The Tour of California starts on Sunday and can present what is probably the strongest line-up in its history. Spearheaded by Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Peter Sagan, the field includes no less than 10 world champion and 6 Tour de France stage winners.

The start list for the 2014 Amgen Tour of California was announced today by AEG, presenter of the race. With 128 riders from 16 elite professional cycling teams, the Amgen Tour of California is the most esteemed stage race in the U.S. and one of the most important on the international calendar.

With experts already predicting the 2014 edition will host the ninth annual event’s strongest and most competitive field to date, the race begins Sunday, May 11, and will include three of the world’s top-10 cyclists; Tour de France, Giro de Italia and Vuelta a España (Grand Tours) podium finishers; Olympic medalists; 10 World Champions; and six current National Champions, as well as exciting up-and-coming talent. All will be competing to take top honors in America’s most prestigious cycling race across more than 720 miles of California’s iconic highways, summits and coastlines May 11-18.

“We are honored to welcome such a stellar field of cyclists, many of whom have traveled across the world to compete at the 2014 Amgen Tour of California,” said Kristin Bachochin, executive director of the race and senior vice president of AEG Sports. “We look forward to an exciting race with one the most accomplished fields of riders to date.”

The roster of cycling’s best is packed with some of the most decorated cyclists in the world, from Team Sky’s Bradley Wiggins, the first cyclist in history to win Olympic gold and the Tour de France in the same year; to Omega Pharma – Quick-Step’s Mark Cavendish, who holds the third ever most Tour de France stage wins (25); to Cannondale’s Peter Sagan, who holds the record for the most Amgen Tour of California stage wins (10). The accolades held by the field of 128 are as lengthy as the start list itself, including:

World Champions (10)

• Thor Hushovd, BMC Racing Team (2010 Road Race, 1988 U23 Time Trial)
• Tom Boonen, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (2005 Road Race) 
• Mark Cavendish, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (2011 Road Race, 2008 Madison-Track, 2005 Madison-Track) 
• Taylor Phinney, BMC Racing Team (2010 U23 Time Trial, 2009 and 2010 Pursuit-Track, 2008 Junior Pursuit-Track, 2007 Junior Time Trial) 
• Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky (2008 Team, Individual Pursuit-Track, Madison-Track, 2007 Team and Individual Pursuit-Track, 2003 Pursuit-Track) 
• Matthew Goss, ORICA-GreenEDGE (2006 Team Pursuit-Track)

• Rohan Dennis, Team Garmin-Sharp (2011 and 2010 Team Pursuit-Track) 
• Simon Yates, ORICA-GreenEDGE (2013 Points Race-Track) 
• Jack Bobridge, Belkin Pro Cycling Team (2011 Team and Individual Pursuit-Track, 2010 Team Pursuit Track, 2009 U23 Time Trial, 2006 and 2007 Junior Team Pursuit-Track) 
• Danny Pate, Team Sky (2001 U23 Time Trial)

Current National Champions (6):

• Peter Sagan, Cannondale Pro Cycling (Slovakia, Road) 
• Thor Hushovd, BMC Racing Team (Norway, Road) 
• Fred “Freddie” Rodriguez, Jelly Belly Cycling Team p/b MAXXIS (U.S., Road) 
• Mark Cavendish, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (UK, Road) 
• Tom Zirbel, Optum Pro Cycling p/b Kelly Benefit Strategies (U.S., Time Trial) 
• Michael Schär, BMC Racing Team (Switzerland, Road)

Tour de France Stage Winners (6):

• Mark Cavendish, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (25) 
• Thor Hushovd, BMC Racing Team (10) 
• Tom Boonen, Omega Pharma – Quick-Step Cycling Team (6) 
• Jens Voigt, Trek Factory Racing (3) 
• Peter Sagan, Cannondale Pro Cycling (4) 
• Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky (2)

Grand Tour Overall Podium Finishers:

• Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky (1st 2012 Tour de France, 3rd 2011 Vuelta a España, 3rd 2009 Tour de France)