With the 2009 ProTour team lineup announced, it seems like the appropriate time to start speculating on who's likely to show up at the Amgen Tour of California.

Last year, 17 teams participated in the eight-day (prologue and seven stages), 670-mile race: Astana (LUX), Bissell Pro Cycling Team (USA), BMC Racing Team (USA), Bouygues Telecom (FRA), Credit Agricole (FRA), Gerolsteiner (GER), Health Net Presented by Maxxis (USA), High Road Sports (GER), Jelly Belly Cycling Team (USA), Kelly Benefit Strategies/Medifast (USA), Quick Step (BEL), Rabobank Cycling Team (Netherlands), Rock Racing (USA), Saunier Duval-Scott (ESP), Team CSC (DEN), Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle (USA) and Toyota-United Pro Cycling Team (USA).

This year's race will begin on a Saturday and include nine stages (Feb. 14-22), with precise routes and race distances yet to be announced.

A 16-team line-up is expected for 2009. At least one team (Astana) is a lock. With a 2.HC categorized rating, you can expect eight ProTour teams in this year's field. Let the speculation begin.

So we got our first look at Tyler Hamilton's new USPRO road champion's kit during the first stage of the Tour of Britain Sunday. It was very similar in design to the rest of the team's "London Rocks" kit.

Initial impressions? I'm guessing this isn't the last re-incarnation of the kit we see before the year is out. Though not shown here, Rahsaan Bahati's kit says "US Criterium Champion."

via www.truesport.com

The Tour of Ireland is featured in four one-hour shows on the Versus Network, beginning with Wednesday's program at 6 p.m. EST/3 p.m. PST.

Production is being handled out of Ireland, so expect a different slant than what you would normally see from Kent Gordis or Medalist Sports-produced events.

American teams are Garmin-Chipotle, Team Columbia and Team Type 1. The five-day race continues through Sunday, though Versus will only have coverage Wednesday, Thursday, Friday and Sunday.

Did anyone else see that Michael Ball, Ed Beamon and Jonathan Vaughters are running for USPRO Trustee positions?

Only USPRO license holders can vote in that category (USA Cycling is also electing representatives) but this part of the candidate statement by Ball is interesting:

"As the At-Large Trustee for USPRO, I will continue my commitment to you
and ensure your voice is heard. From periodic rider forums at major races to
establishing a dedicated rider forum online, I will listen to your ideas,
feedback and concerns. I will keep working toward changes that improve the
quality of events and increase the positive exposure the sport needs to grow.
I will also promote unified, cooperative action between teams, race
organizers and USA Cycling membership."

Vaughters is up against Ken Mills (a ROAD Magazine columnist who works for Kelly Benefit Strategies), while Rock Racing's Ball is running against Beamon, who directs Team Type 1. Athlete Trustees are Nick Reistad, Dylan Casey and Will Frischkorn (only Reistad has a statement up).

Votes have to be cast - USPRO or otherwise - by Aug. 15.

The Rock Racing online store went live overnight. The pro apparel won't be easy on your wallet - $210 for a jersey, $230 for bibs for the "Venom" kit.

A little disappointing are the extras: booties, arm warmers and gloves. All seem to be "coming soon." Socks are 15 bucks.

They have also added their "trackside" apparel and the prices are a little more reasonable than at the Tour of California. Water bottles are down to $8 (from $12) and a hat is only $20. They even have stickers ($5).

Rock Racing swept the top four places in Saturday’s prologue time trial at the Tour of Colombia.

Santiago Botero, like he did last year in winning the race, won the 8.3 km time trial, followed by Rock teammates Victor Hugo Peña (seven seconds behind), Oscar Sevilla and Tyler Hamilton (both 14 seconds behind).

Rock Racing is one of three non-Colombian teams (out of 15) in the 15-day race. Results of the prologue can be found here.

Cyclingnews.com is reporting that injuries have forced Saunier-Duval to withdraw its team from the Tour de Georgia.

The article goes on to say that the announcement comes on the same day that Rock Racing and Tour de Georgia organizer Medalist Sports are in court. Rock Racking is seeking an injunction against the race over a reported alleged verbal agreement the team had with Medalist over its entry.

New professional squad, Team Type 1, will be featured on a segment on CNBC tonight.

Here's more from the team's press release:

Team Type 1 will be featured this Sunday night, April 6, in a nationally-televised cable broadcast.

The segment on dLifeTV (broadcast on CNBC at 7 p.m. EST/4 p.m. PST) will show how champion world-class cyclists are breaking new barriers in the world of diabetes.

dLifeTV will take a brief look back at Team Type 1's history and feature candid interviews with team co-founders Phil Southerland and Joe Eldridge that showcase the challenges they face in managing their diabetes on the road.

Racers from both Team Type 1's 15-member professional team and the squad's 11-rider two-time defending champion Race Across America (RAAM) team were filmed by dLifeTV during a pair of camps in Buellton, Calif., last December and this February. Every rider on the RAAM team has Type 1 diabetes, as do four riders on the pro team.

The segment will also be available for viewing on dLife.com following the CNBC broadcast.

Rock Racing seems to have started its own forum. Go to the team website and look for the "Forum" in the menu bar.

It's categorized, with some pretty clever headings like "The Podium" and "Neutral Support" and even a space to talk about the podium girls.

Not much traffic there at all yet, but it seems to have some potential.

The 24th edition of the Redlands Bicycle Classic starts with the traditional SUN time trial Thursday. As Lyne mentioned earlier, this is the first NRC race of the year for the men.

I figured I would start a thread to post predictions. Anyone seen any start times?

If you missed it Wednesday, the race website had live interviews with riders and directors (men AND women!). Some of them are archived here. More live coverage is planned for each day of the race.