Quick Step to join Astana, Cervelo, Columbia, Garmin and Liquigas at the Tour of Missouri

The Quick Step team will line up at the 2009 Tour of Missouri, the race announced Tuesday. The team, currently leading the UCI word rankings, will join Astana, Cervelo TestTeam, Columbia-Highroad, Garmin-Slipstream, Liquigas and others at the event now in its third year. “It is a big win for Missouri that the world No. 1 ranked team has chosen to participate in one of the world’s top bike races,” Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder said in a statement. Rosters for the Sept. 7-13 event will be announced this summer.

Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde won in 2008, a victory his baby daughter helped celebrate.

Photo: Casey B. Gibson

The Quick Step team will line up at the 2009 Tour of Missouri, the race announced Tuesday.

The team, currently leading the UCI word rankings, will join Astana, Cervelo TestTeam, Columbia-Highroad, Garmin-Slipstream, Liquigas and others at the event now in its third year.

“It is a big win for Missouri that the world No. 1 ranked team has chosen to participate in one of the world’s top bike races,” Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder said in a statement.

Rosters for the Sept. 7-13 event will be announced this summer.

Besides the ProTour teams mentioned, Jelly Belly and BMC are confirmed for the race.

“We now have six Tour de France entrants in the race, a staggering amount for a young race,” said Chris Aronhalt, the managing partner of event organizer Medalist Sports.

For the first time, the race will route east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City.
The total mileage is expected to be more than 600 miles.