Liquigas confirms Pellizotti and Chicchi in Missouri team

Italy's team Liquigas confirmed its team for the 2009 Tour of Missouri, starting tomorrow in St. Louis. It will bring Tour de France mountain man Franco Pellizotti and sprinter Francesco Chicchi.

Italian Pellizotti won the Tour de France's polka-dot jersey of best climber in July, and won a stage and finished third overall at the Giro d'Italia in May. Italian Chicchi won the final stage of last year's Tour of Missouri in St. Louis.

Valerio Agnoli, Daniel Oss, Brian Vandborg and Alessandro Vanotti are the four other team members. Paolo Slongo will direct the team.

Liquigas is the only team from Italy of the 15 racing the Tour of Missouri.

The 3rd Tour of Missouri stars September 7 in St. Louis and ends September 13 in Kansas City. USA's Christian Vande Velde won the race in 2008.

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