The 2009 Tour de Nez returns for a 17th year this June 18th through the 20th, with a three race Omnium competition in the Reno/Lake Tahoe area. And with more than $35,000 up for grabs in the three race series, some of America's top professional men and women cyclists will take to the Tour de Nez start line to contest the Northern California tradition. Below are several riders to watch over the course of the three day event.

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Aaron Olson, 31, Independant
Olson was the overall winner of last year's event, and as such the gentle giant from Bend, Oregon will once again travel to the Tour de Nez in hopes of garnering some big results for his personal sponsors, Oakley and Sidi. Olson is a strong all-arounder with a huge engine, and he'll have a little bit extra motivation as he has the privelege of wearing the #1 bib in the race as defending champion. Expect to see him at the front of each day's racing pushing the pace, looking to eliminate the faster finishers with his consistent, diesel-like power. His best chance for a win meanwhile will come on the final day on the Village course at Northstar.

Dan Ramsey, 30, Mountain Khakis
Dan Ramsey has had a solid 2009 thus far, and has established himself as a top threat on the California racing scene throughout the year. Built in the mold of a larger rider like Olson, Ramsey is a tactically sound rider capable of riding away from the field under his own power. A few months ago in the Napa River Velo Grand Prix as a matter of fact, that's exactly what the Ventura, California native did, escaping early and finishing solo for an impressive win in the twisting, technical criterium. He'll be right at home on all three race courses at the Tour de Nez, and should be a top candidate for the overall win. Look for him to try his hand with a solo escape on the Truckee course on day two as he tries to distance his adversaries with his trademark aggression and superior bike handling skills.

Justin England, 30, California Giant Berry Farms
England is a former stage winner at the Tour de Nez, and is an all-arounder capable of competing on all three race courses of this year's Omnium. More a climber than a sprinter, England will likely play the role of team helper for the first two stages before going for his own glory on the final day at Northstar. With some luck over the course of the first two days of racing, England could find himself in the mix for the overall title, especially with a convincing win on the final day. A native of Boulder, Colorado, Englad likes the elevation, and racing at altitude will be an advantage for him over some of the other riders in the field. He'll also be tuning up for the Nevada City Classic on Sunday, June 21, so a top performance at the Tour de Nez is likely.

Paul Mach, 27, Bissell Pro Cycling Team
Paul Mach, a climber out of Davis, California, should find that the Tour de Nez suits his riding style, as he looks to add to his growing tally of 2009 wins. Coming off a recent impressive overall victory at the very hilly Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, Mach will hope to keep the momentum going in his native California. He'll be backed by several strong teammates, and will be one of the major protagonists for the Village race at Northstar. A team player, he'll no doubt play off his teammate Burke Swindlehurst throughout the three races, making it hard on the opposition to control him and the rest of the Bissell squad.

Burke Swindlehurst, 36, Bissell Pro Cycling Team
One of the true veterans on the American cycling scene, “T-Bird” Burke Swindlehurst will bring his top-flight climbing skills once again to the Tour de Nez, and is one of the biggest favorites to take top honors on the final day at Northstar. Like his teammate Paul Mach, Swindlehurst excels when the road tilts up, and he thrives at elevation. Expect him to be one of the biggest influencers on each day of racing, as he either looks to set up his teammates or himself for the win. And when not racing, expect that you'll see him plying his other skilled trade, that of a fly fisherman, out on the Truckee river.

Roman Kilun, OUCH presented by Maxxis
Another top performer from 2008, Kilun returns in 20009 to defend his sprint jersey that he won in 2008. A winner of two of the five stages of last year's edition, Kilun will be a marked man on each stage as he tries to replicate his 2008 success at the Tour de Nez. An Oakland, California resident, he loves the Tour de Nez, and his exhuberant riding style and glued-on smile will be seen at the front of the peloton for each stage of this year's race. A strong all-around rider with a sneaky-fast finishing sprint, he is among the top three favorites for the overall crown after three days of racing have been completed. He'll be in with a chance for victory on every stage, with the downtown Reno course his best chance at success.


WOMEN

Amber Rais, Team TIBCO
Rais, a local hero hailing from Reno, Nevada, is in her fourth year as a professional cyc;ist. She possesses a strong combination of climbing and sprinting skills, and is ideally suited to the race courses of the Tour de Nez. Along with her other TIBCO teammates, Rais should be right at the front of the race on all three days, with a chance to take the overall Omnium with a bit of luck. She has racked up more than 15 victories as a pro, and she'll hope to win her first stage of the Tour de Nez this year.

Alison Starnes, Team TIBCO
Another talented all-arounder, Starnes burst onto the pro cycling scene in 2008 and hasn't looked back since. A consummate teammate and amazing time trialist, Stares loves to go off the front of a bike race in hopes of winning solo. She'll be the perfect foil to some of her teammates, and will have a realistic chance to win any of the three legs of this year's Tour de Nez. Known as a fiesty personality always in search of a good time, don't be surprised to see Starnes with a ten gallon smile as she rides around the race course, even taking the time to fire up the crowd at key moments during the race.

Alison Rosenthal, Team TIBCO
Another relative newcomer to the professional cycling scene, Rosenthal has nevertheless made the most of her time in the sport. After a solid 2008 campaign, she placed 11th at this past year's Amgen Tour of California criterium, forecasting her talent as an elite criterium rider. Like her teammates she is always willing to work for whoever is strongest, yet will go for her chance if the circumstances are right. She'll be at the front end at the end of each day of racing, and like her teammates will have a good chance at victory over the three day event. Her best chance for success is likely on the Reno course on Thursday.

Betina Hold, PROMAN Hit Squad
Betina Hold raced hard at the Tour de Nez in 2008, and she'll line up again for the race this year. As part of the Hit Squad, Hold and her teammates will offer the most significant resistance to Team TIBCO. A good all-arounder with solid endurance, Hold will mix it up over all three days as she searches for at least one stage win.

Helen Drumm, PROMAN Hit Squad
Helen Drum is an accomplished criterium racer with a potent finishing sprint. She'll be a top favorite for the Reno and Truckee courses, and is a dark horse for the overall Omnium win. After picking up a solid win at the Carrera de San Rafael in 2008, Drumm will show her veteran know-how throughout, riding in support of her teammates when needed.

Liza Rachetto, SugarCRM Cycling Team
Rachetto has a hard-nosed approach to the sport of cycling born from several years on the European circuit in Italy. A staunch support rider with three wins to her credit thus far in 2009, Rachetto can win in a variety of situations and terrain. The Reno course seems best suited to her style, as does the Truckee criterium.