Zipp News

Zipp Neutral Support Partner for Amgen Tour of California

Partnership Between SRAM, Speedplay, Specialized and Zipp Creates Official Support Team

LOS ANGELES (April 26, 2010) - The SRAM Neutral Race Support (NRS) team will be the official neutral support partner of the 2010 Amgen Tour of California AEG, presenter of the professional cycling road race set for May 16-23, announced today. The team, which will combine their expertise to provide world-class neutral race support for all the cyclists participating in the race, was created out of a partnership that includes Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM.

SRAM will bring three fully equipped neutral support vehicles, two support motos and one non-caravan support truck to the race, which is considered to be the most important cycling event in the United States. Seen in more than 100 premier international events, SRAM's signature red vehicles have become synonymous with first-rate support for world-class races.

"This partnership serves a great tradition in bike racing, neutral race support for every rider, and in bringing together four powerful cycling brands - Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM - every rider can be confident in the service and support they'll receive," said Michael Zellmann, SRAM road PR manager. "From the SRAM perspective it's an honor to be a part of this race that has established such a great tradition in such a short time, the Amgen Tour of California is on par with any stage race in the world."

Responsible for wheel changes and mechanical assistance, the neutral support team's experienced race mechanics will step in to aid any cyclist that has a mechanical issue, in the event the team car can't reach them in time. Additionally, the neutral race support bike will be a Specialized bike, featuring Speedplay pedals.

"The combination of resources and expertise from Speedplay, Specialized, Zipp and SRAM will create a ‘dream team' of neutral race support for the 2010 Amgen Tour of California," said Andrew Messick, president of AEG Sports. "The range of product, innovation and commitment to cycling shown by these companies demonstrates the continued enthusiasm towards, and growth of, professional cycling in the United States. This support team will be a great addition to the race."

In addition to providing neutral support for the race, SRAM and the Amgen Tour of California will be creating the Bike Manufacturers Challenge Powered by SRAM, a virtual competition between component, frame, wheel and pedal manufacturers based on rider and team performance at the Amgen Tour of California. The Bike Manufacturers Challenge Powered by SRAM will be featured on the official race website (www.amgentourofcalifornia.com), as well as during the official broadcast of the race on VERSUS.

Considered to be cycling's most important and successful stage race in the United States, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will travel along a more than 800-mile course from Nevada City to Thousand Oaks, title-sponsor Amgen's hometown community. During the race, elite international and domestic cycling teams will traverse the state from north to south with scheduled stops in the following host cities: Nevada City (new city for 2010), Sacramento, Davis, Santa Rosa, San Francisco, Santa Cruz, San Jose, Modesto, Visalia, Bakersfield (new city for 2010), Palmdale (new city for 2010), Big Bear Lake (new city for 2010), Los Angeles (new city for 2010) and Thousand Oaks/Westlake Village (new city for 2010)/Agoura Hills (new city for 2010).

For more information about the Amgen Tour of California, please visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com.

About the Amgen Tour of California

The largest cycling event in America, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California is a Tour de France-style cycling road race, presented by AEG, that challenges the world's top professional cycling teams to compete along a demanding course through the state from May 16-23.

About SRAM

SRAM was founded in 1987 in Chicago, IL, with the component that redefined bicycle gear shifting, Grip Shift. Since then SRAM has continued to deliver innovation to cyclists around the globe through its SRAM, Rockshox, Avid, Truvativ, and Zipp brands. With the 2006 global release of SRAM Force and Rival, SRAM componentry entered the professional road racing ranks at its highest level. Today, led by its flagship SRAM RED road component group, SRAM delivers best-in-class ergonomics, weight, efficiency, materials, and is the choice of the World's best athletes and teams. International teams racing SRAM RED in 2010 include Team RadioShack, Team Saxo Bank, Team Astana, and the Cervelo Test Team.

About Zipp Speed Weaponry

Zipp Speed Weaponry was founded in 1988 with the sole mission of making athletes faster on their bikes. Over the course of the last twenty years, Zipp has done exactly that, by drawing on its core competencies of design engineering, composites knowledge, and wind tunnel development. It is these competencies that have allowed Zipp to deliver a series of firsts in the cycling industry. From the first carbon disc wheel to the first carbon crank to the first wheel to achieve negative drag in the wind tunnel. These firsts have helped Zipp athletes to become champions in the toughest races in the world, on the fiercest roads in the world, from the cobbled roads of Belgium to the Queen K in Kona. Zipp Wheels are handmade in Speedway, IN USA. www.zipp.com.

About Specialized

Specialized Bicycles was founded in 1974 by riders, for riders. Headquartered in Morgan Hill, Calif., with global distribution, the company focuses on making everyone's time on a bike better by delivering functional and technically advanced equipment that provides a performance benefit.

About Speedplay

Speedplay focuses on making the world's best pedal systems. By embracing a nontraditional approach to product development, the company produces an exceptional line of pedals which are reflective of the shared passion cyclists have for the sport. Through partnerships with the sport's top professional teams and by incorporating feedback from the most demanding riders in the world, after thousands of miles, under the harshest conditions, Speedplay creates the pedals that have helped cyclists around the world win the Tour de France, the Giro d'Italia, the Olympics, the World Road and Time Trial Championships, Paris-Roubaix and the Hawaii Ironman World Championship. Even with this in mind, Speedplay's ultimate goal is to satisfy the daily demands of all riders.