Missouri, hosting a bike race, in the image of the Tour de France? What an absurd notion for so many reasons. . . .
The state's effort, spearheaded by the office of Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, appears to have started on the right foot on several fronts, which gives the event a decent chance to succeed, perhaps thrive.
First, Missouri appears ahead of the curve. Interest in cycling stage races blossomed when Lance Armstrong captured seven consecutive Tours de France. The first state to jump on the bandwagon was Georgia, which hosted its first weeklong race in 2003. The event has grown in popularity since then, even though Armstrong has retired and no longer rides in the race. California followed with a weeklong race this February. . . .
Second, the state brought in the right people. No one in state government has the first clue about setting up a bike race, so Kinder's representatives have consulted with Medalist Sports, the management company that plans the tours in Georgia and California. Medalist quickly has learned to dot every "i" and cross every "t" in the logistics and marketing of a major cycling race. . . .
Missouri officials also tapped into the proper local resources, including Mike Weis, head of the Missouri Bicycle Racing Association and owner of Big Shark, and the St. Louis Sports Commission, which has built a reputation for planning and staging national events. . .
Third, the event will tap into the region's enthusiastic, burgeoning cycling community. For 34 years, our neighbors to the north have staged RAGBRAI, the Register's Annual Great Bike Ride Across Iowa. More than 15,000 cyclists, most from the Midwest, take on the 500-mile route, which varies year to year.
Keep in mind that the Tour de Georgia attracts 800,000 spectators each year and $26 million in economic impact. The Tour of Missouri could do the same.
