Discovery Channel commits to Tour of MO--what other pro teams will follow?

The Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team has officially signed on to participate with a total of five ProTour teams expected at the start line; however, the unfamiliarity and timing of the Tour of Missouri will make attracting ProTour (European) teams harder than the Tour of California and Tour de Georgia. The event's September calendar slot puts the Tour of Missouri in direct competition with a Grand Tour, Vuelta a Espana, and the Tour of Poland which is also a ProTour event. (ProTour teams are required to participate at these two events, but not the Tour of Missouri. Discovery Channel is the only North American ProTour team.) Complicating matters further, the Tour of Britain overlaps with this first year event and it will be looking for five ProTour teams as they had for last year.

No title sponsor has been found yet which is an unfortunate trend of North American cycling events this year, but the race will go as planned.