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Blink and you missed the Tour of Missouri
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By Tom Rackers
sports@newstribune.com
Cup of coffee firmly in hand, I walked out of the office Saturday morning to experience the Tour of Missouri in person.
Approximately four minutes and three total blocks walked later, here I am back at the computer. In fairness, I wasn't exactly dressed for the weather, so I may have walked a little fast.
My first and lasting impression? I'm not sure this is a spectator sport.
Not that it wasn't an interesting 240 seconds or so. I got to the corner of Capital and Madison to blend in with a dozen or so others just in time to see the lead vehicles make the turn south.
Police car, police car, highway patrol, highway patrol. Then several team vehicles decked out with various sponsor logos.
Then came the 120 or so cyclists in the peloton, decked out in uniforms featuring all the colors of the rainbow.
Three seconds later, it was more team cars, other government vehicles and two ambulances.
And it was over.
I'm not knocking cycling. If you like it, more power to you. I can spend a lazy Sunday afternoon watching the rest of the PGA Tour try to catch Tiger Woods and I know a lot of people who'd sooner take turns beating each other over the head with 9-irons than do that.
And I'm not saying what the cyclists do is easy.
I don't like riding in a car for five-plus hours, much less the idea of pedaling up and down hills and propelling my bicycle at an average of nearly 30 miles per hour. Put me on a bicycle seat for that long, and a sore back and aching legs would be the least of my problems. Mom and Dad could just about forget about any more grandchildren, if you know what I mean.
These guys are athletes, it was obvious that most had calves bigger than my thighs.
And these guys are professional athletes. After talking with intrepid News Tribune reporter Bob Watson after his return from covering the opening festivities at the Capitol, he said many of the cyclists were ready and willing to pose for photos and sign autographs before Saturday's stage. And some weren't, just like any other professional sport I've been around.
Area organizers deserve congratulations for their efforts. Jefferson City was alone in having the Tour make two visits and from all accounts, it went off without a hitch.
Maybe if I was able to catch the drama at the finish line, I would have a better understanding of the attraction. But from a sporting opinion, I just don't get it.
Approximately four minutes and three total blocks walked later, here I am back at the computer. In fairness, I wasn't exactly dressed for the weather, so I may have walked a little fast.
My first and lasting impression? I'm not sure this is a spectator sport.
Not that it wasn't an interesting 240 seconds or so. I got to the corner of Capital and Madison to blend in with a dozen or so others just in time to see the lead vehicles make the turn south.
Police car, police car, highway patrol, highway patrol. Then several team vehicles decked out with various sponsor logos.
Then came the 120 or so cyclists in the peloton, decked out in uniforms featuring all the colors of the rainbow.
Three seconds later, it was more team cars, other government vehicles and two ambulances.
And it was over.
I'm not knocking cycling. If you like it, more power to you. I can spend a lazy Sunday afternoon watching the rest of the PGA Tour try to catch Tiger Woods and I know a lot of people who'd sooner take turns beating each other over the head with 9-irons than do that.
And I'm not saying what the cyclists do is easy.
I don't like riding in a car for five-plus hours, much less the idea of pedaling up and down hills and propelling my bicycle at an average of nearly 30 miles per hour. Put me on a bicycle seat for that long, and a sore back and aching legs would be the least of my problems. Mom and Dad could just about forget about any more grandchildren, if you know what I mean.
These guys are athletes, it was obvious that most had calves bigger than my thighs.
And these guys are professional athletes. After talking with intrepid News Tribune reporter Bob Watson after his return from covering the opening festivities at the Capitol, he said many of the cyclists were ready and willing to pose for photos and sign autographs before Saturday's stage. And some weren't, just like any other professional sport I've been around.
Area organizers deserve congratulations for their efforts. Jefferson City was alone in having the Tour make two visits and from all accounts, it went off without a hitch.
Maybe if I was able to catch the drama at the finish line, I would have a better understanding of the attraction. But from a sporting opinion, I just don't get it.
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