Three-time world-champion Michael Rogers and 2007 Tour of Missouri winner George Hincapie also named as part of the squad

JEFFERSON CITY, MO (August 5, 2009) — Mark Cavendish of Britain, a six-time stage winner of the recently completed Tour de France, three-time world champion Michael Rogers of Australia, and American cycling star George Hincapie highlight a strong roster penciled in by Team Columbia-HTC for this year’s Tour of Missouri, scheduled for September 7 – 13, 2009.

“It is a very important part of our mission to contribute to the growth of racing in the US. The Tour of Missouri is a very well-run and promoted race that is attracting top teams from around the globe and is increasingly recognized as a top international event,” said Bob Stapleton, the general manager and owner of Highroad sports, the company that runs Team Columbia – HTC. “We’re pleased to be able to bring a top roster to the Missouri in the hope of repeating our success of last year and to be a part of a great spectacle for the fans of cycling in America.”

Added Cavendish, a three-time tour of Missouri stage winner in 2008 and winner of more than 20 races this year: “I really enjoyed Tour of Missouri last year. Cycling fans in America are genuinely enthusiastic about watching us race which makes for a great atmosphere.”

In addition to Cavendish, Rogers, and Hincapie, Team Columbia – HTC will feature Canadian Michael Barry, a stage winner in last year’s Tour of Missouri, superstar lead-out man Mark Renshaw of Australia, as well asformer Italian time trial-champion Marco Pinotti.

“To have the world’s top sprinter, second place overall finisher from last year’s race, and the 2007 race champion all on the same roster coming, it’s a beautiful thing,” said race director Jim Birrell. “Like last year, they certainly should be a team to contend with for both the overall classification title and individual stage wins.”

Hincapie, who broke his collarbone in the last week of the Tour de France, is day to day, according to Stapleton, and a final decision on his participation will be rendered at the end of the month.

Tour organizers have also reached an agreement to feature Cavendish on several marketing materials, including the official map guide for the Tour. Columbia sportswear is the official clothing sponsor for the 2009 Tour of Missouri.

The race begins in St. Louis on Monday, September 7, Labor Day, with a 10-lap, 75-mile circuit race that will be fast and flat and favor a sprinter taking the leader’s jersey. On Tuesday, September 8, the race will transfer south to Ste. Genevieve with a 112.4-mile road race to Cape Girardeau. The terrain is hilly to moderate and features finishing circuits.

On Wednesday, September 9, cyclists will face their toughest challenge of the race, with a hilly 114.3-mile stage in the Northern Ozark Mountains from Farmington to Rolla. After a short transfer on Thursday, September 10, the race will proceed from St. James to Jefferson City, with the circuit finish featuring a steep 300-meter uphill sprint to the finish.

Riders will be able make up time Friday, September 11, during the individual time trial at Sedalia with an 19-mile race against the clock around Missouri’s State Fairgrounds. On Saturday, September 12, cyclists will race from Chillicothe to St. Joseph while hitting moderate to hilly terrain.

The weeklong journey through the Show-Me-State concludes with a hilly circuit through the streets of Kansas City, Sunday, September 13. The Kansas City circuit will feature two king of the mountain points with more than 3000 feet of climbing over 72 miles. “I think they did a great job of capturing the challenging terrain of the state,” said Rory Sutherland, the current national race calendar leader in the United States and a rider in the past two Tours of Missouri.

Hincapie said that the wind and undulating terrain play a role in making it difficult for a team to control the race, saying Alpine passes are not always needed to make a race tough.

Though a stellar world-class field was presented last year, the three-year-old race is expected to be even better as the Tour of Missouri was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation’s for cycling last month.

The upgrade has drawn top pro tour teams Astana, Cervelo Test Team, Columbia- HTC, Garmin- Slipstream, Liquigas, Saxo Bank and Quickstep, all recent Tour de France teams, of which won 14 of 21 stages of the world’s biggest race. Domestic teams participating in 2009 include BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, BMC Racing, Colovita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Jelly Belly, Kelly Benefit Strategies, OUCH presented by Maxxis, and Team Type 1. Canada’s top team Planet Energy rounds out the field.

The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point-to-point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph). Other team rosters will be announced this month. The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling and UCI, the international governing body for the sport.