The following UC Davis campus experts are available to discuss issues related to the Amgen Tour of California.

Bicycle design and cyclist performance

Maury Hull, a professor of mechanical and aeronautical engineering and in the biomedical engineering program, directs ongoing cycling-related research programs at the UC Davis Biomechanical Engineering in Sports Laboratory. In 2008, Hull received the inaugural award from Bicycling Magazine for Excellence in Applied Science Research related to cycling. He is studying cycling biomechanics to optimize cyclist performance and prevent knee injuries as well as bicycle design to optimize structural components and suspensions. His research has been sponsored by industry leaders including Trek, Specialized, Shimano, GT and Rock Shox. Hull attended the Tour de France in 1992 for a special scientific symposium on cycling, and he has also been a competitive bike racer for 20 years. Contact: Maury Hull, mechanical and aeronautical engineering, (530) 752-6220 office, (530) 795-4788 home, mlhull@ucdavis.edu.

Nutrition and fitness

Nationally renowned nutrition and fitness authority Liz Applegate is an expert on the topics of eating and hydration for top athletic performance and exercise. An avid cyclist herself, she has published several books, including "Bounce Your Body Beautiful," "The Encyclopedia of Sports and Fitness Nutrition" and "Eat Smart, Play Hard." She has written more than 300 articles for national magazines, and is the nutrition editor and a columnist for Runner's World magazine. Applegate is a member of the American College of Sports Medicine and a nutrition consultant for various U.S. Olympic and professional athletes. Contact: Liz Applegate, Nutrition, (530) 752-6682, eaapplegate.@ucdavis.edu.

Biomechanics, movement performance and injury prevention

UC Davis biomechanist David Hawkins is interested in understanding what influences skeletal muscle performance and human movement. His work at the UC Davis Human Performance Laboratory aims to develop tools and training strategies that can assist people afflicted with various musculoskeletal disorders, as well as prevent injury and maximize athletic performance. He can talk about properties of biological tissues (i.e. bone, ligament, tendon and muscle) and how they respond to exercise and disuse. Contact: David Hawkins, Exercise Biology, (530) 752-2748, dahawkins@ucdavis.edu.

Psychology of sports and team dynamics

Paul Salitsky, a UC Davis lecturer in exercise biology, studies the psychological aspects of sports and exercise. He specializes in sport and exercise psychology, sport sociology and motor learning, and has coached women's volleyball at the international, club and NCAA Division I level. Salitsky has conducted more than 250 clinics and workshops on the mental skills needed for performance success. A certified consultant for the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology (AAASP), Salitsky has been listed on the U.S. Olympic Committee's Sport Psychology Registry since 2000. Also in 2000, he was selected to join the Sport Psychology Committee for USA Track & Field. Salitsky's recent research interests have been in the area of mental-skills training for cancer patients and survivors; in 2002, he survived non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Contact: Paul Salitsky, Exercise Biology, (530) 752-3381, pbsalitsky@ucdaivs.edu.

Sports law

Dylan Malagrino, a professor at the School of Law, is interested in sports law, law and anthropology, and property law. He worked at the National Collegiate Athletics Association from 1999 to 2004, where he testified at congressional hearings on behalf of the association as an expert in prospective and collegiate student-athlete welfare. On Feb. 13 Malagrino will give a talk on the drug-testing of athletes and the legal questions surrounding it at the event “A Smattering From the Science of Cycling Event.” The event will be held in conjunction with the city of Davis and the Amgen Tour. Contact: Dylan Malagrino, School of Law, (530) 754-7008, domalagrino@ucdavis.edu

Biomechanics and physiology in cycling

Judd Van Sickle Jr. is a biomechanist and physiologist for the UC Davis Sports Medicine and Sports Performance Program. He is a USA Cycling Level 1 coach and also coaches the UC Davis Cycling Team. Van Sickle received an M.S. in biomedical engineering with an emphasis in cycling biomechanics from UC Davis in 2003. He will also be a part of “A Smattering From the Science of Cycling” event, where he will talk about what it takes to race and be successful in the Tour of California event. Contact: Judd Van Sickle Jr., Sports Medicine Program, (916) 734-2992, judd.vansickle@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.

Genetics, pharmaceutics and endurance

Matthew Wood, an assistant professor in the environmental toxicology department, directs ongoing research on the perception of and protection against oxidative stress and other toxic compounds in our bodies. Oxidative stress is known for playing a role in certain diseases and the aging process. Wood also will be present at “A Smattering of Science,” and will discuss recent advances in genetic and pharmaceutical regulation of energy metabolism and speculate on how they may impact exercise and endurance athletics. Contact: Matthew Wood, Environmental Toxicology, at (530) 754-2271, mjwood@ucdavis.edu.

Training

John Hansen is an exercise physiologist for the UC Davis Sports Medicine and Sports Performance program and also a member of the American College of Sports Medicine. He specializes in coaching triathlon and running, and currently coaches a triathlon team for the Leukemia Society. Hansen also will give a talk at “A Smattering from Cycling Science,” where he will review the importance of sustainable threshold training and its affects on time trial performance. Contact: John Hansen, Sports Medicine, (916) 734-5836, john.hansen@ucdmc.ucdavis.edu.