JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (July 27, 2009) --- Canada's top team Planet Energy has been named as the final team for September's Tour of Missouri, race organizers announced today, completing the roster of 15 teams for the race.

Previously announced were recent Tour de France team entrants Astana, Columbia-HTC, Cervelo Test Team, Garmin-Slipstream, Liquigas, Quickstep and Saxo Bank. Domestic teams announced were Jelly Belly, OUCH presented by MAXXIS, BISSELL Pro Cycling Team, Colavita / Sutter Home presented by Cooking Light, Kelly Benefit Strategies and Team Type 1. BMC Racing, which is a Swiss and American based team, rounds out the field.

Managed by Canada's most prolific cyclist, Steve Bauer, Planet Energy is the former R.A.C.E. continental team and features former national champion Keven Lacombe and 2007 8th place overall finisher Andrew Randell. The team is comprised of several former Symmetrics and Kelly Benefits riders also. Symmetrics raced in the past two Tours of Missouri. Planet Energy is a first time entrant to the event.

"Just as we have a commitment to top American teams, we have always tried to include a top North American-based continental team in this race to support the goals of the UCI," said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of Medalist Sports, the tour's organizer. "Planet Energy is one of the top teams outside the U.S. in this hemisphere, and we are glad to reach an agreement to include them."

For the first time since its inaugural year, the 2009 Tour will route east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east, starting in Kansas City and finishing in St. Louis.

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). The overall mileage for the course is expected to be more than 600 miles.

Stage by stage courses will be announced Thursday, July 30, in Kansas City.

Last year, the event drew more than 435,000 spectators over seven days. Missouri Tourism noted a direct and indirect economic impact of almost $30 million to the state.

The event is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the national federation for cycling in the United States, and the Union Cycliste Internationale, the international governing body for the sport of cycling.