Tour De France Entourage Prepares to Race in the Inaugural Tour of Missouri

About seven weeks after the conclusion of the controversial 2007 Tour de France, American Levi Leipheimer will lead a large entourage of cycling's finest riders in the inaugural Tour of Missouri.

The six-day event, the third event in a three-race series orchestrated by Medalist Sports of Tyrone, Ga., will begin Sept. 11 in Kansas City and conclude Sept. 16 in St. Louis.

Leipheimer, the leading American and third-place overall Tour de France finisher, recently confirmed his participation.

Race officials have announced nine of the teams competing in the event. The lineup includes the Discovery Channel Pro Cycling, the squad that features Leipheimer and reigning Tour de France winner Alberto Contador of Spain.

Leipheimer claimed the first Tour de France stage of his career with a dominating individual time trial victory in the 19th stage.

Although he races primarily in Europe, Leipheimer won the 2007 Tour of California in February, which included a stage to his hometown in Santa Rosa. He also won two stages in April at the Tour de Georgia.

With his third-place Tour de France finish, Leipheimer joined Lance Armstrong (seven titles, 1999-2005), Greg LeMond (three titles, 1986-'89, '90), Floyd Landis (one title, 2006 ) and Bobby Julich (third, 1988) as Americans who have finished on the Tour de France podium.

Leipheimer, who finished 31 seconds behind Contador in the Tour de France, has also finished sixth, eighth, ninth and 13th overall in the Tour de France, cycling's most prestigious event.

Race officials expect to soon announce the complete Tour of Missouri roster.

Here's the itinerary and stage descriptions of the inaugural Tour of Missouri:

Tuesday, September 11, 2007: Stage 1 - Kansas City
85 miles (137 kilometers)
Start: 1 p.m., Finish: 4-5 p.m.

Stage 1 begins Country Club Plaza and takes the racers to 47th St. through the center of the plaza, into downtown and through many of Kansas City's parks before heading north through North Kansas City, Parkville, Platte City and back. Three five-mile circuits up Ward Parkway and down to the plaza will offer spectators close views, including late-race attacks.

Levi Leipheimer

Credit: MontanaKids.com

Copyright: MontanaKids.com