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This year's Tour of Missouri features even more Jefferson City events for the public
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By Kris Hilgedick
khil@newstribune.com
A group of Capital City civic leaders interested in promoting the Tour of Missouri bike race have put the finishing touches on the event schedule, which starts Sept. 11 and doesn't stop until the wee morning hours of Sept. 13.
“We're trying to get the Community Spirit award,” said Sarah Stroesser, communications manager with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
If Jefferson City captures the award, it could win $5,000.
Stroesser said race planners have tried to devise ideas that are fresh and original enough to attract an expansive crowd downtown.
This year Jefferson City has been designated as a “finish city,” where the professional riders will finish the fifth stage of the seven-day race in front of the Missouri Capitol.
Stage Five is a ride from St. James' wine country to the hilly streets of the Capital City. The finish of the race - straight up one of the River City's infamous hills - is expected to put cramps in the tired riders' legs, producing time gaps between the stage's leaders.
“A never-ending series of small hills,” is how the course director describes the state.
Here's a chronological run-down of events:
Thursday, Sept. 11
* The celebration starts at 6 p.m. with a Chili Cook-off sponsored by the Naught-Naught Agency. Twenty teams are being recruited, with registration packets available by contacting Stroesser at (573) 632-2820.
Each team will be asked to cook 15-20 gallons of their best chili. A $20 entry fee is required. The teams will be assembled on High Street, in a parking lot sandwiched between Café Via Roma and Arris' Pizza.
The fundraiser benefits the Samaritan Center.
* The Fechtel Beverage Entertainment Area and Beer Garden will be open 6-9 p.m. Thursday in the same location as the chili fundraiser.
* At 6:30 p.m. local celebrities will be asked to participate in fun-natured bicycle races, sponsored by Huber and Associates. Can Anheuser-Busch's employees conquer Millers? Can city officials whip the county's? Which members of the local media will come out on top?
“It's just a fun thing,” Stroesser said. “We just thought watchers would enjoy seeing people they know in the races.”
Friday, Sept. 12
* From noon to 7 p.m., a “Health and Wellness Expo” will be held between St. Peter Church and the Capitol grounds. A variety of local health and wellness organizations will have booths to share information and offer giveaways.
* At the same time as the expo, kids can visit Whaley's Kids Activity Area. Clifford the Big Red Dog is expected to attend. The area also features a bounce house, face-painting, a tricycle obstacle course, bike safety demonstrations, fire truck, the Bookmobile, clowns, etc.
* At noon, Lincoln University will host a pep rally on the Capitol steps. Musicians, drummers and dancers will entertain the crowd.
* At 12:30 p.m., local celebrities who represented their teams well in Thursday's races are invited back to compete in the championship.
* People who don't want to find a place to park their cars downtown are welcome to ride their bikes. For $5, a “Bike Valet” service will be available from 1-7 p.m. at the parking garage on High Street.
“With gas prices and the current ‘Go Green' phenomenon, we thought it would be nice option for people to ride their bikes down here,” Stroesser said.
* At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Taco Bell St. Louis Sprockets Stunt Bicycle Team will entertain audiences.
* Around 6 p.m., the Tour of Missouri racers are expected to arrive. The finish line will be in front of the U.S. Post Office on High Street.
* At 7 p.m., an official awards ceremony will take place on the Capitol South Lawn. Awards will be given to acknowledge best sprinter, best young rider, most aggressive rider, etc. Also, the rider wearing the yellow jersey - the race leader - will be congratulated.
* From 7 p.m. to midnight, the Fechtel Entertainment Area and Beer Garden will be open, this time on the top level of the Madison Street Garage. From there, observers will have a good perch to watch participants in the Jefferson Bank/Central Bank Capital City Twilight Criterium.
The criterium is a race for amateur riders, who will make a figure-8 around the downtown. “It's a perfect viewing area for the race,” Stroesser said.
Criterium racers will compete in four categories at 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13
* All riders are invited to explore the city in the Tour de Jeff City at 2 a.m. That event has been moved from its normal stand-alone date to tie in with the city's biggest biking event.
Everyone is invited. It starts and ends at the Hy-Vee store on Truman Boulevard.
“We're trying to get the Community Spirit award,” said Sarah Stroesser, communications manager with the Convention and Visitors Bureau.
If Jefferson City captures the award, it could win $5,000.
Stroesser said race planners have tried to devise ideas that are fresh and original enough to attract an expansive crowd downtown.
This year Jefferson City has been designated as a “finish city,” where the professional riders will finish the fifth stage of the seven-day race in front of the Missouri Capitol.
Stage Five is a ride from St. James' wine country to the hilly streets of the Capital City. The finish of the race - straight up one of the River City's infamous hills - is expected to put cramps in the tired riders' legs, producing time gaps between the stage's leaders.
“A never-ending series of small hills,” is how the course director describes the state.
Here's a chronological run-down of events:
Thursday, Sept. 11
* The celebration starts at 6 p.m. with a Chili Cook-off sponsored by the Naught-Naught Agency. Twenty teams are being recruited, with registration packets available by contacting Stroesser at (573) 632-2820.
Each team will be asked to cook 15-20 gallons of their best chili. A $20 entry fee is required. The teams will be assembled on High Street, in a parking lot sandwiched between Café Via Roma and Arris' Pizza.
The fundraiser benefits the Samaritan Center.
* The Fechtel Beverage Entertainment Area and Beer Garden will be open 6-9 p.m. Thursday in the same location as the chili fundraiser.
* At 6:30 p.m. local celebrities will be asked to participate in fun-natured bicycle races, sponsored by Huber and Associates. Can Anheuser-Busch's employees conquer Millers? Can city officials whip the county's? Which members of the local media will come out on top?
“It's just a fun thing,” Stroesser said. “We just thought watchers would enjoy seeing people they know in the races.”
Friday, Sept. 12
* From noon to 7 p.m., a “Health and Wellness Expo” will be held between St. Peter Church and the Capitol grounds. A variety of local health and wellness organizations will have booths to share information and offer giveaways.
* At the same time as the expo, kids can visit Whaley's Kids Activity Area. Clifford the Big Red Dog is expected to attend. The area also features a bounce house, face-painting, a tricycle obstacle course, bike safety demonstrations, fire truck, the Bookmobile, clowns, etc.
* At noon, Lincoln University will host a pep rally on the Capitol steps. Musicians, drummers and dancers will entertain the crowd.
* At 12:30 p.m., local celebrities who represented their teams well in Thursday's races are invited back to compete in the championship.
* People who don't want to find a place to park their cars downtown are welcome to ride their bikes. For $5, a “Bike Valet” service will be available from 1-7 p.m. at the parking garage on High Street.
“With gas prices and the current ‘Go Green' phenomenon, we thought it would be nice option for people to ride their bikes down here,” Stroesser said.
* At 1 p.m. and 3 p.m., the Taco Bell St. Louis Sprockets Stunt Bicycle Team will entertain audiences.
* Around 6 p.m., the Tour of Missouri racers are expected to arrive. The finish line will be in front of the U.S. Post Office on High Street.
* At 7 p.m., an official awards ceremony will take place on the Capitol South Lawn. Awards will be given to acknowledge best sprinter, best young rider, most aggressive rider, etc. Also, the rider wearing the yellow jersey - the race leader - will be congratulated.
* From 7 p.m. to midnight, the Fechtel Entertainment Area and Beer Garden will be open, this time on the top level of the Madison Street Garage. From there, observers will have a good perch to watch participants in the Jefferson Bank/Central Bank Capital City Twilight Criterium.
The criterium is a race for amateur riders, who will make a figure-8 around the downtown. “It's a perfect viewing area for the race,” Stroesser said.
Criterium racers will compete in four categories at 3:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m., 8:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m.
Saturday, Sept. 13
* All riders are invited to explore the city in the Tour de Jeff City at 2 a.m. That event has been moved from its normal stand-alone date to tie in with the city's biggest biking event.
Everyone is invited. It starts and ends at the Hy-Vee store on Truman Boulevard.
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