The 2008 Tour of California, scheduled Feb. 17-24, will visit 12 host cities for stage starts and finishes, including Palo Alto-Stanford University (new in 2008), Sausalito, Santa Rosa, Sacramento, Modesto (new in 2008), San Jose, Seaside, San Luis Obispo, Solvang, Santa Barbara, Santa Clarita and Pasadena (new in 2008).

The event, won in its first two years, respectively, by Americans Floyd Landis (Phonak Hearing Systems), Murrieta, Calif., and Levi Leipheimer (Astana), Santa Rosa, Calif., will begin with a prologue at Stanford University in Palo Alto. It will conclude a week later with a Santa Clarita to Pasadena road race.

Race officials have not announced exact race distances or confirmed participating teams. But it's likely Leipheimer will defend his 2007 title with his new squad for 2008 that also includes reigning titlist Alberto Contador of Spain. The route will be an estimated 650 miles.

Paolo Bettini (Quick.Step-Innergetic) of Italy, the two-time world road titlist who won a Tour of California stage last year, announced he will begin his 2008 season at the Tour of California.

Here are race stage details:

Sunday, Feb. 17, Prologue: Palo Alto-Stanford University, 1 p.m. — The 2.1-mile route will only take about five minutes per rider, but spectators can watch favorites power through a course centered on the Stanford University campus. The Stanford Oval will put riders into a 360-degree loop before they head to the finish line at the intersection of University Avenue and Museum Way on campus.

Monday, Feb. 18, Stage 1:  Sausalito to Santa Rosa, 11 a.m. — Identical to the first stage used in the earlier race editions, the route will cover nearly 100 miles. It will begin with a climb from Mill Valley up to Mt. Tamalpais State Park before turning toward Muir Beach. The relatively flat route will take the riders north toward Bodega Bay and Coleman Valley Road, a landmark climb in Northern California. The stage will conclude with three downtown circuits and likely before large crowds.

Tuesday, Feb. 19, Stage 2: Santa Rosa to Sacramento, 10 a.m. — Another returning stage, it begins with a scenic trek through several Sonoma County wineries before reaching one of the most significant climbs of the race as the route heads east toward the state's capital. Twelve miles from the start, Trinity Road's vertical climbs and treacherous decent into the wineries of Napa Valley will make it one of the most difficult climbs of the race. The stage will conclude with three circuit laps through downtown, finishing on the front steps of the Capitol.

Wednesday, Feb. 20, Stage 3: Modesto to San Jose, 10 a.m. — a new course for the Tour of California, beginning with a neutral start of parade laps through Modesto's revitalized downtown area before heading south through California's scenic farmlands. After passing through Patterson, the route takes the peloton a likely defining race portion, a 26-mile section full of twists and turns marked by several climbs near Frank Raines Regional Park and leading to a climb over the backside of Mt. Hamilton, Elevation of 4,360 feet. After the descent, the riders will head to Sierra Road, another hefty climb. Once riders crest Sierra Road, the peloton will complete the course with an 18-mile run into San Jose.

Thursday, Feb. 21, Stage 4: Seaside to San Luis Obispo, 10 a.m. — Another traditional route, used in both prior editions of the Tour of California, the route is a race favorite for riders and spectators. Beginning with a short neutral lap and traveling along a similar route to previous years, the peloton will head south on scenic Highway 1 where sweeping vistas of Big Sur and redwood forests flank the Pacific Ocean. At more than 130 miles and with three KOMs, it will be the race's longest stage.

Friday, Feb. 22, Stage 5: Solvang Individual Time Trial, noon — The quaint Danish village of Solvang annually hosts ProTour teams for training camps, At only 15 miles, slightly longer than the 2007 individual time trial and with the start and finish lines located one block apart, Stage 5 is an ideal location for spectators. The route will highlight some of the most beautiful areas of Central California.

Saturday, Feb. 23, Stage 6: Santa Barbara to Santa Clarita, 11 a.m. — This could be the race's pivotal stage. It's 105 miles and heavy on climbs with four KOMs, three sprints and a demanding finishing circuit in Santa Clarita. After a start in view of the Santa Barbara shoreline will take the peloton to Highway 192 and through the town of Carpinteria. The ominous Balcom Canyon will be the final climb of the day. The race ends with three circuit laps in Santa Clarita that finish at McBean Parkway at the Valencia Town Center.

Sunday, Feb. 24, Stage 7: Santa Clarita to Pasadena, start time to be announced — Adding a relatively difficult point-to-point race at the end may put the overall race leader and his team under pressure to protect the jersey.  The first 25 miles of Stage 7 include a gradual climb from Santa Clarita to the intersection of Angeles Forest Road. The route continues to the race's highest-ever elevation ever reached at the Millcreek Summit, 4,906 feet. Descending with an eight-mile run to Angeles Crest Highway, the route begins a fast plunge to the Rose Bowl in Pasadena. After more than 60 miles from Santa Clarita to Pasadena, with the mountains and the Rose Bowl serving as the backdrop, the peloton will complete the stage and the race, with six five-mile laps on a tough circuit around the Rose Bowl.