Published August 4, 2008 03:52PM
Next month’s Tour of Missouri will feature that kind of lineup rarely seen in the U.S., with all the top U.S.-based squads taking on European-based teams including Liquigas and Rabobank.
While the teams have yet to release their complete rosters for the Sept. 9-14 event, the race organizers on Monday announced the final list of teams:
STAGE 1 / Monday, Sept. 8
St. Joseph to Kansas City, road race, with three finish circuits (90 mi / 144.81 km)
STAGE 2 / Tuesday, September 9
Clinton to Springfield, road race, with three finish circuits (125 mi / 201.13 km)
STAGE 3 / Wednesday, September 10
Branson, individual time trial (18 mi / 28.6 km)
STAGE 4 / Thursday, September 11
Lebanon to Rolla, road race (105 mi / 168.95 km)
STAGE 5 / Friday, September 12
St. James to Jefferson City, road race, with three three circuits (100 mi / 160.9 km)
STAGE 6 / Saturday, September 13
Hermann to St. Charles, road race (110 mi / 177 km)
STAGE 7 / Sunday, September 14
St. Louis, circuit race, five laps (75 mi / 120.68 km)
Columbia (USA)
Liquigas (Italy)
Rabobank (Netherlands)
Garmin-Chipotle (USA)
BMC (USA)
Sparkasse (Germany)
Tecos (Mexico)
Symmetrics (Canada)
Health Net presented by MAXXIS (USA)
Toyota-United (USA)
Rock Racing (USA)
Colavita Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light (USA)
Bissell (USA)
Kelly Benefit Strategies – Medifast (USA)
Jelly Belly (USA)
Organizers will announce the top riders later this month after the Olympic Games in Beijing.
Defending champion Georgie Hincapie is expected to return with his Team Columbia squad, and last year’s runner-up, Garmin-Chipotle’s Will Frischkorn, will likely be on his team’s roster.
Garmin director Jonathan Vaughters said the team is headed to Missouri to take the top spot this year.
“This is not an end-of-the-season fun race for us. This is a serious objective for our team. It’s a major event.” The team is expected to bring many riders from their Tour de France team.
This year the race is one day longer and boasts a more prestigious start list.
“Without doubt, this is a deeper field than last year,” said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of event organizers Medalist Sports. “We have three teams that played major roles at the Tour de France this year. We have all the top clubs in North America, and two top European continental teams that will surely be hungry. It is an interesting and talented mix.”