The 2009 Tour of Missouri could feature a mano a mano battle between two former champions as their respective teams have agreed to compete in the Sept. 7-13 bicycle race across Missouri.
Update, March 13 — Astana announces it will compete; no word on roster
Columbia-High Road, the team of 2007 champion George Hincapie, and Garmin-Slipstream, home to 2008 champion Christian Vande Velde, have both accepted invitations to the race.
Two other top pro squads, Italy's Liquigas and Switzerland's Cervelo, also have confirmed for the seven-stage race.
In addition to Hincapie, sprinter Britain's Mark Cavendish is a member of Columbia. He competed last year, winning three stages. He already has a number of wins this year, including two at the Tour of California.
Garmin is also the home of David Zabriskie, who finished a close second in this year's Tour of California. In the off-season Garmin also signed Canada's Svein Tuft, who finished third in the Missouri race last year.
The Cervelo cycling team boasts Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre on its roster, as well as sprinter Thor Hushovd. Liquigas is the home of Italians Ivan Basso and Vincenzo Nibali.
It way to early to know whether these teams will be sending their best riders to the Tour of Missouri, but there is that possibility. All the riders mentioned above rode in the peloton during the Tour of California in February.
More information at the Tour of Missouri.
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