BISSELL Pro Cycling (BPC) has compiled its eight-man roster for the 2008 Tour of Missouri. The team will field the majority of their successful 2008 Tour of California and Tour de Georgia squads, an aggressive group that is not afraid to challenge big league European teams.

Jacques-Maynes makes his return to the road after a warm-up in Greenville at the USA Pro Championship road race last Sunday. That race served as what Jacques–Maynes hoped would be a final effort to bring him back to form after a near two-month respite following a crash at the Cascade Cycling Classic that left him sidelined with a broken collar bone.

“As soon as that race [US Pro] started, I knew I would probably have a tough time finishing as it was really my first day back racing,” said Jacques-Maynes. “I decided about five minutes into the race, that my role was to put myself fully at the service of the team and into the red as often and for as long as I could. I’m still not sure how I’ll feel on the time trial bike, not sure how it will feel to absorb the shock on my arms and up through my collar bone,” Jacques-Maynes continued. “I’ll put some time in on the TT bike over the next two days to see how it feels.”

Sharing leadership duties with Jacques-Maynes is Tom Zirbel, Amgen Tour of California’s Stage 7 solo break-a-way superstar, and recent runner-up at the USA Time Trial Championships. Zirbel will be looking for redemption during Stage 3’s Individual Time Trial – after a disheartening five second loss to one of the world’s greatest time trialists, Dave Zabriskie.

Ted King, 2008 break-out superstar, break-away specialist and Tour of Georgia’s Stage 5 King of the Mountain victor, will be part of the eight-man group that will be working to put Tour of Georgia Stage 5 winner, Richard England, in position to contend for likely sprints finishes on Stages 1 and 7. Also likely to be on the early attack is BPC’s ultra endurance man, Scott Zwizanski. Zwizanski is coming off an impressive ninth place US Pro Time Trial Championship finish and will be looking to make the break stick in search of that elusive but well-deserved stage victory.

Rounding out BPC’s solid Tour of Missouri roster are Garrett Peltonen; 2007 Tour of Southland Stage 5 & 6 winner Jeremy Vennell; and 2007 Tour of Southland, King of the Mountain winner, Omer Kem. Peltonen and Vennell were a key part of the team’s success during this year’s Tour of California and Tour of Georgia stage races, while Kem makes his 2008 US “grand tour” debut.

BISSELL Homecare, Inc. steps in again as a contributing sponsor of the race with The BISSELL Clean Sweep “broom wagon” bringing up the back of the caravan, sweeping for wayward riders. The company will also provide floor care products for Tour promotions.