Oakland, CA - Ryder Hesjedal and the Health Net Pro Cycling Team Presented by Maxxis will be putting kids from the NorCal High School Mountain Bike League on the podium at this year's Amgen Tour of California.

The program is a fundraiser for the League, which has grown in six years from one school to include hundreds of young men and women competing in a six-race series throughout Northern California.

"My mountain bike has taken me a lot of places, both on the dirt and now on the road," Hesjedal said. "Programs like the NorCal League are a great place for kids to start their journey."

Race fans can support the league by making pledges for every podium placing Health Net Presented by Maxxis earns during the Amgen Tour of California.

Pledges start as low as $5 per podium placing for intermediate sprints and KoMs, up to $250 for general classification podium positions.

For more information and to make pledges, visit www.norcalmtb.org, or click the link on the right side of this window to download a pledge form.