There are a few ways to ride the Amgen Tour of California. You can train hard, win local races, get picked up by a team and ride with the pros. Or you can ride it virtually with Strava, creator powerful Web and mobile applications for avid athletes, and AEG, one of the leading sports and entertainment providers. The two companies have announced that Strava will power social fitness for next month’s Tour. The three-year partnership will bring Strava’s event maps to the Web and mobile platforms. Strava is further supplying complimentary premium memberships to all race participants and will also offer training and race-day challenges.
“We are excited to partner with AEG to bring the sport of cycling even closer to the fans,” said Michael Horvath, CEO of Strava. “Strava’s GPS maps and online competitions allow avid cyclists to follow their favorite pros, compare and compete, and gain deeper insight into their own training.”
Amateur riders won’t be left on the sidelines, and Strava will provide the its compare-and-compete GPS technology for Stage 7 “ride the route” event. With this service they can compare their distance, speed, heart rate and elevation gain against professional riders such as Ted King, a U.S. pro with the Italian powerhouse Liquigas-Cannondale team and Levi Leipheimer of Team Radio Shack, the three-time Amgen Tour of California champion. Many fans will be inspired to pre-ride segments of Amgen Tour of California, L’Etape du California, and Leadville courses to track their fitness and compare performance on climbs and sprint with others.
“Strava has developed a powerful tool for serious cyclists to test themselves in a competitive format against professionals and other local riders,” said Andrew Messick, President of AEG Sports. “With Strava’s technology, we are expanding the social aspect of our websites which will give fans of the Amgen Tour of California an interactive experience that is unique to the world of cycling.”
With Strava you can say, “California here I come,” even if you’re hundreds or thousands of miles away.
2011 Amgen Tour of California Official Website
Strava Official Website
AEG Official Website