Tour of Missouri News & Info

Rural Missouri Magazine has a great story about the Tour of Missouri, summarizing all the developments and what to expect this year:

The international cycling community, along with many Missourians who last year didn’t know the sport existed, will be focused on Missouri as the tour returns for the second time Sept. 8-14. The tour will bring 120 world-class cyclists — including those fresh from the Tour de France and the recent Olympic games — to the state. They will compete over seven stages covering 600 miles of tough terrain to crown the eventual champion.

Most of the route goes through small towns and along rural roads, including Platte City, Deepwater, Swedeborg, St. Thomas and Defiance. The tour features some of Missouri’s finest tourist destinations, from the Pony Express Museum in St. Joseph to Branson’s music and the Lewis and Clark attractions at St. Charles.

Those who turned out for last year’s tour will see new attractions for the 2008 edition. Gone is Team Discovery, made famous by Lance Armstrong, which made its farewell tour in Missouri. In its place is up-and-coming Team Columbia, featuring Hincapie and other elite riders.

Another team coming to the event is Rock Racing, known as the “Bad Boys of Cycling” for their on- and off-bike antics. Rock Racing, sponsored by the Rock and Republic clothing line, shows up in outrageously decorated Cadillac Escalade SUVs.

“Without a doubt, this is a deeper field than last year,” said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of event organizer Medalist Sports. “We have three teams that played major roles at the Tour de France this year.

One of the great things about the Tour is how it involves people and communities from all around the state--cities large and small. Rural Missouri magazine is published by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives, which is one of the sponsors of this year's Tour. The Missouri Farm Bureau is also a Tour sponsor.

It's great to see these organizations, which represent rural constituencies in Missouri, seeing the benefits of bicycling and bicycle tourism in Missouri--because bicycle tourism is a great way to ramp up the economies in rural areas while still maintaining that wonderful rural lifestyle that so much of Missouri enjoys. permanent link to article: "Rural Missouri Magazine features Tour of Missouri 2008"
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