In 2014, the Tour of California will have a stronger field than ever before. A new UCI rule allows the biggest American stage race to invite 9 WorldTour teams, with 7 pro continental and continental team set to make up the remaining part of the field.

 

The Tour of California has gone from success to success since its inaugural edition in 2006 and the race has become a major event on the international calendar. This is has attracted interest from most of the best teams in the world who all want to be part of one of the races that attracts most publicity.

 

In 2014, the organizers have been able to accommodate more of the requests, with a new UCI rule allowing them to invite more WorldTour teams than ever before. Organisers can now invite up to 65% WorldTour teams, up from 50% after the UCI changed the rule. As there will be 16 teams on the start line, this has allowed the race to invite 9 teams from the top echelon.

 

At a press conference yesterday, the team named the 9 invitees, announcing that the line-up will include BMC, Belkin, Cannondale, Giant-Shimano, Garmin, Trek Factory Racing, Omega Pharma-Quickstep, Orica-GreenEdge and Team Sky. All 9 teams have participated in past editions of the race, with Belkin, Giant-Shimano and Team Sky all returning to the event after a short absence.

 

"The selection process was hard, some we had to decline because we didn't have room to accommodate them," technical director Jim Birrell said at the press conference.

 

 

The final 7 teams will be made up of pro continental and continental teams that will be announced at a later date.

 

Last year's winner Tejay van Garderen will not be present to defend his title as he will stay in Europe as he prepares to lead his team at the Tour de France. Instead, the BMC leader will be new signing Peter Stetina who said on Twitter, , "Proud to report that, after 3 years of Giro d'Italia's, I'll return to [the Amgen Tour of California in] 2014! It's got a big target on it's back! "

 

The race starts on May 11 and runs for 8 days. The time trial will already come on the second day, with the race also featuring to summit finishes.