Amgen Tour of California announces women's TT roster

LOS ANGELES — A group of 23 women, arguably the strongest field assembled, was announced on Thursday for the May 15 Amgen Tour of California Invitational Time Trial at Big Bear Lake.

The roster of the fifth annual women’s TT includes previous race winners, as well as world, national, and Olympic champions.

“The Amgen Tour of California has always been a place where the best women in the world can come to race in an international forum. This year, the competition is steeper than ever,” said Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans).

Lisa Brennauer (Velocio-SRAM), the reigning individual and team time trial world champion headlines the event along with two-time Tour of California TT winner and Olympic champion Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-Sho-Air). Other notables include Amber Neben (Visit Dallas), a world and multi-time national champion, decorated para-cycling champion Sarah Storey (Pearl Izumi), and Tayler Wiles (Velocio-SRAM), who placed third in last year’s Amgen Tour of California time trial.

The race precedes the stage 6 men’s individual time trial on May 15 and will be run on the same 15.1-mile course.

“I was planning to retire until I learned I had the opportunity to race in the 2015 Amgen Tour of California. It’s a race worth sticking around for, and I’m thrilled to be a part of it,” said BMW-Happy Tooth Dental’s Rhae Shaw, who recently won the time trial in Big Bear Lake as part of the Redlands Bicycle Classic.

Amgen Tour of California Women’s Invitational Time Trial start list

Maria Carla Alvarez (Xirayas de San Luis) (Arg)
Kristin Armstrong (Twenty16-Sho-Air) (USA)
Maddie Boutet (USA Cycling) (USA)
Lisa Brennauer (Velocio-SRAM) (G)
Laura Brown (UnitedHealthcare) (Can)
Karol Ann Canuel (Velocio-SRAM) (Can)
Ana Teresa Casa (Mexico National Team) (Mex)
Jackie Crowell (Breakaway from Cancer) (USA)
Allie Dragoo (Twenty16-Sho-Air) (USA)
Jasmin Glaesser (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) (Can)
Megan Guarnier (Boels Dolmans) (USA)
Amber Neben (Visit Dallas Cycling) (USA)
Rhae Shaw (BMW-Happy Tooth Dental) (Can)
Carmen Small (Twenty16-Sho-Air) (USA)
Lauren Stephens (TeamTIBCO-SVB) (USA)
Evelyn Stevens (Boels Dolmans) (USA)
Sarah Storey (Pearl Izumi Sports) (GB)
Alison Tetrick (Optum-Kelly Benefit Strategies) (USA)
Anika Todd (TeamTIBCO-SVB) (Can)
Linda Villumsen (UnitedHealthcare) (NZ)
Emma White (USA Cycling) (USA)
Tara Whitten (Canada National) (CAN)
Tayler Wiles (Velocio-SRAM) (USA)

Jackie Crowell, an Amgen Tour of California ambassador, will be competing under the Breakaway from Cancer® banner in her first professional race since she was diagnosed with a brain tumor in 2013. Breakaway from Cancer is Amgen’s initiative to raise awareness of the important resources available to people affected by cancer.

“I can’t wait to get out on the course with all these amazing women. And it’s especially poignant for me to be able to help bring attention to supporting cancer patients and their families through Breakaway from Cancer,” said Crowell.

At 6,752 feet, the fast and flat 15.1-mile course will start in the village in Big Bear Lake, run counterclockwise around the lake via shore roads and neighborhoods, and double back around the halfway point to finish on the 1,000-foot jetty near Stone Road.