August 3, 2007 – Team Slipstream powered by Chipotle, an up and coming Pro Continental team, powerful Toyota-United and HealthNet presented by Maxxis, highlight eight American-based professional teams announced for the inaugural Tour of Missouri, September 11-16, 2007.

“Professional cycling in the United States continues to grow, and it’s reflected in the strength of the American-based teams racing mostly in the western hemisphere,” said Race Director Jim Birrell. “Most of these teams field a strong contingent of the best American riders, as well as top international guys.”

The additional five teams announced include Navigators, Colavita Oil/Sutter Homes, Jelly Belly, BMC and the USA National Team.

“The BMC Cycling team is ecstatic about participating in the inaugural Tour of Missouri,” says Gavin Chillicott, director of the BMC Pro Cycling Team. “These major tours are great for the sport in the United States. We plan on bringing a very strong team that will be suited to the terrain in Missouri. And that team, of course, will feature Missouri-native Dan Schmatz.”

The eight American-based teams join previously announced Discovery Channel team as the participating teams. According to the race’s competition director and former Tour de France rider Kevin Livingston, the race will add six, possibly seven additional teams, made up almost exclusively of internationally-based teams, some which have raced in the Tour de France.

Rosters for each team will not be announced in early September, according to Birrell.

About Tour of Missouri

The Tour of Missouri is a 600-mile, six-day world-class bicycle race patterned after the Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California. It is a race that features point-to-point racing. The race starts in Kansas City, September 11 and concludes September 16 in St. Louis, including legs to Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, and St. Charles. The race will feature teams of eight from 15 of the world’s top professional cycling teams.

The race is sanctioned by the UCI, the international governing body for cycling, and USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling. It is ranked as a 2.1, second in ranking to only the Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California in North American cycling. The event’s management group is Medalist Sports of Tyrone, Ga., the organizers of both the California and Georgia races. KOM Sports Marketing of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the event’s marketing agency.

Schedule

– September 11 — Kansas City to Kansas City, road race (out and back), 85 mi. (137km)
– September 12 — Clinton to Springfield, road race, 125 mi. (201km)
– September 13 — Branson, individual time trial, 18 mi. (29km)
– September 14 — Lebanon to Columbia, road race, 133 mi. (214km)
– September 15 — Jefferson City to St. Charles, road race, 123 mi. (198km)
– September 16 — St. Louis, circuit race, 74 mi. (119km)

Teams

– Discovery Channel
– Slipstream-Chipotle
– Health Net
– Navigators
– Toyota-United
– BMC
– Colavita/Sutter Home
– Jelly Belly
– USA Development

For more information, visit www.tourofmissouri.com