JAGUAR PUTS PEDALS TO THE METAL IN THE 2014 AMGEN TOUR OF CALIFORNIA

As an official partner of Team Sky, one of the world’s best professional cycling teams, Jaguar is supporting the team at the Amgen Tour of California pro‑cycling race, taking place this week in Sacramento, Calif., writes Marc Bearman, liaison director for Jaguar and Team Sky.

 

For the demanding eight‑day race, the team is using two specially‑equipped Jaguar XF AWD sport sedans, carrying a total of 14 spare race bikes on special roof racks, along with a full complement of spare mechanical equipment needed on the road.

The team’s two directeur sportifs, or strategists, are the main driver of each car. The team doctor sits next to the directeur sprotif in the passenger seat, and in the rear seat sits the team’s mechanic, ready to jump out at a moment’s notice to aid the riders. Both vehicles carry a full complement of water and energy drinks, plus nutritional snacks for the riders.

The Tour of California is the biggest cycling event in the U.S. and one of the top races globally. It features 16 of the sport’s leading teams battling for victory across more than 720 miles of the most challenging roads in the Golden State.

The eight‑stage race started in Sacramento, Calif. on Sunday, May 11 and will head up to Santa Barbara, returning through Santa Clarita and Pasadena, before ending in Thousand Oaks on May 18.

This year will be the second time Team Sky has competed in the tour, and it will be a return to home ground for the team’s three American riders, Ian Boswell, Joe Dombrowski and Danny Pate. Joining them is Britain’s Sir Bradley Wiggins, the only cyclist to win the Tour de France and Olympic gold in the same year, 2012.

The Tour of California is one of the team’s favorite events, as it provides an alternative to the traditional racing program in Europe, which includes the annual Tour de France in July. There’s no shortage of very passionate cycling fans in the States and this is one of the only chances the team gets to ride in front of them, on U.S. roads.

 

Jaguar has been globally providing support vehicles to Team Sky since 2010. For the European season, the team was provided a fleet of 13 Jaguar XF Sportbrake station wagons, along with various other support vehicles from Jaguar. In the upcoming Tour de France this year, the full Jaguar model range will be used.

This year Jaguar stepped‑up its involvement by becoming one of the team’s official Innovation Partners, working alongside Team Sky, providing design and engineering resources.

The 2014 Amgen Tour of California is certainly building up to be a terrific event, featuring the most accomplished field of cycling superstars ever to complete on U.S. soil. Back in 2011 when Team Sky last competed, our riders Ben Swift and Greg Henderson both won stages and held the race lead.

With support from the Jaguar XF AWD vehicles, we have high hopes of Team Sky being on the podium come May 18. Watch us roar!