Professional teams announced for Amgen Tour

Three top professional road cycling teams will compete in the 2007 Amgen Tour of California Feb. 18 through 25, according to Shawn Hunter, president of AEG Sports, promoter and operator of the 650-mile, eight-stage cycling race modeled after the Tour de France.

The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team, Team CSC and Predictor-Lotto are the first of the expected 16 professional cycling teams to be announced for the second annual race. Over 1.3 million spectators attended last year's race.

Team Discovery is one of the most recognized teams in the field. It had 26 victories and 42 podiums in the 2006 season.

Team CSC earned a first-place team classification finish in the 2006 Amgen Tour. Individuals on the team also took honors, including David Zabriskie, who came in second overall, and Bobby Julich, third place overall. Juan José Haedo, who won stages one and four in last year's race riding for ToyotaUnited, recently joined Team CSC.

Predictor-Lotto finished third overall in the 2006 Amgen Tour.

"We are excited to welcome many of the best teams in cycling back to California to compete," said Hunter.