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Missouri Bicycle Federation
Tour of Missouri News & InfoNews and information about the Tour of Missouri Professional Bicycle Race, planned for September 2007-2008-2009. |
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 News items represent the views of the original writer or publisher, and not necessarily those of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
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Friday, August 31, 2007
Thursday, August 30, 2007
St. Louis's TrailNet sent the following announcement:
Be a part of the action as Missouri hosts the inaugural Tour of Missouri professional bicycling race. The Tour of Missouri is one of only three stage races in the newly created USA Cycling Pro Tour, which highlights the top multi-day races in America. Similar to the Tour de France, racing teams from all over the world will be competing in this stage race across Missouri. Team Discovery Channel, Lance Armstrong’s team, has confirmed their participation in the Tour.
Speaking on a Kansas City radio show this morning, Lt. Governor Pete Kinder said that there isa definite commitment to put on the Tour of Missouri for at least three years, starting with the 2007 Tour, with an eye to making the Tour an ongoing annual event.
The comments were made on the August 30th, 2007, version of Up to Date with Steve Kraske. The show, which focused on the Tour and bicycling in Kansas City, will be archived on KCUR's web site.
The Tour of Missouri recently announced the full complement of teams that will be racing in the Tour:
Six elite cycling teams from around the world join nine previously announced teams to complete the elite field for the inaugural 2007 Tour of Missouri, the six-day, 600-mile pro-cycling stage race around Missouri.Read the rest of the story here.
Friday, August 24, 2007
If you're planning to watch some or all of the Tour of Missouri (and I hope you are!) here is a great tool for planning your day:
At the bottom of the page are course logs for each course--showing each sprint line, king-of-the-mountains (KOM) line, and other point of interest. The course log has projected timings so you can plan out where you need to be & when you need to be there to see the real action points of the Tour. Also remember that each finish line will have a giant-screen TV, so you can go there and watch about the last 2 hours of each stage on the TV (with color commentary) and then see the finish live. In some cases you may be able to plan your day so as to see the start, one or more Sprint or KOM points along the way, and then be to the finish city to watch the final hour or so unfold on the giant-screen TV. More info about the Tour on the official web site.
Bike racing is one of those sports that is just now really taking root in America--following in the very large foot steps of
 Missourian John Howard, Greg Lemond, and Lance Armstrong, to name a few.The sport in Europe attracts hundreds of thousands of spectators for each stage--and upwards of one million for just one stage of the Tour de France. For the unitiated fan, the sport can be somewhat of a puzzle. How do you go about watching this so called exciting sport? A team sport Cycling is a team sport. Much like any other sport- the goal is overall victory for a team. I equate the Tour of Missouri with any other "series", like the Cardinals fabulous 2006 season. When the Redbirds won best of 7- they were the overall winner. They didn't win every game--obviously--but they had the best record and where therefore crowned World Champs. In cycling, the team that contains the rider with the fastest overall time over the entire event is the winner. And part of the thrill of watching a stage race (the type of race that the Tour of Missouri is...) is in seeing how each team maneuvers and uses their eight riders defensively and offensively. Each team has riders with different roles--usually defined as domestiques, rouleurs (rollers), sprinters, General Classification contenders or climbers. There are 15 teams in the Tour of Missouri, but realistically not all of them have a real chance of winning the overall competition. Overall winner vs individual stage winners The tour will be pitting the best North American pros against the creme de la creme of the European peleton. So the race will be about two dynamics: which teams will compete for the overall general classification and which teams will try to be spoilers and win individual stages. Since the race is coming immediately after the US Professional Championships and right before the World Championships, it is likely going to showcase some pretty fantastic riding. Seeing the action In terms of actually participating and seeing the action up close--professional racing has a culture and tactic all of its own. The ways to really get into the "scene" in a way not possible in other world class events are to (1) see the event at a start, (2)see the event out on the course or (3) be present at the final kick at the end of a stage. Finish lines will have a giant-screen TV. Images from the road can be beamed to the finish line and broadcast on the large-screen TV together with color commentary, starting about 2 hours before the race arrives at the finish line. In some cases it may be possible to watch the start of the race in one city, then (taking an alternative route that the race will not follow) drive to the finish city. There you can watch the final two hours of the race on the giant-screen TV and watch the conclusion live. z Read Part 1 of How to Tailgate the Tour of Missouri here. Article author Mike Weiss is an amateur bicycle racer, owner of Bike Shark Bicycle Company, President of the Missouri Bicycle Racing Association, on the board of the Missouri Bicycle Federation, leads an annual tour group to Watch the Tour de France, and has been involved with organizing the Tour of Missouri from nearly the beginning.
Tuesday, August 21, 2007
Complete team list for the 2007 Tour of Missouri:
Discovery Channel Pro Cycling Team (USA)
Wednesday, August 15, 2007
Articles this week about Team Discovery Channel's future (which, unfortunately, is not good--the team will disband after this year's racing season) also highlighted the participation of team members, including Tour de France Champion Alberto Contador, 3rd place Tour de France finisher Levi Leipheimer, and favorite of America fans, George Hincapie in the upcoming Tour of Missouri.
According to the Washington Post article: The team was a dominant force in cycling for nearly a decade.The New York times adds: The Discovery Channel team, which is participating in the Tour of Germany, will finish out its schedule of races this year, including the Tour of Spain in September. The team, including Contador, Leipheimer, and George Hincapie, will ride in the inaugural Tour of Missouri Sept. 11-16.
Monday, August 13, 2007
Governor Blunt met a group of bicyclists at the Galleria Mall in Brentwood today.
 Governor Blunt and his family stuffed "Build-a-Bear" and outfit it with a special Tour of Missouri jersey. Build-a-Bear is one of the major sponsors of the Tour of Missouri. The St. Louis Bicycle Federation, TrailNet, and the Missouri Bicycle Federation helped organize a group of bicyclists to meet the governor. One of the bicyclists attending asked the governor if he will now plan to do more for bicycling in Missouri--more bicycle-friendly roads, trails, shoulders, etc. The governor indicated he is in support of this. An interesting side-effect has been the growing interest of state workers who have been working on the Tour of Missouri. We hear from several sources that people who previously had "no interest" in bicycling have now purchased bicycles and become regular riders. Other state agencies are reported to be buzzing with conversations about bicycling and (for example) how roads can be made safer for Tour of Missouri riders. And that is definitely not something that happened very often before the Tour of Missouri came along . . .
This is your invitation to be a Charter Member of the Champions Level of the Tour of Missouri Breakaway Club!
Not only will your membership to the Tour of Missouri Breakaway Club give you unique opportunities, it will also help guarantee the success of the inaugural Tour of Missouri. As a member of the Breakaway Club you get to experience and feel the race in the best way possible. As a member, you can give your children, clients and family memories that will last a lifetime! To find out more or join, visit the Breakaway Club web site. Champions level- Limited to 50 members @ $5000 Benefits: • Limited addition Tour of Missouri jersey • 2 tickets to the opening gala at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City • 2 tickets for VIP hospitality for any 2 stages • 2 tickets to the special reception preceding the official wrap party in St. Louis • Photo opportunity with the Discovery Channel Team • 1 entry into the official Tour of Missouri Charity Ride and other Tour of Missouri related rides • A chance to ride in the official caravan for one stage • Official Tour of Missouri gift bag • Winner's autograph of the leaders Tour of Missouri jersey • Recognized on stage at 1 Stage Finish during the week of the Tour • Sign up by August 7 and have your name or business listed in the Official Tour of Missouri Guide. This 23 page guide will be inserted into the September issue of Velo News and will be sold during race week. 1 Limited addition Felt Tour of Missouri Bike- Only for Team Leader. To become a Team Leader a member must recruit 4 additional members to the Champions Level. Benefits are transferable to family, friends or clients To become a Champion Level member please contact Jennifer Bruenjes at 816-898-0499 or breakawayclub@gmail.com. Podium level- Unlimited membership at $400 individuals and $500 couple Benefits: 1 Limited addition Tour of Missouri jersey 2 1 ticket for VIP hospitality for 1 stage (2 tickets for the couple pkg) 3 As a member you will receive the following: hat, t-shirt, water bottle and one official poster 1 25% off other VIP hospitality suites for other stages 2 First 20 people to become members get a free night at one of the official team hotels 3 autographed official TOM jersey by inaugural winner 4 Sign up by August 7 and have your name or business listed in the Official Tour of Missouri Guide. This 23 page guide will be inserted into the September issue of Velo News and will be sold during race week. 5 Entered into the drawing to win VIP prizes Peloton level- Unlimited membership at $75 individual and $100 couple Benefits: 1 Free Tour of Missouri T-shirt, hat, water bottle and poster 2 Sign up by August 7th and have your name or business listed in the Official Tour of Missouri Guide. This 23 page guide will be inserted into the September issue of Velo News and will be sold during race week 3 15% off VIP items and hospitality suites VIP drawings for Podium and Peloton members to win one of following prizes: 1 Official Team Hotel stays at the finish cities during the race 2 Chance to win an autographed jersey from former professional cyclist, Tour de France competitor and Missouri native, Kevin Livingston. 3 Chance to win 3 months of professional coaching from Livingston through his own personal training system and company, "Pedal Hard". Package valued at $625.00. 4 An opportunity to ride along in an official tour car for one stage of the race 5 Autographed cycling memorabilia 6 Two tickets to the Opening Gala in Kansas City the night before the race
Organizers in Kansas City have announced the "Route of Champions" ride, which will allow bicyclists to ride the route the Tour of Missouri riders will take just two days later.
The ride costs only $25 and has 14, 36, and 70 mile route options. The ride will start promptly at 8:00 AM on Sunday morning, September 9th in front of reVerse on the Country Club Plaza at the corner of Ward Parkway and Jefferson. All three routes start and end at this same location. Three distance options: 14 miles (Plaza to downtown loop)All proceeds from this event will be donated to Eldon Roush, a local Kansas City Cat 3 racer who was seriously injured in a bike race on April 28th of this year. There will be a post ride event at reVerse, as well as prizes and a raffle. You won't want to miss the fun and the opportunity to ride the route that the pros will be riding in the inaugural Tour of Missouri race. To sign up
Quick Facts
Dates September 11-16 Estimated Miles 600 Number of Teams 15 Cyclists per team 8 Number of cyclists: 120 Ranking 2.1 (third highest in North America) National Television Versus Network Sanctioning International Cycling Union, USA Cycling Presented By State of Missouri, Missouri Division of Tourism Event Management and Marketing Medalist Sports KOM Sports More Information tourofmissouri.com Travel Information: www.VisitMo.com Schedule STAGE 1 Tuesday, September 11 Kansas City to Kansas City road race STAGE 2 Wednesday, September 12 Clinton to Springfield road race STAGE 3 Thursday, September 13 Branson time trial STAGE 4 Friday, September 14 Lebanon to Columbia road race STAGE 5 Saturday, September 15 Jefferson City to St. Charles road race STAGE 6 Sunday, September 16 St. Louis (downtown) circuit race MORE INFORMATION Jodi Hall, 415.990.1324 Steve Brunner, 719.272.7022 The Discovery Channel team, America s top-ranked international squad and now racing in the Tour de France, has become the first team announced for the inaugural Tour of Missouri international cycling race. The event is scheduled for September 11-16, 2007, starting in Kansas City and finishing six days later in downtown St. Louis. It is the season-ending finale for many of the top teams and promises to be one of North America s top events. We re extremely proud to announce the Discovery Channel team as the first team participant of the inaugural Tour of Missouri, said race director Jim Birrell. Our goal is to attract top European and North American-based professional teams to this worldclass race, and this is a great start. Added Missouri s Lt. Governor Peter Kinder: Missourians are in for quite a spectacle from both the festival-like atmosphere to world-class athletes that this event will showcase. What not a better way to start out than having one of the world s topranked teams participate in the event. Our Team has always had great success racing in the U.S., and we are looking forward to another solid performance in Missouri, said Sports Director Johan Bruyneel. Our success started with Lance and has continued on with guys like Tom (Danielson), Levi (Leipheimer) and more recently (Janez) Brajkovic at the Tour de Georgia. I don t know who will make up our roster just yet, but it will definitely be strong and have some of the Americans. The Discovery Channel team features a multinational squad, led by top Americans Levi Leipheimer, a podium contender in this year s Tour de France, 2006 U.S. National Champion George Hincapie, 2005 Tour de Georgia winner Tom Danielson and 2000 Olympian Antonio Cruz. The Discovery Channel team has more than 20 wins this season, including America s largest events: the Amgen Tour of California in February and Tour de Georgia in April. Population: 314,262 (2.5MM metro) Website: www.explorestlouis.com Must See Attractions: The Arch, Contemporary Art Museum, Bissell Mansion, Anheuser-Busch Brewery, St. Louis Cardinals (baseball), St. Louis Rams (football), St. Louis Blues (hockey), Union Station The Grand Finale of this year s Tour of Missouri, Sunday, September 16, will be staged in the heart of St. Louis, with a 75mile circuit race that will start and finish at historic Union Station. (Course details will be announced August 2.) St. Louis is considered by many as one of the top sports towns in America. It is home to Tour of Missouri sponsor Anheuser-Busch, one of the driving corporate players in international sport. It is also home to many of the 2007 Tour of Missouri s largest sponsors: Edward Jones, Build-A-Bear Workshop, Drury Inn, and Monsanto. Under the support of Mayor Francis Slay and Deputy Mayor Ron Brown, St. Louis efforts are directed by Ann Chance, the city s events director. The Tour of Missouri will be a great opportunity to showcase St. Louis nationally and internationally, said Slay. I am proud that the Tour is now one of the top three stage races in the country and it will conclude in St. Louis. One of the city s great moments came in 1904 when the World s Fair converged with the staging of the Olympic Games. Remnants of a century gone by are highlighted at Francis Field near Forest Park, the site of the 1904 events. Though not finalized yet, this year s Tour of Missouri may include a section of that historic area, much like the Women s Olympic Trials for marathon did in 2004. The streets of St. Louis will be abuzz on the final Sunday as the worldchampion Cardinals and football s Rams play earlier in the day. Spectators will have a chance to migrate to Union Station to see the finish of Tour of Missouri, which could lend itself to massive crowds. Plans are still in the works around the finish area, but will include a festivallike display for spectators to enjoy this blockbuster weekend. Spotlight St. Louis-based Build-A-Bear Workshop® has been announced as the first major corporate partner of the inaugural Tour of Missouri cycling race. The meteoric company is approaching its partnership like it always has approached its business with creative flair and that often used French cycling term panache . Build-A-Bear Workshop will participate in several ways with a unique presence during the six-day event. Each day, the young athlete who places highest in the overall standings will be awarded a speciallybranded Build-A-Bear Workshop Best Young Rider jersey (below). Much like the plush lion that is given to daily stage winners at the Tour de France, Build-A-Bear Workshop also created a personalized Tour of Missouri bear-sized tee shirt and cycling kit (jersey, helmet, and shorts,) The Tour of Missouri bear will sport a replica jersey that will be given out to the Best Young Rider (under 25 years of age) during the Tour. The Tour of Missouri School Booklet will hit more than 100,000 children in state. to gear up a special bear. The stuffed animal-sized jersey is a replica of the Best Young Rider jersey. Starting in midAugust, the bearsized replica jerseys and cycling kits will be available for purchase at all 11 Build-A-Bear Workshop Missouri locations and online at www.buildabear.com, while quantities last. The winner of each race stage will receive a specially outfitted bear. Another unique element to the partnership is the Build-A-Bear Workshop Foundation sponsorship of the fitness, bike safety and educational workbook (above) to be distributed in late-August just in time for back-to school. These workbooks will be distributed to 3rd 5th grade students in Missouri. The workbook provides teachers with lesson plans that incorporate bike safety, healthy lifestyles for kids. Build-A-Bear Workshop Chief Executive Bear Maxine Clark said: You don t have to be the fastest, tallest or strongest kid in the neighborhood to have fun riding your bike. Almost everyone has fond childhood memories of their first bike - similar to those for their first teddy bear. We are thrilled to help further this great family sport and the fitness benefits that cycling provides. |