ESCONDIDO, Calif. (AP) — Tejay van Garderen, the leading American finisher in the 2012 Tour de France, and Peter Sagan of Slovakia, the world’s No. 2 cyclist, will be among the field of 128 riders competing beginning Sunday in the Tour of California.
Time trial specialist Dave Zabriskie of Salt Lake City, a four-time Tour of California overall runner-up, Michael Rogers of Australia, the 2010 race winner, and former Tour de France winner Andy Schleck of Luxembourg are also among the 16 teams of eight riders each.
The eight-day, estimated 727-mile race will begin with a 102.7-mile Escondido road race that will feature two climbs. The second stage Monday, the 124.1 mile road stage 2 from Murrieta to Palms Springs that ends with a 4-mile finishing climb.
