Christian VandeVelde confirms that he'll return to defend his title at the Tour of Missouri. Kathleen Nelson photo

Christian VandeVelde of Garmin-Slipstream confirmed that he will return to defend his title at the Tour of Missouri.

He revealed on his twitter site: “Race schedule for the rest of the year is: Eneco Tour and then the Tour of Missouri. Looking forward to going home and racing in da midwest.”

VandeVelde took charge of the race last year by winning the hilly time trial in Branson. This year’s time trial is flatter, situated in Sikeston. Garmin will be supermotivated, as George Hincapie would say, to put on a good show for its title sponsor, based in suburban Kansas City.

VandeVelde finished fourth in last year’s Tour de France and eighth this year, despite riding six weeks after breaking six bones in his back and supporting fourth-place Bradley Wiggins.

Levi Leipheimer also has said he will return to the Tour of Missouri. Leipheimer won the time trial in the 2007 race, riding for Discovery in its last race in the U.S.

Big George Hincapie also noted on his twitter site that he’ll let his broken collarbone heal without surgery and will return to racing in four weeks, about a week before the Tour of Missouri. Hincapie won the inaugural race here in 2007.