Expanding Tour de Mumbai attracts RadioShack

Tour de Mumbai organisers this weekend confirmed its first top division team and that it doubled in size.

America's RadioShack team will send a six-man team to the Indian stage race. Other top teams have been rumoured, including Liquigas-Cannondale, but organiser ID Sports are still negotiating.

"We are only in our second year, and our first as a 1.1 ranked event on the Asia Tour," said Race Director David McQuaid. "We set a target of two Pro Tour teams as part of our line up, and I am happy to say we have that."

McQuaid is the son of UCI President, Pat McQuaid. He started the race last year as a 1.2 ranked event last year.

In the coming days, McQuaid will confirm the name of another first division team (this year called ProTeam, last year ProTour). He has been talking with both team Garmin-Cervélo and Sky.

"We have a well balanced line up for both races," said McQuaid. "I saw a report this morning linking about eight ProTour teams to our events, this would be magnificent, but it is simply not the case."

India's only UCI-sanctioned races are both are 1.1-ranked. ID Sports organised a 170-kilometre race for February 11 in Nashik, northeast of Mumbai, and a second 117-kilometre race two days later in Mumbai.

Saxo Bank's Argentinean sprinter Juan José Haedo won the Mumbai race last year after competing at the Tour Down Under in Australia.

Besides attracting first division teams, the Tour de Mumbai also will invite several second and third division teams. US second division team, Team Type 1 is already confirmed.

"ProTour teams have the status," added McQuaid, "but I can tell you now that we have a very formidable Continental Pro participation."