Complete Tour of MO teams list includes Prodir-Saunier Duval

Six elite cycling teams from around the world join nine previously announced teams to complete the elite field for the inaugural 2007 Tour of Missouri, the six-day, 600-mile pro-cycling stage race around Missouri.

Currently ranking sixth in the world standings, Prodir-Saunier Duval of Spain leads the roster of international teams that will race the inaugural Tour of Missouri. The team has won races in prestigious races like the Tour de France and Tour of Italy this year, and had top 10 overall places in the Tour de Georgia this year.

The roster of teams rounds out with: Team DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed of Great Britain; German Team Sparkasse, Canada’s top pro squad Symmetrics Cycling, and Mexico’s top pro team Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara. Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., of the United States rounds out the domestic invites.

“For a first year event, we feel very proud to host this elite world-class field,” said race director Jim Birrell. “As a North American race, it will be great to have the top Mexican and Canadian professional clubs competing alongside elite American and some top European teams. We will have teams from six different countries that will bring all-star teams of riders from an anticipated 20 countries; this is truly an international field.”

“We are very happy to race at the inaugural Tour of Missouri,” said Kurt Stockton, team director and co-owner of Kodak Gallery presented by Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. “It is nice to finish a successful season with a major U.S. race. We have strong riders ready to challenge throughout the race and a legitimate chance for the Best Young Rider. It will be interesting to see how motivated the other teams are at the end of the season.”

Pro Tour team Prodir-Saunier Duval, returns to the U.S. with third- and fourth-place Tour de Georgia Overall finishers David Canada and Rubens Bertogliati. Bertogliati won a Stage One of the 2002 Tour de France, earning the honor of wearing the coveted “golden fleece” going into Stage Two.