2015 Amgen Tour of California

Men’s Kick-off Press Conference Quotes — Sacramento May 8, 2015

*NOTE: Takes a moment to start.

Kristin Bachochin Klein, Executive Director of the Amgen Tour of California and Senior Vice President of AEG Sports

• “Even back when the race was just a twinkle in our eyes, our goals were lofty. To better the sport of cycling and it’s following domestically. To mount an unsurpassed American race. To help nurture and grow the next generation of cyclists. To provide a platform for women in the ”

Rolf Hoffman, Senior Vice President, Amgen US

• “This year is Amgen’s 10th anniversary for sponsoring the tour. We’re even more excited today than we were the first ”
• “We are proud to sponsor an event that promotes a beautiful state and stimulates the ”
• “Everyone knows someone personally affected with cancer including the cyclists competing in the Amgen Tour of California. The riders have the opportunity to personalize their bibs with the name of someone they are ”

Mike Sophie, Director, Sacramento Sports commission

• “The Amgen Tour of California has really become part of the community. We have a large community of cyclists who love to come out to the race and it’s great to see how these professional cyclists embrace our city. We had some this morning visiting Sutter Hospital to brighten the kids’ ”

Jim Birrell, Race Director, Medalist Sports

• “There are a lot of milestones from the Amgen Tour of California in just 10 One that has had an immense impact is the Tour Tracker – it has become a staple of how people watch the sport of cycling around the world.”

Phil Liggett, The Voice of Cycling, NBC Announcer

• “This is a very balanced route. This is a great route for the 10th There isn’t an obvious winner. There good stages for the sprinters. Peter’s [Sagan] going for his fifth straight green jersey but Mark [Cavendish] says he won’t get it.”

Jens Voigt, Race Ambassador

• On new role as Race Ambassador: “Less bike riding. Less suffering. More talking these ”
• On ability to criticize other cyclists: “I’m trying not to be the grumpy old bike But if a rider does something wrong, I’m going to point it out.”

Mark Cavendish (GBR), Etixx – Quick-Step Pro Cycling Team: Olympian, 2011 World Champion and one of the fastest road cyclists in the world – third ever most Tour de France stage wins

• On the race in general: “This is my 5th I remember when it was in February

and we raced in rain and snow. And then we moved to May and the race got bigger and bigger. It’s a big race for a lot of the riders and sponsor. You’ve seen how the passion for the sport has grown in California.”

• On racing in Sacramento again: “Nice big wide boulevard finish. Fast It’s a nice finish with lots of people watching as well. The one thing the Amgen Tour of California has always done right is the finish stages.”
• On competing for the Green Jersey: “Teams bring sprinters but don’t ride for a sprint. We have teams of eight for a reason because people come to see a sprint and a mountain top finish at the ”

Eric Marcotte (USA), Team SmartStop: Current US Road National Champion

• On racing in the Amgen Tour of California: “Last year was my first time racing professionally. For our team to be here is important. This is the biggest race in the U.S. and to get to the level of these guys is ”

Andrew Talansky (USA), Team Cannondale – Garmin, 10th place, 2014 Tour de France

• On racing in the Amgen Tour of California: “The Amgen Tour of California is really a home race. My wife drove me over this morning. When I first started training in California I’d watch the race and I aspired to be like those ”
• On his nickname “Pit bull”: That’s a good question to ask Jonathan Vaughters. I think my tenacity because I don’t give things up ”

Lawson Craddock (USA), Team Giant-Alpecin: Best Young Rider 2013 Amgen Tour of California, 2014 Stage 8 third place winner

• On his form: “After my crash in Australia I was motivated to come back. I think my form has gone up with every race I’ve done. I’m feeling stronger and stronger.”

• On his crash: “My crash kept me off the bike for three weeks and then I spent a lot of time on the trainer. I was able to come back a lot faster than I thought but I missed the training time in ”
• On 2014 Amgen Tour of California: “Last year was a really special week. My parents came out to watch and to be on the final podium was really ”

Robert Gesink (NED), Team LottoNL-Jumbo: 2012 Amgen Tour of California GC Winner

• On the race in general: “Next to the Tour de France, these are the most enthusiastic fans we race in front of all ”
• On his form: “I had a rough start of the season. I suffered a knee injury but I’m back. I did pretty well in the Tour of Romandie. It’s a bit of question where I’ll be at this race. I might be good enough to be there in ”
• On being the first three-time best young rider of the Amgen Tour of California: “For me personally I’ve had my best results over here in American and in California. When I won the race it was a really special moment for me. I had broken my leg and the Amgen Tour of California was the first race I could do after. I brought my family then and again this year so maybe it will ”
• On training in the U.S.: “America is different than Europe. It’s bigger and more but calm. After this race I’ll stay to train for Tour of Sweden and Tour de I’ll be in Tahoe and Big Bear.”
• On the Mt. Baldy stage: “I haven’t had time to look at the stage but I hear it’s a bit harder than the last ”

Peter Sagan (SVK), Tinkoff-Saxo: stage wins at Tour de France and Vuelta a España; Amgen Tour of California stage win record holder with 11

• On the race in general: “In my professional career I’ve done the Amgen Tour of California from that first year until now. Every year I’m here and for sure I want to do my best to win some stages for me and the team and also for ”
• On the owner of his team writing in a blog that Peter had lost something: “If I want to say something about it, I will to speak to him, not at a press
• On the owner of his team writing in a blog that he’s going to put more pressure on the cyclists: “I don’t know if it’s about pressure. I’m riding first for myself and the team and because I like ”
• On his form after crashing in Australia: “Obviously I’ve come to do my best and I hope that’s top at the podium. It’s a really prestigious race and racing for the win is incredibly hard here. A lot of champions hare here to ”
• On who the big GC contenders are: “Henao, Dombrowski, Gesink and It’s pretty stacked.

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