In a matter of hours, the Tour of Missouri begins in Kansas City.
Most of you already know the significance of the race: It's the final American race for the Discovery Channel team. Tour de France winner Alberto Contador, third-place finisher Levi Leipheimer and long-time Lance Armstrong lieutenant George Hincapie will be joined by some of the top U.S. and European teams on the rolling hills of Missouri.
It's also the most important bicycle race ever held in the Show-Me State, and the state of Missouri is banking a lot of money -- $1 million to be exact -- that the race will bring lots of tourism dollars into the state. Hopefully, the race also will encourage more people to go out and bike.
Not all the world's top cyclists will be in Missouri. Many of them, including Denis Menchov, Cadel Evans and Carlos Sastre, are racing in the Vuelta a España. Still, the race will give great exposure to lesser-known, yet talented, racers.
Generally speaking, the Tour of Missouri has received lots of positive coverage from the state's newspapers. It will be interesting to see if that coverage brings out casual fans and introduce new people to the sport.
A Google blog search for the Tour of Missouri generally shows positive commentary about the event. One exception is the progressive blog Fired Up, which takes a dim view of the state spending $1 million in taxpayers' money on the race. Here's an example of what Fired Up has to say:The massive infusion of taxpayer money to support (Gov.) Matt Blunt and (Lt. Gov.) Peter Kinder's bike race is being laundered through a closely controlled private organization--- the Hawthorn Foundation.I don't know enough about Missouri politics to say whether the issue is legitimate, but the group's obsession with doping and its pandering to the fears about traffic tie-ups in St. Louis on Sunday tells me there's more rhetoric than reality to Fired Up's claims.
Once used to fund gubernatorial trade missions with exporter contributions, the Hawthorn Foundation is now receiving massive amounts of taxpayer funding from Blunt and Kinder.
Their likely purpose: to try to conceal from the prying eyes of the press the spending details and race documents (including doping test results) -- even though two high-level public officials, Blunt and Kinder, are overseeing the entire effort. Down to the last drop.
There is no doubt there will be lots of sports traffic in downtown St. Louis on Sunday. In addition to the Tour of Missouri, the St. Louis Rams take on the San Francisco 49ers at the Edward Jones Dome (noon start), while the St. Louis Cardinals take on the Chicago Cubs at Busch Stadium (1:15 p.m. start). The sixth stage of the Tour of Missouri starts at 1 p.m. at Union Station and is expected to end sometime between 3:30 and 4 p.m.
City streets and the region's MetroLink light-rail trains will see lots of users, so give yourself plenty to time to get to where you're going and plenty of time to go home.
Several other events are being planned around Tour of Missouri.
Trailnet, which organizes many of the St. Louis region's largest group ride, will have a Tour of Missouri Fun Ride on Saturday in St. Charles, the St. Louis suburb that hosts the finish line for Stage 5. Cyclists will be able to ride the Katy Trail to vantage points to see the race.
There also will be plenty of activity in Hermann, the capital of Missouri's wine country. The Hermann Wine Trail will sponsor The Seven Hills of Hermann Ride at 8 a.m. Saturday. Tour of Missouri is expected to pass through Hermann about 1 p.m. On Friday night, Hermann plays host to a 2-mie time trial that features 400 feet of vertical climbing.
To see the events planned for the other cities on the Tour of Missouri route, visit the ride's calendar page.
Because of jury duty and other work obligations, I probably will be able to see only one stage of the race, the St. Louis stage. I will try to offer commentary and other insights about the Tour as it progresses, plus I will be adding Tour of Missouri news to the Bicycle racing feeds listed in the right column of this blog.
Versus will air highlights of the Tour of Missouri on Sept. 22.
Here's hoping the Tour of Missouri will enhance the Midwest cycling scene and bring positive attention to the state of Missouri.Labels: cycling, racing, St. Louis, Tour of Missouri
Roger 0 comments links to this post 12:18 PM
Find out about the latest cycling news here!
Bicycle racing feeds
» Manx cyclists dominate in Denmark
02/06/08 13:55 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Ballan meets with officials to clear up test
02/06/08 13:39 from Yahoo! Sport - Cycling
» Cyclist Stephen Alfred banned for life for refusing drug test; considered 3rd offense (AP)
02/06/08 00:26 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» National Development Team Prepares to Open Season in Belize
02/05/08 23:11 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Astana keen to impress after Giro snub (Reuters)
02/05/08 09:52 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» USA Cycling Unveils 33-Man National Development Team Roster
02/04/08 22:39 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» British pair out of Giro d'Italia
02/04/08 18:35 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Boonen secures victory in Qatar
02/02/08 09:21 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» 2008 Tour of Missouri - Announces Cities & Stages - Daily Peloton
02/02/08 01:06 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Lebanon, Rolla to host stages in 2008 Tour of Missouri - Waynesville Daily Guide
02/01/08 22:26 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Contador not sure of Tour place
02/01/08 19:14 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Astana and High Road denied Giro entry following doping cases (AP)
02/01/08 19:13 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» USA Cycling Hosts Women's Leadership and Coaching Clinics
02/01/08 19:04 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Tour of Missouri Announces Host Cities
02/01/08 18:14 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Boonen wins Tour of Qatar after capturing his 3rd stage win in race (AP)
02/01/08 17:00 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» Mountain bike course 'too easy'
02/01/08 15:59 from BBC Sport | Other Sports | Cycling | World Edition
» Rolla, St. James amped over Tour of Missouri participation - The Rolla Daily News
02/01/08 11:34 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» Tour of Missouri will be back this fall - Jefferson City News Tribune
01/31/08 22:07 from Tour of Missouri - Google News
» USA Cycling News Update: Feb. 1
01/31/08 19:31 from USA Cycling News Headlines
» Italy anti-doping chief defends late night raids (Reuters)
01/31/08 10:23 from Yahoo! Sports - Cycling News
» PEOPLE WATCH - Fort Worth Star Telegram
02/06/08 11:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Lance Armstrong Picks Keane For Running Compilation Not once but ... - Gigwise
02/06/08 10:53 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Lance Armstrong Fails to Win Back Tory Burch - New York Magazine
02/06/08 08:28 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Sheryl Crow's mother meaning - The List
02/06/08 07:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Morgans Hotel Group Appoints Michael D. Malone to Board of Directors - FOXBusiness
02/05/08 15:45 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Airvana Enters Global Sourcing Deal With Thomson - Quick Facts [AIRV] - RTT News
02/05/08 15:33 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A trip back to the beginning - Buffalo News
02/05/08 12:09 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» Talking Shop: Sheryl Crow - BBC News
02/05/08 09:29 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A little bit closer to feeling fine - Globe and Mail
02/05/08 08:42 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» A little bit closer to feeling fine - Globe and Mail
02/05/08 08:32 from Lance Armstrong - Google News
» View From The Saddle - Can't we all just get along?
02/05/08 19:37 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» NYC receives ``Bicycle Friendly'' award
02/05/08 19:34 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» The Guru has left the temple
02/05/08 18:25 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Danger in the bike lane
02/04/08 20:05 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Bike adventurer loves Âfair SAÂ
02/04/08 20:02 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Crossbreed Folding Wheel Makes Bikes Even Smaller
02/04/08 19:59 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» We need a Bicyclist Bill of Rights
02/04/08 18:29 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» KC: Become a Safety Ambassador
02/01/08 20:07 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» Philly next to embrace public-use bicycles?
02/01/08 19:58 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» 8th Annual Bicycle Film Festival Calls for Entries
02/01/08 19:56 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Mayor Slay supports STLBikeFed's new Hit & Run Justice Fund
02/01/08 19:11 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» Chillicothe moving forward with rail-trail deal
01/31/08 00:42 from BicycleNews-MoBikeFed
» The HumanCar has the power to revolutionize transport
01/30/08 19:27 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Commuting in the liquid lane
01/30/08 19:24 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Fixed-gear bicycles gain popularity among students
01/30/08 19:17 from C.I.C.L.E. ::
» Jennifer Aniston was a bike messenger
02/06/08 00:30 from Cyclelicious
» Jennifer Aniston's new $12,000 bike
02/05/08 20:42 from Cyclelicious
» Canadian's buys Cannondale, Sugoi
02/05/08 18:15 from Cyclelicious
» typetext
02/05/08 05:24 from Cyclelicious
» Crazy bus passenger
02/05/08 05:02 from Cyclelicious
» Sheldon Brown
02/04/08 19:35 from Cyclelicious
» DKNY orange bicycles
02/04/08 18:48 from Cyclelicious
» Cycling and right hooks
02/04/08 17:31 from Cyclelicious
» Look for me at the North American Handmade Bicycle Show 2008
02/04/08 05:33 from Cyclelicious
» St. Louis Cyclists Fight Back
02/03/08 17:10 from The Cycling Dude
» Folding bicycle wheel
02/02/08 18:45 from Cyclelicious
» 2008 Tour of Missouri cities announced
02/01/08 23:01 from Cyclelicious
» In a pickle... (and win a free lock)
02/01/08 19:07 from Cyclelicious
» Major Taylor
02/01/08 17:16 from Cyclelicious
» For the record...
02/01/08 00:16 from Cyclelicious
» This is dumb.....
02/06/08 11:54 from Bike riding donut guy
» Sick day
02/06/08 07:03 from Up in Alaska
» typetext
02/05/08 13:50 from Bike riding donut guy
» It's all about the fastnachts..........
02/05/08 10:36 from Bike riding donut guy
» Sick, again
02/05/08 03:14 from Up in Alaska
» Super Bowl...........
02/04/08 10:17 from Bike riding donut guy
» The story of stuff
02/04/08 05:30 from Up in Alaska
» An informal poll..........
02/03/08 11:28 from Bike riding donut guy
» Biking the Back Nine
02/03/08 03:54 from Dan On Bike
» Ten
02/02/08 11:01 from Bike riding donut guy
» Peak weekend and the big move
02/02/08 10:10 from Up in Alaska
» January 2008
02/02/08 01:28 from Dan On Bike
» January 2008 Total
02/01/08 01:28 from Dan On Bike
» Too much fun.........
01/31/08 21:30 from Bike riding donut guy
» Camping in January
01/30/08 06:44 from Up in Alaska
Cycling blogs
Other blogs of note
Archives