The Tour of Missouri added to its field with invitations to four of the top domestic teams: BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Kelly Benefit Strategies and Team Type 1. They will join 10 other teams, including seven participating in the Tour de France, for the start in St. Louis on Sept. 7.

The race will head south to Cape Girardeau, through the center of the state and then head northwest through Sedalia, Chillicothe and St. Joseph, before ending in Kansas City on Sept. 13.

“The level of competition continues to deepen as the Tour of Missouri continues to attract the best there is in professional cycling,” Chris Aronhalt of event organizer Medalist Sports said in a statement. “Based on the event’s history of solid economic performance and world-wide exposure for Missouri, we expect 2009 to be another unprecedented success.”

Colavita and Bissell are currently ranked number one and two, respectively, on the United States’ National Racing Calendar (NRC).Bissel’s Tom Zirbel said on a conference call that after seeing the time trial stage in Sedalia, “I was definitely licking my chops.” Zirbel finished second in the U.S. Pro championship time trial last year.

Team Type 1 is ranked number five out of a total of 69 teams on the NRC. And Kelly Benefit Strategies made its presence felt in Missouri on Sunday, when Andy Bajadali won the Tour de Winghaven.

The addition of the four squads leaves just one slot open in the field.  Each team will have eight riders, who will be announced in August.  Other teams named to the race previously:

• Astana (KAZ)
• BMC Racing (USA)
• Cervelo Test Team (SUI)
• Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
• Jelly Belly (USA)
• Liquigas (ITA)
• OUCH presented by Maxxis (USA)
• Quick Step (BEL)
• Team Saxo Bank (DEN)
• Team Columbia-Highroad (USA)