In addition to the nine ProTeams announced previously, race presenter AEG has invited seven Professional Continental and Continental teams to the 2014 edition of the Tour of California.

With California-based UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team, who were the top-ranked team of the 2012-2013 UCI America Tour, and Team Novo Nordisk, the world’s first all-diabetes professional cycling team, both US-American Professional Continental teams will be at the race.

UnitedHealthcare rider and northern California native Lucas Euser said: “Ever since I rushed home from the 2006 Tour of California to take a midterm exam the following morning, I knew the race would always play a special role in my career. This year, I am excited because there are two summit finishes. As the top climber on a California-based team, I plan to use the home field advantage in giving me the edge I need to succeed.”

German-registered Team NetApp-Endura, sponsored by a California-based data management company, will be the third Professional Continental team in the race. The team's climbing specialist Leopold König won a stage in the Vuelta a España last year,

“We all look forward to the Amgen Tour of California because it has beautiful scenery, it’s warm and also incredibly competitive,” said Czech Leopold König of NetApp-Endura, who won last year's dramatic queen stage at the summit of Mount Diablo.

Team manager Ralph Denk added: “We took the queen stage last year, so we’ll be gunning for that victory again. It’s one of the toughest climbs in America, and tackling it so early in the race this year will make for an exciting week for sure. It’s anyone’s game.”

Four Continental teams round out the field

Four US Continental teams have been selected for the 2014 race, including Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies with US time trial champion Tom Zirbel; Team Jamis-Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home; Jelly Belly Cycling Team presented by Maxxis, which features US road race champion Fred Rodriguez; and Bissell Development Team.

“This race is always a great opportunity for our athletes to test themselves against the very best in the world and for our sponsors to gain exposure through a world-class event,” said Optum Pro Cycling team director Jonas Carney.

Two days of women's cycling

In addition to the men's stage race, the 2014 Tour of California will also feature two days of women's racing. Invitations are being extended to an elite international roster of female cyclists to compete in a circuit race surrounding the state capitol building in downtown Sacramento when the Amgen Tour of California begins on May 11. The following day, a field of nearly two dozen of the world’s top-ranked women time trialists will race the clock during a time trial in Folsom over the same course the men will ride later that day.

The full 2014 Tour of California roster includes 16 teams from seven countries:

Belkin Pro Cycling Team

BMC Racing Team

Cannondale

Omega Pharma-Quick Step

Orica-GreenEDGE

Team Giant-Shimano

Team Garmin-Sharp

Team Sky

Trek Factory Racing

UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling Team

Team Novo Nordisk

Team NetApp-Endura

Optum Pro Cycling presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies

Team Jamis-Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home

Jelly Belly Cycling Team presented by Maxxis

Bissell Development Team

Schedule and route for the 2014 Tour of California:

Stage 1: Sunday, May 11 – Sacramento

Stage 2: Monday, May 12 – Folsom (individual time trial)

Stage 3: Tuesday, May 13 – San Jose to Mount Diablo State Park

Stage 4: Wednesday, May 14 – Monterey to Cambria

Stage 5: Thursday, May 15 – Pismo Beach to Santa Barbara

Stage 6: Friday, May 16 – Santa Clarita to Mountain High

Stage 7: Saturday, May 17 – Santa Clarita to Pasadena

Stage 8: Sunday, May 18 – Thousand Oaks circuit race