Tour of Missouri News & Info

The Tour de Georgia Professional Bicycle Race wrapped up last weekend but your best chance to catch it on TV is THIS weekend.

Versus (formerly OLN, a cable TV channel) has coverage of the Tour de Georgia:

Saturday April 28th, 4-6 PM and
Sunday Apr 29th 4-6 PM

More info on the Versus web site.

If you're wondering what the Tour of Missouri will be like--something just like the Tour de Georgia is your best bet. I heard there were some pretty exciting stages at the Tour de Georgia, so I'll bet the Versus coverage will be worth watching.

The Tour de Georgia is North America's premier, professional cycling event and rolling festival. Shining the world's spotlight on the state of Georgia each spring, this international event is an annual, multi-day, professional cycling stage race that draws the most elite cyclists and showcases one-of-a-kind towns and terrain of the Southeast. Sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and USA Cycling (USAC), the Tour de Georgia has a 2.Hors Classe rating, making the event one of the top-ranked stage races in the world. The 2007 Tour de Georgia will take cyclists and spectators through 12 Host Venues and the race will cover over 600 miles in seven days, from April 16 to April 22.

permanent link to article: "Tour de Georgia TV Coverage April 28-29, 2007"
posted by Brent Hugh at 10:47 PM |comment on this article

According to a Springfield News-Leader article:

A statewide bike tour and increased marketing are expected to boost the state's already surging tourism industry, officials said Thursday. . . .

Kinder expects the state's tourism industry to see a spike in September for the Tour of Missouri, a statewide biking event that will weave through Springfield and Branson.

Kinder said that for every dollar spent on the six-day tour, the state expects to see $26 in return.

He credited Cary Summers, a former official at Bass Pro Shops and Silver Dollar City, with promoting the idea to state officials.

"Enormous excitement is building about this event," Kinder said.

permanent link to article: "Huge tourism turnout expected for Tour of Missouri"
posted by Brent Hugh at 1:25 AM |comment on this article

According to a Daily Journal article:

Kansas City's Country Club Plaza will be the starting line for the inaugural 600-mile Tour of Missouri cycling race in September.

The six-day, nine-city staged race is expected to draw hundreds of thousands of spectators and daylong festivals are planned at key points along the route that ends at the Gateway Arch in St. Louis.

“This is going to be spectacular,” said Kansas City Convention and Visitors Association president Rick Hughes at a news conference Thursday in Kansas City to formally announce the event.

The race will launch from the Plaza, and the exact route in each city is expected to be announced in May. The Sept. 11-16 race will include stages from Clinton to Springfield, then a time trial in Branson. The next stage will be from Lebanon to Columbia, followed by a route from Jefferson City to St. Charles before ending in St. Louis at the Arch.

The annual event is expected to pump millions of dollars into the state's economy and Missouri's tourism industry.

The race will include 120 competitors from 15 countries, according to Jim Birrell, race director and a partner in Atlanta-based Medalist Sports, which also operates a similar race in Georgia.

The company is managing the Missouri event for the Hawthorne Foundation, a Missouri nonprofit formed by U.S. Sen. Kit Bond.

For the past year Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, chairman of the Missouri Tourism Commission, has spearheaded the state's effort to land the sanctioned race.

The Missouri Tourism Division has pledged $1.2 million to the event's $4 million estimated budget.

permanent link to article: "Racers prepare for Tour of Missouri"
posted by Brent Hugh at 10:11 PM |comment on this article

According to a KC infoZine article:

Gov. Matt Blunt presented Mike Weiss, Missouri president USA Cycling, with a proclamation declaring September Tour of Missouri Month in honor of Missouri's first ever statewide professional bicycle race. The first annual Tour of Missouri race is scheduled September 11-16.

"The Tour of Missouri provides the opportunity to showcase Missouri's natural beauty and hospitality to the world," Gov. Blunt said. "The tour will span the state and bring tourists and visitors to communities across Missouri. This special event will not only be a lot of fun, it will generate economic growth and bolster our tourism industry. It has been a pleasure working with Lieutenant Governor to bring the tour to Missouri and I am pleased to issue this proclamation declaring September Tour of Missouri Month."

"I believe The Tour of Missouri Pro Cycling Race will soon find its way into the hearts of many Missourians. I thank Governor Blunt for his vision and support to help make this great race a reality. I am proud that the Governor has asked me to lead the team that has worked so hard to make the Tour of Missouri a success" Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder said.

The Tour of Missouri professional bicycle race will involve athletes that compete in the Tour de France, the Vuelta a España, the Giro d'Italia, the Tour de Georgia, and the Tour of California. The national and international coverage of the race will highlight the state's countryside and communities that include Kansas City, Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Charles and St. Louis among others. The tour routes will vary each year and will spread the tourism benefits throughout the entire state.

For more information about the Tour of Missouri visit www.tourofmissouri.com/.

permanent link to article: "Blunt Honors Inaugural Bike Race; Proclaims Tour of Missouri Month"
posted by Brent Hugh at 10:00 PM |comment on this article

The Tour of Missouri Blog will cover news and information about the Tour of Missouri Professional Bicycle Race, scheduled for September 11-16, 2007.

permanent link to article: "Welcome to the Tour of Missouri Blog!"
posted by Brent Hugh at 9:52 PM |comment on this article