Bears and snow ploughs amid the Amgen Tour of California countdown
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The UnitedHealthcare team out taking in the scenery.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Roman Kilun (Kenda-5 Hour Energy) leading his group out this morning.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Ben King (RadioShack) stays tucked into the bunch while out on the morning ride.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Team RadioShack heads out in the morning.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Levi Leipheimer and RadioShack teammate Ben King out on a ride.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
RadioShack riders ride through the snowy mountain scenery.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Team NetApp spreads out on a climb.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Shawn Milne (Kenda-5 Hour Energy) takes a moment to stop and enjoy the local wildlife.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Bernhard Eisel (HTC-Highroad) will be one of the team's dedicated workers this week.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) is one of the race favorites to watch this week.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Rory Sutherland (UnitedHealthcare) is here to lead his team to a top podium spot.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Andrew Pinfold (UnitedHealthcare) practicing his descending skills.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Bernhard Eisel (HTC-Highroad) always the comedian once he gets the mic.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Brothers Peter and Martin Velits (HTC-Highroad) are here to offer support for this week's mountain stages.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Tejay Van Garderen (HTC-Highroad) confident about his chances this week.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Saxo Bank riders head out on what will be tomorrow's race loop.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
JJ Haedo (Saxo Bank) leads out his team this morning.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Luca Damiani (Kenda-5 Hour Energy) all smiles before the big show.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The Kenda-5 Hour Energy team heading out of town.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Saxo Bank on the way out of town.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
RadioShack riders round one of the switchbacks on the early part of what will be tomorrow's course.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
A beautiful backdrop for teams out rolling around today.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The RadioShack team stops by a huge snow blower which we hopefully won't need on Sunday.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The NetApp team out for a Saturday stroll.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Riders were coming and going all morning on the loop around the lake.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
HTC-Highroad riders got to enjoy a little bit of sun before the clouds rolled in.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The HTC-Highroad team for this week gets presented.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
Phil Liggett introduces and interviews riders along with commentary partner, Paul Sherwen.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The Specialized Shiv TT bike of the HTC-Highroad team.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
The HTC-Highroad team brought plenty of muscle for this week's racing.(Image credit: Jon Devich)
With less than 24 hours before the 2011 Amgen Tour of California gets underway at Lake Tahoe, make of the riders took the opportunity to get out on the roads of the Sierra Mountain Range and surrounds.
What they found ranged from snow ploughs to bears – yes, bears!
Meantime, in much warmer indoor climes HTC-Highroad had their team presentation and took questions from both the international media as well as via social media.
Jon Devich has this insight from behind the lens.
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