The Amgen Tour of California is the most important professional cycling road race on the UCI’s American Tour calendar.  Since its inception in February 2006 the evolution of the event has been remarkable.  Following a huge success in the first year the UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) elevated the race’s status from a Category 1 to the highest rating available, a beyond category UCI 2.HC rating. 

Original organizer Timothy J. Leiweke, President and CEO of AEG Sports envisioned an eight-stage, 700-mile race in the style of the legendary Tour de France.  Together with the UCI’s effort to globalize the sport of cycling, the Tour of California invited the World’s best cyclists to compete in an eight-stage race and in turn gained a showcased for the fabulous cities and sites of California.  Hein Verbruggen, UCI President stated "The creation of the Tour of California race is very important for the continued worldwide development of our sport on both a fan and athlete level. It is clear that the continental calendar will be richer with the addition of this new event."

The inaugural Tour, run from Sunday, February 19, 2006 to Sunday’ February 26, 2006, featured 16 World and National class professional cycling teams.  The race started in San Francisco, raced 700 miles through the scenic vistas of California and ended in Redondo Beach. 

In 2010 AEG Sports announced the schedule move of the race to May in order to take advantage of the warmer late spring temperatures.  The team directors, staff and riders all welcomed the date change not only for the warmer weather but it became better race preparation for the World Tour teams competing in the Tour de France.  The current Tour remains on the schedule in May.

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