2008 tour season

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So when exactly is the official start of the racing season? I saw that the Tour of California is Feb. 17-24, is this the earliest race?
Thanks for any info.

There are a whole bunch of races before California. http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=cal08

Of course, the first meaningful race is...Het Volk in March.

There are a whole bunch of races before California. http://www.cyclingnews.com/road/?id=cal08

Of course, the first meaningful race is...Het Volk in March.
Depends on how you see it (don't get me wrong I will go to Het Volk). But I do like the Vuelta Al Tachira:
http://www.cyclingheroes.info/id1051.html

Nice Mountain stages, nice and hilly ITT. We will publish a riders diary during the Vuelta Al Tachira and tomorrow an interview with the coordinator of the race organisation. The Vuelta Al Tachira starts at January 5.

The Tour Down Under is coming up. It will be interesting to see who the ProTour teams send. You would think starting lists would be up in maybe a couple of weeks.

The Tour Down Under is coming up. It will be interesting to see who the ProTour teams send. You would think starting lists would be up in maybe a couple of weeks.Actually, the TDU official website already has start lists up (presumably subject to changes)... http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/2008/?q=Teams

I think that pretty much every Aussie in the ProTour (with the exception of GT riders like Evans and Rogers) will be riding at the TDU. And they even managed to include teamless Allan Davis on the Aus National team.

Actually, the TDU official website already has start lists up (presumably subject to changes)... http://www.tourdownunder.com.au/2008/?q=Teams
Looks like the second string of all the ProTour teams. I am sor tof surprised all the ProTour teams decided to show up. What type of monetary incentive is being given to the teams?