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SALT LAKE CITY — The final field of 16 professional cycling teams has been set for the Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah with the announcement of five additional squads. The peloton will include six UCI ProTeams, who will be traveling to Utah for their first international competition following the Tour de France, along with three UCI Pro Continental Teams and seven U.S.-based Continental Teams. Five different countries will send teams to "America's Toughest Stage RaceTM" on August 4-10.
The new team entries are Cannondale Pro Cycling, a ProTeam from Italy, making its fourth consecutive appearance at the Tour of Utah. Drapac Professional Cycling, a Pro Continental Team from Australia, will compete for the first time in Utah. Three U.S.-based Continental squads round out the field for this August - Bissell Development Team, Team Jamis- Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home, and Team SmartStop.
"The 2014 Tour of Utah features an outstanding field of teams with international star power and strong domestic riders," said Steve Miller, president of Miller Sports Properties which organizes the Tour of Utah. "Spectators should be very excited to witness the tremendous talent of these riders as they compete for seven days over the byways and mountaintops of Utah. The challenging route, beautiful scenery and a field of world-class cyclists add up to a highly-anticipated 10th edition of the Tour of Utah."
The 16 men's professional teams competing in the 2014 Tour of Utah are:
UCI ProTeams (*world rankings as of May 4, 2014)
- Belkin-Pro Cycling Team (The Netherlands) , No. 10 on UCI WorldTour
- BMC Racing Team (USA), No.6 on UCI WorldTour
- *Can nondale Pro Cycling (Italy), 14th on UCI World Tour
- Team Garmin-Sharp (USA), No. 12 on UCI WorldTour
- Team LAMPRE-MERIDA (Italy), No. 11 on UCI World Tour
- Trek Factory Racing (USA), No. 8 on UCI WorldTour
UCI Pro Continental Team (UCI ranking as of May 25, 2014)
- *Drapac Professional Cycling (Australia), 2nd on UCI Oceania Tour
- Team Novo Nordisk (USA), No. 30 on UCI America Tour
- UnitedHealthcare Professional Cycling Team (USA), No. 14 on UCI America Tour
UCI Continental Teams, America Tour (UCI ranking as of May 25, 2014)
- *Bissell Development Team (USA), 16th on UCI America Tour
- Funvic Brasilinvest-São José dos Campos (Brazil), No.1 on UCI America Tour
- Hincapie Sportswear Development Team (USA), No 4 on UCI America Tour
- *Team Jamis-Hagens Berman presented by Sutter Home (USA), 7th on UCI America Tour
- Jelly Belly presented by MAXXIS (USA), No 17 on UCI America Tour
- Optum presented by Kelly Benefit Strategies (USA), No 5 on UCI America Tour
- *Team SmartStop (USA), 3rd on UCI America Tour
*denotes most recent additions to Tour of Utah
As one of the first 12 teams to accept an invitation to the Tour of Utah, which were announced earlier this spring, ORICA-GreenEDGE of Australia has had to withdraw due to a scheduling conflict with the Glasgow 2014 Commonwealth Games. The road cycling events on July 31 and August 3 in Glasgow, Scotland will prevent ORICA-GreenEDGE from traveling to Utah in time for the August 4-10 stage race.
"The entire organization of ORICA-GreenEDGE Cycling is extremely disappointed that we will not be able to return to the Tour of Utah this summer. We had great success at the 2013 Tour of Utah and found it to be one of the best-run UCI events of the year," said Shayne Bannan of ORICA- GreenEDGE, which won two stages at the Tour of Utah in 2013. "It is an honor for our athletes to be part of the Commonwealth Games and represent Australia every four years. We do look forward to being part of the Tour of Utah in 2015."
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah was elevated in 2011 by the Union Cycliste International, the global governing body of the sport of cycling, to a 2.1-rated stage race. Sanctioned by both USA Cycling and the UCI, the Tour of Utah continues as one of the top four UCI America Tour events covering a full week of racing in North America this year. Host venues for 2014 are Cedar City, Panguitch, Torrey, Lehi, Miller Motorsports Park, Ogden, Powder Mountain, Evanston (Wyoming), Kamas, Salt Lake City, Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort, and Park City.
The Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah continues to be free to all spectators, making professional cycling one of the most unique professional sports in the world today. More information about the Tour of Utah and its partners can be found by visiting www.tourofutah.com, as well as social channels Facebook (tourofutah), Twitter (thetourofutah), Instagram (thetourofutah) and YouTube (2014 Tour of Utah).
To access the Fact Sheet about all 16 teams: click here.
