Garmin-Sharp-Barracuda

Age: 36
Home: Lemont, Illinois

Christian Vande Velde has cycling in his DNA. His father John was a two-time U.S. Olympian on the track, and his uncle and grandfather were prolific racers in their native Belgium before moving to Chicago in the 1940s. Vande Velde turned professional at a young age and raced in his first Tour de France at age 22. After plying his traits as a domestique, Vande Velde began to finish high at top stage races by 2006, winning the Tour of Luxembourg. In 2007, Vande Velde finished second overall in the Tour de Georgia, then one of America's top stage races. In 2008, he completed a banner year, finishing fourth overall in the Tour de France, first overall in the Tour of Missouri, third overall in the Amgen Tour of California, as well as a stage win and one-day race leader at the Giro d’Italia. In 2009, Vande Velde suffered a horrific crash that left him with fractures in his back and hip at the Giro d’Italia.  Within six weeks, he managed to not only compete but finish eighth overall in the Tour de France, a feat he calls "miraculous". In 2010, he suffered another bad crash preventing him from competing at a high level. By 2011, he bounced back to finish fourth overall at the Amgen Tour of California before finishing only 11 seconds behind winner Levi Leipheimer to finish second overall at the USA Pro Challenge. Touted as co-leader for the Colorado event, he said he is motivated to win the 2012 edition of America's Race. 

Team: Garmin-Barracuda
Hometown: Lemont, IL
Country: USA
Age: 36
Specialty: All-Around/Climber

2012 Results:
1st Stage 4 (TTT), Giro d’Italia

Career Highlights:
2011 1st Stage 2 (TTT), Tour de France
2nd Overall, USA Pro Challenge
4th Overall, Tour of California
2009 8th Overall, Tour de France
1st Stage 4, Paris-Nice
2008 4th Overall, Tour de France
1st Overall, Tour of Missouri
1st Stage 3 (ITT), Tour of Missouri
3rd Overall, Tour of California
7th Overall, Tour de Georgia
2007 2nd Overall, Tour de Georgia
6th Overall, Tour of California

Age: 33

Hometown: Los Angeles, CA

David Zabriskie started off his cycling career winning time trials and hasn't stopped since. Zabriskie has won seven nation time trial championships earning him the nickname “Captain America.” Zabriskie  is also the first American to win a stage in all three grand tours and wore the yellow jersey of leadership in the Tour de France – only the fourth American to do so. In 2009 Zabriskie stood on the top step of the podium as the overall winner of the Tour of Missouri.

At least year's USA Pro Cycling Challenge time trial Zabriskie finished the day in seventh place. However, that course featured 1,800 feet of climbing – a characteristic not suited to Zabriskie. Stage 7 of the 2012 USA Pro Cycling Challenge is a flat, fast time trial which suits Zabriskie perfectly.