Yesterday, the Tour of Utah has announced its host cities for 2014. 'America's Toughest Stage Race' is expanding: A seventh stage has been added (compared to six stages last year), and for the first time the race will cross the Utah borders, with stage 5 starting in Evanston, Wyoming. The 2014 Tour of Utah will start Monday, 4th August and finish Sunday, 10th August, and continues to be ranked 2.1 by the UCI.

Just like the 2013 race, the 2014 edition will start with two stages in southern Utah. Stage 1 starts and finishes in Cedar City. Stage 2 has the same host cities as last year, running from Panguitch to Torrey.

Stage 3 will cross the Oquirrh Mountains on its way from Lehi to the finish at the Miller Motorsports Park. Last year's short stage 4 on a Salt Lake City circuit has been switched for a stage with a mountaintop finish. Departing from Ogden – the place where the first US transcontinental railroad was completed – the peloton will eventually have to climb to the Powder Mountain ski area.

Stage 5 from Evanston, Wyoming to Kamas, Utah will make use of the Mirror Lake Scenic Highway through the Uinta Mountains. The penultimate day offers the queen stage of the race, starting at the University of Utah campus and tasking the riders with another mountaintop finish at the Snowbird Ski & Summer Resort.

The final stage will once again start and finish in Park City and features the climb of Empire Pass. More details on the race route will be announced in coming months.

Steve Miller, president of race organiser Miller Sports Properties, said: “Each year the Tour of Utah has the opportunity to break new ground by showcasing the sport to different parts of the state, and our selection of host cities and venues in 2014 is no exception.

“The addition of a seventh day of racing allows us to expand to new territories like Powder Mountain and Evanston, Wyoming, as well as build upon the tremendous racing we experienced in southern Utah last year and our traditional finish in Park City. We are genuinely excited to bring the Tour of Utah to these communities and thank them for supporting the race.“

The first six teams of the 16-team peloton have also been announced. US-registered WorldTour teams BMC Racing Team, Garmin-Sharp and Trek Factory Racing are joined by Belkin Pro Cycling (which has an American sponsor) and Orica-GreenEdge.

The first Continental team to be invited is Jelly Belly p/b Maxxis, home to a.o. current US champion Fred Rodriguez (although he may not wear the Stars and Stripes anymore by August) and ex-WorldTour riders Jacob Rathe and Matthew Lloyd.

2014 Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah stages

Stage 1: Cedar City

Stage 2: Panguitch - Torrey

Stage 3: Lehi - Miller Motorsports Park

Stage 4: Ogden - Powder Mountain

Stage 5: Evanston, WY - Kamas

Stage 6: Salt Lake City - Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort

Stage 7: Park City