Among the 11 teams announced Wednesday to take place in the race scheduled for Aug. 13-17 is Rock Racing, a new team for 2008 that is owned by Michael Ball, the CEO for clothing line Rock & Republic. It includes several racers with ties to past drug controversies, including Tyler Hamilton, Santiago Botero and Oscar Sevilla, all of whom were barred from participating in the Tour of California in February by race organizers who cited open doping investigations. However, all three have been cleared by their national federations.

The team also was excluded from the squads invited to the upcoming Tour de Georgia.

Tour of Utah Executive Director Terry McGinnis said he has not confirmed if Hamilton or the others will participate in his race, but believes the team will send its best riders and welcomed them.

"They're a team that creates a lot of buzz wherever they go, and as a race director I think buzz is good," he said. "We definitely appreciate their media savvy and new image they have."

After the Tour of California, the team announced it would implement its own anti-doping program.

Hamilton served a two-year suspension for blood doping that ended in September 2006 and signed with Tinkoff Credit Systems. He was suspended by that team in May 2007 after he was linked to the Operation Puerto drug scandal that rocked the Tour de France.

Before the drug suspensions, Hamilton built a reputation as a gutsy, tough climber who helped Lance Armstrong through the mountain stages of the Tour de France. In the 2003 race, he broke his collarbone but stayed in the race and placed fourth overall. He won the 2004 Olympic gold medal, after which he failed a test for blood doping.

The team is known for its large entourage, as well, which includes podium-girl models, fashion photographers and other elements usually not associated with pro cycling teams.

Burke Swindlehurst, a local pro who rides for Bissell and helped design the Tour of Utah course, said he had no problems sharing the road with the Rock Racers.

"They're bringing a lot of exposure to the sport and they seem to have an approach of any press is good press," he said. "They seemed to have created quite a bit of excitement around the sport, so from that perspective I think it's great."

Other teams invited include Team Type 1, Jittery Joe's, Bissell, BMC Racing, Health Net, Jelly Belly, Slipstream-Chipotle, Successful Living, Symmetrics and Toyota-United.

Many of those teams are considered some of the top domestic teams. McGinnis said the field will include at least 17 teams, as well as amateur teams.

"It will be a world-class, global cycling event," he said.

lwodraska@sltrib.com