Comment
Rate
Tour of Missouri will be back this fall
| Advertisement |
By News Tribune staff and The Associated Press
It's back and bigger than the first time.
The Tour of Missouri, a professional cycling event that made its debut last year, will return Sept. 8-14. The event has expanded from six to seven days and stages, measuring approximately 623 miles.
The tour will make a stop in Jefferson City on Friday, Sept. 12. It will be the finish of Stage 5, a 100-mile race starting in St. James.
“As the Capital City it is our honor and duty to be a focal point for any statewide event, especially one which involves other communities throughout Missouri,” Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr said. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to show visitors from across the state and around the world how we can roll out the red carpet as a ‘finish' city.”
Stage 5 will end with race circuits, giving spectators a better opportunity to see the cyclists before they cross the finish line.
Last year, the cyclists came through downtown Jefferson City on their way to Columbia to conclude one stage. The following day's stage then started at the Capitol.
Columbia will not get the race this year. The Missouri Tigers will be hosting Nevada in a football game on the race weekend. It is also the same weekend as a centennial celebration for the university's Journalism School.
Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said the inaugural Tour of Missouri served to promote the state around the world.
“You have a whole bunch of people across the globe who knew nothing about Missouri,” he said. “They do now.”
Tour organizers estimate 350,000 spectators watched at least part of the race in person last year, organizers said. Race viewers on the Web hailed from 73 countries.
George Hincapie, the 2007 Tour of Missouri champion, has made a commitment to return. Hincapie, who rode for the now-disbanded Discovery Channel team, currently races for the T-Mobile team.
The state allocated $1.2 million for the 2007 event, but now the race is seeking an additional $350,000 from the Missouri Development Finance Board to cover revenue shortfalls, board documents show. The event had an estimated $4 million budget.
According to a study by the University of Missouri-Columbia's Business School, the 2007 Tour contributed more than $26 million to the state's economy.
This is the second of a three-year contract the state has to hold the race.
The exact start and finish locations will be announced in mid-June, as will the participating teams. The final team rosters should be announced in mid-August.
A total of 15 teams and 120 cyclists will participate in the Tour.
The 2008 Tour of Missouri will take place as follows:
Stage 1 - Monday, Sept. 9
St. Joseph to Kansas City (90 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 2 - Tuesday, Sept. 10
Clinton to Springfield (125 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 3 - Wednesday, Sept. 10
Branson (18 miles), individual time trial.
Stage 4 - Thursday, Sept. 11
Lebanon to Rolla (105 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 5 - Friday, Sept. 12
St. James to Jefferson City (100 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 6 - Saturday, Sept. 13
Hermann to St. Charles (110 miles), road race.
Stage 7 - Sunday, Sept. 14
St. Louis (75 miles) , circuit race.
The Tour of Missouri, a professional cycling event that made its debut last year, will return Sept. 8-14. The event has expanded from six to seven days and stages, measuring approximately 623 miles.
The tour will make a stop in Jefferson City on Friday, Sept. 12. It will be the finish of Stage 5, a 100-mile race starting in St. James.
“As the Capital City it is our honor and duty to be a focal point for any statewide event, especially one which involves other communities throughout Missouri,” Jefferson City Mayor John Landwehr said. “We are very excited to have the opportunity to show visitors from across the state and around the world how we can roll out the red carpet as a ‘finish' city.”
Stage 5 will end with race circuits, giving spectators a better opportunity to see the cyclists before they cross the finish line.
Last year, the cyclists came through downtown Jefferson City on their way to Columbia to conclude one stage. The following day's stage then started at the Capitol.
Columbia will not get the race this year. The Missouri Tigers will be hosting Nevada in a football game on the race weekend. It is also the same weekend as a centennial celebration for the university's Journalism School.
Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said the inaugural Tour of Missouri served to promote the state around the world.
“You have a whole bunch of people across the globe who knew nothing about Missouri,” he said. “They do now.”
Tour organizers estimate 350,000 spectators watched at least part of the race in person last year, organizers said. Race viewers on the Web hailed from 73 countries.
George Hincapie, the 2007 Tour of Missouri champion, has made a commitment to return. Hincapie, who rode for the now-disbanded Discovery Channel team, currently races for the T-Mobile team.
The state allocated $1.2 million for the 2007 event, but now the race is seeking an additional $350,000 from the Missouri Development Finance Board to cover revenue shortfalls, board documents show. The event had an estimated $4 million budget.
According to a study by the University of Missouri-Columbia's Business School, the 2007 Tour contributed more than $26 million to the state's economy.
This is the second of a three-year contract the state has to hold the race.
The exact start and finish locations will be announced in mid-June, as will the participating teams. The final team rosters should be announced in mid-August.
A total of 15 teams and 120 cyclists will participate in the Tour.
The 2008 Tour of Missouri will take place as follows:
Stage 1 - Monday, Sept. 9
St. Joseph to Kansas City (90 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 2 - Tuesday, Sept. 10
Clinton to Springfield (125 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 3 - Wednesday, Sept. 10
Branson (18 miles), individual time trial.
Stage 4 - Thursday, Sept. 11
Lebanon to Rolla (105 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 5 - Friday, Sept. 12
St. James to Jefferson City (100 miles), road race with circuits.
Stage 6 - Saturday, Sept. 13
Hermann to St. Charles (110 miles), road race.
Stage 7 - Sunday, Sept. 14
St. Louis (75 miles) , circuit race.
 |
||
| Nebraska beats shorthanded Missouri for first Big 12 win |
Article Rating |
|
Before commenting read the News Tribune Forum's policies and procedures.
Thanks.
To add your comments you must be registered and logged in |
RSS
