AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA READY TO ROLL

Giant and Team High Road Partner to Race for Victory

(February 12, 2007) America’s premier professional bicycle race begins on Sunday, February 17. The Amgen Tour of California starts with a prologue on the campus of Stanford University in Palo Alto, CA. It ends eight days later in Pasadena, CA, after traveling more than 600 miles through the Golden State’s redwoods, vineyards, and along the stunning Pacific Coast.

And Giant Bicycle and Team High Road will be there for every mile. Team High Road will feature a mix of new young riders and experienced pros that will surely be in the mix, fighting for wins in each of the eight stages and vying for the top place on the podium when the overall General Classification is determined. A roster of the Team High Road riders scheduled to compete in the Amgen Tour of California is below.

Giant Bicycle is proud to be a sponsor of Team High Road, and supply the bicycles for the team. “Giant and Team High Road is a powerful combination,” said An Le, global marketing director of Giant Bicycles. “We push the boundaries in bicycle design and development to ensure that the men and women of Team High Road have the technical edge in every race, and we're excited to showcase this in the upcoming 2008 season and beyond.” The TCR Advanced bicycles that Team High Road rides have already propelled team rider Andre Greipel to stage wins and the overall victory at the 2008 Tour Down Under.

Giant Bicycle will also be taking part in the Health Net Lifestyle Festival at the finish line of each stage of the Amgen Tour of California. The festival is the place to be for all cycling enthusiasts, featuring a health & fitness expo, cancer awareness education, cycling gear, family activities, bike safety, food, entertainment and more. The festival is a very family-friendly event, with plenty to see and do for everyone. Giant Bicycle will have a booth with bikes on display, posters to give out, and times scheduled when members of Team High Road will be available for autographs. Giant invites everyone to stop by the large blue tent with the “Ride Life Ride Giant” awning.

TEAM HIGH ROAD ROSTER FOR TOUR OF CALIFORNIA
The best known professional road bike racer in the United States, George Hincapie, leads Team High Road in the Amgen Tour of California. Hincapie placed 4th overall in the 2006 Amgen Tour of California, with first-place finishes in Stages 2 and 5. In 2007, Hincapie suffered a broken wrist in a crash in Stage 6 and had to withdraw. This was after placing 5th in the Individual Time Trial the day before. So, in 2008, you can bet Hincapie will be looking to place high again.

Bradley Wiggins, the current World Champion in the Individual and Team Pursuit on the track, also suits up for Team High Road for the Amgen Tour of California. Look for his light to shine in the prologue and also the Individual Time Trial.

Other Team High Road riders on the roster for the Amgen Tour of California include:

Gerald Ciolek, who won 3 stages in the 2007 Tour of Germany. Last year at the Tour of California, Ciolek came within a tire’s width of defeating World Champion Paolo Bettini in the sprint finish of Stage 4 in downtown San Luis Obispo.

Mark Cavendish, who knocked out the cycling world in 2007 with a string of 11 victories in his first year as a pro. Among his wins last season were stages in the Tour of Denmark, and “4 Days of Dunkirk.”

Adam Hansen, who is back for a second Tour of California is itching to get back on the road, after spending part of 2007 on the DL. A crash in the Giro d’Italia resulted in several broken bones in one hand, and a long period of recovery.

Kim Kirchen is back for a second Tour of California. 2007 was a great year for the Luxembourg native. Kirchen was 2nd overall in the Tour of Switzerland, 2nd overall in Tirreno-Adriatico, and 7th overall in the Tour de France.

Thomas Lokvist of Sweden is appearing in his first Tour of California. This 23 year old won the Swedish National Road Race in 2006 and a stage of the Tour de l’Avenir in 2004.

Edvald Boasson Hagen, from Norway, makes his US racing debut. With wins in the Tour of Normandie and the Tour of Ireland, and with his title as Norwegian National Time Trial Champion, look for exciting finishes from this 20 year old.

Marco Pinotti has been selected the first reserve for the team. He would be racing the Tour of California for the first time if he’s needed to ride. In 2007, Pinotti spent four days in the Maglia Rosa as leader of the Giro d’Italia.

Vicente Reynes is the second reserve for Team High Road. A Spanish rider who lives on the island of Mallorca, Reynes is known for his meticulous reconnaissance of routes in a race.