beauty of the San Gabriel Mountains, to the second highestelevation ever reached by the Amgen Tour of California on the toweringMillcreek Summit (4,906 ft.). Descending with a 15-mile run to AngelesCrest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena.After more than 65 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountainsand the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete thestage with five, five-mile laps on a very demanding circuit through thearea surrounding the Rose Bowl. This course will provide a challenging,action-packed day leading up to the finale on Sunday.

Stage 8: Rancho Bernardo to Escondido (Sunday, February 22, 2009)Start Time: NoonStart Location: Bernardo Center Dr. in Rancho BernardoFinish Location: Intersection of Grand Ave. and Broadway in Escondido

With the final stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California as a difficultpoint-to-point road race, there is a chance to see an overall lead change,as well as a change in the KOM jersey leader on the last day. With fourclimbs, including the highest point ever reached in the Amgen Tour ofCalifornia, and two sprints, Stage 8, sponsored by Amgen, can easily becharacterized as the most difficult final stage that the Amgen Tour ofCalifornia has ever seen. The cyclists will have to fight through the veryend of the race, due to the addition of Palomar Mountain (5,123 ft.). At11.7 miles, a seven percent average grade, 4,200 feet of climbing and 21switchbacks, Palomar Mountain will provide a challenging conclusion to the2009 Amgen Tour of California. Organizers expect a hard sprint to thefinish; as with all the Grand Tours of Europe, winning the final stage ofthe 2009 Amgen Tour of California is a prize coveted by the riders.

For complete downloadable course maps and elevation profiles, please visitwww.amgentourofcalifornia.com. Additional resources such as recommendedviewing locations and route logs will be added to the Web site in thecoming weeks.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the Amgen Tour of California is aTour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challengesthe world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demandingcourse. Building on last year's third-annual stage race, which attracted1.6 million spectators, the 2009 Amgen Tour of California will be expandedto cover more than 750 miles over nine days from February 14-22, 2009.

About Amgen

Amgen discovers, develops, manufactures and delivers innovative humantherapeutics. A biotechnology pioneer since 1980, Amgen was one of thefirst companies to realize the new science's promise by bringing safe andeffective medicines from lab, to manufacturing plant, to patient. Amgentherapeutics have changed the practice of medicine, helping millions ofpeople around the world in the fight against cancer, kidney disease,rheumatoid arthritis, and other serious illnesses. With a broad and deeppipeline of potential new medicines, Amgen remains committed to advancingscience to dramatically improve people's lives. To learn more aboutAmgen's pioneering science and vital medicines, visit www.amgen.com. Tolearn more about Amgen's Breakaway from Cancer initiative, visitwww.breakawayfromcancer.com.

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 acollection of companies including facilities such as STAPLES Center, TheHome Depot Center, Sprint Center, The O2, NOKIA Theatre L.A. LIVE and NOKIATheatre Times Square; sports franchises including the Los Angeles Kings(NHL), two Major League Soccer franchises, a Major League Lacrosse team,two hockey franchises operated in Europe, management of privately heldshares of the Los Angeles Lakers, the ING Bay to Breakers foot race and theAmgen Tour of California cycling road race; AEG LIVE, the organization'slive-entertainment division, is a collection of companies dedicated to allaspects of live contemporary music performance, touring and a variety ofprogramming and multi-media production. For more information, visit AEGtoday at www.aegworldwide.com.

About the City of San Jose

From its founding in 1777 as California's first city, San Jose has been aleader, driven by its spirit of innovation. Today, San Jose stands as thethird largest city California, behind Los Angeles and San Diego, and theCapital of Silicon Valley--the world's leading center of innovation. Thecity, the 10th largest in the U.S., is committed to remaining a top-rankedplace to work, live, learn and play, and, with more than 150 miles of bikelanes and paths, aggressively supports cycling as a viable alternative formof green transportation. San Jose's commitment to cycling earned the citya National Bicycle Friendly Community Award from the League of AmericanBicyclists. As an epicenter of cycling in the San Francisco Bay area, SanJose is part of one of the world's largest great cycling communities inNorth America

Image Available: http://www2.marketwire.com/mw/frame_mw?attachid=886309

Media Contacts:AEGMichael Roth(213) 742-7155Email ContactGolinHarrisNicole Okoneski(213) 438-8793Email ContactCity of San JoseSteven Brewster(415) 577-8851Email Contact