The Tour of Missouri returns for the third straight year in 2009, rolling out Sept. 7-13.

Although the announcement about host cities and tentative routes will be made in January, it's just good to know that the week-long Missouri race will return this year.

The Tour de Georgia has announced that it won't return in 2009. It's getting sponsors together to make a return in 2010, however.

Tour of Missouri promoters say the UCI has ranked the bike race as a Category 2HC event. The only other "above category" cycling event in the US is the Tour of California in February.