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Missouri Bicycle Federation, Inc.
Post Office Box 104871
Jefferson City, MO 65110-4871
MoBikeFed is a 501(c)(4) non-profit corporation
Webmaster email: webmaster @ mobikefed
.org
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The St. Joseph News-Press has an article today about Lt Governor Peter Kinder's recent visit to St. Joseph: Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder made St. Joseph’s participation in the Tour of Missouri official Tuesday.
Speaking to a small group at St. Joseph’s City Hall with a backdrop of several large sponsor banners, Mr. Kinder crowed about the national and international attention the professional bicycle race has brought to the state.
St. Joseph, which hosted the start of the seven-stage, week-long race last year, will host the end of stage six on Sept. 12. Stage six begins in Chillicothe, whose community, according to Mr. Kinder, is “on fire” over being involved in this year’s race.
Mr. Kinder said despite several days of rain last year, which might have kept supporters from coming out, an estimated 434,000 were in attendance over the seven days of the event. In 2007, the crowds were estimated at 367,000. Mr. Kinder said Tuesday that it would be “bigger and better” this year.
According to Mr. Kinder, marketing surveys taken during the previous years’ events show that spectators are more affluent, stay longer, and spend more money than the average tourist in Missouri. The economic impact estimates were $26.2 million in 2007 and $29.8 million last year. That number is expected to grow this year.
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Please join us for a meeting with Missouri Transportation Alliance representative Jewell Patek, sponsored by the Missouri Bicycle Federation: 5:30PM, Tuesday, May 19th
Mid-America Regional Council, Board Room (2nd floor)
600 Broadway, Suite 200
Kansas City, MO 64105
The Missouri Transportation Alliance is working on a plan to bring new funding to MoDOT (their current funding will decrease by about 60% annually starting in 2010). The Alliance has criss-crossed Missouri, talking with numerous groups of all different kinds in all different parts of the state. Guess who they haven't talked with yet? You guessed it--the people who bicycle and walk. Come on out to this meeting, where we'll have a chance to hear what the plans are for future MoDOT funding and let them know what elements we believe should be part of MoDOT's future plans. Future funding plans will almost certainly go beyond gas taxes--to sales taxes, property taxes, income taxes, or fees of various sorts (one reason they are holding these meetings is to find out how people feel about various funding sources--but everyone is agreed that gas taxes are of limited use looking 5-20 years into the future, so the question is what will replace them?) If they are looking at funding sources that go beyond taxes on motor vehicles and their fuel, are they also looking at projects and policies that will benefit all Missourians who travel--whether by car, bicycle, foot, transit, or some other way? Please join us May 19th.
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A rumor is circulating that the Tour of California will move from February to May. According to VeloNews:After four years of racing in February, the 2010 Amgen Tour of California will be held May 16-23, during the same time slot as the Giro d’Italia.
America’s biggest stage race will move from its winter dates into the spring, taking dates on the UCI calendar occupied this year by the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya ProTour event.
The race's organizers discussed potential dates in April, May and June with the UCI road commission before deciding on the late-May time slot, a source close to the matter told VeloNews, adding that the Amgen Tour of California will not be a ProTour event in 2010, but will be starting in 2011.
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According to a press release today, the world's #2 bicycle team, Saxo Bank, will join seven Tour de France entrants and world's top six teams in this year's Tour of Missouri: Following the announcement of No. 1-ranked Quickstep's participation two weeks ago, the current world No. 2-ranked team, Saxo Bank of Denmark, has been announced for the third Tour of Missouri professional cycling race, scheduled for September 7-13, 2009.
The addition of the powerful Saxo Bank team, which is led by superstars Fabian Cancellara (Olympic and world champion time trialist) of Switzerland; brothers Frank and Andy Schleck (winner of last weekend's Leige-Bastogne-Leige) of Luxembourg and Germany's Jens Voigt, will mark the seventh entrant expected to line up at the 2009 Tour de France this summer. It will mark Saxo Bank's first time racing at the Tour of Missouri.
"With the addition of Saxo Bank, this will be one of the best fields assembled on American soil," said Jim Birrell, the event's race director. "The stature of the event continues to grow, and the participation of Saxo Bank re-enforces how far the Tour of Missouri has matured in three short years. This is shaping up to be a special kind of race and we expect people from around the country to see the world's best come to Missouri."
Lt. Governor Peter Kinder said: "We have exceeded our expectations with the field of this race. No doubt this will translate directly into more spectators and more economic impact for the state and host cities."
Saxo Bank joins one of the top fields assembled outside of Europe this season.
Previously announced are the world No. 1-ranked Quickstep of Belgium; top United States-based teams Garmin-Slipstream and world No. 5-ranked Columbia-High Road, as well as the world No. 3-ranked Cervelo Test Team, 2009 Tour de France favorite Astana, and one of Italy's top pro tour teams Liquigas. Domestic-based Jelly Belly and recent Paris-Roubaix team entrant BMC Racing have also been announced.
"Tour of Missouri has quickly grown in stature and quality each year, which is reflected in the quality of the teams and riders who will compete in the 2009 race," said Sean Petty, the Chief Operating Officer for USA Cycling and a member of the UCI's Road Commission. "Undoubtedly this has become one of the best races outside Europe in three short years. This directly correlates to the high level of marketing and management behind the event and the key support from the state."
The overall course will take on a very different slant in 2009. For the first time, the race will route east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east starting in Kansas City to finish in St. Louis.
A total of nine teams have been announced to date. A total of 15 teams will be slotted in for the September line up.
The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph).
The overall mileage for the course is expected to be more than 600 miles.
Though a stellar world-class field was presented last year, the three-year-old race is expected to be even better as the Tour of Missouri was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation's for cycling. The upgrade will guarantee more top teams. Additional teams will be announced in coming weeks.
American Christian Vande Velde won last year's race, while countryman George Hincapie won the inaugural race in 2007.
The Tour of Missouri's premier sponsors to date are Missouri Tourism, Missouri Farm Bureau of Jefferson City, Drury Hotels, Edward Jones and Wind Capital Management, all of St. Louis.
For more information: www.tourofmissouri.com.
Join our community site: www.tourofmissourifanzone.com
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Team Astana recently announced their participation in this years Tour of Missouri. Of course, this raises the question--which of Astana's team members will be coming? Leipheimer, Contador, Kloden, Armstrong? And how might Armstrong's recent collarbone break come into play? Will it put him off his training schedule for mid-Summer events (like the Tour de France) and more likely to aim for events in late summer? Tour of Missouri announces participation of powerful Astana to team line up
Team Astana is led by several top riders, including American Lance Armstrong
Event organizers and Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder today announced the participation of Team Astana, widely considered the world's top stage racing team currently, to the line up for the Tour of Missouri, an elite professional cycling race scheduled for September 7-13, 2009.
The Kazakstan-registered Astana team joins previously announced top United States-based teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia-High Road, one of Italy's top pro tour teams Liquigas, as well as the Swiss-based Cervelo Test Team. Astana's participation marks the fifth entrant into the 15-team field.
"This is a big development for the Tour of Missouri," said Chris Aronhalt, the managing partner of event organizer Medalist Sports. "To have the participation of Astana is yet another huge step for this race. The Tour of Missouri's reputation is evidently very solid in the minds of the top teams and riders. To have Team Astana join the already great line-up of teams is good for all coming to see the 2009 Tour of Missouri."
Astana is the team of top Americans Lance Armstrong and Levi Leipheimer. Their roster also includes 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Cantador of Spain, who raced in the inaugural Tour of Missouri, and Tour de France podium finisher Andres Kloden of Germany.
"We are very much looking forward to coming to the Tour of Missouri. We like to compete in the big American races," said Johan Bruyneel, the general manager of Team Astana. "The Tour of Missouri is a very good race and will be competitive this year looking at the initial roster of teams. As always, we will bring a very good team to compete for the win."
The overall course will start in St. Louis and end in Kansas City, routing more than 600 miles of the Show-Me State. Last year an estimated 435,000 spectators lined the roadside for the event; while people from 145 countries watched live coverage via the world webcast of the event.
A pair of Americans have won the first iterations of the race: Christian Vande Velde, who finished fourth overall in the Tour de France before winning in 2008; and George Hincapie, who won the inaugural race in 2007. Both Vande Velde and Hincapie are expected back with their Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia-High Road teams, respectively, this year.
"To welcome Team Astana to the field is great for the state," said Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. "Noting they are one of the world's best teams will surely draw large crowds and media attention to our state. It's another sign this race is growing into one of the premier cycling events in the world." Race rosters will not be announced until next August but team directors are already talking about sending many of their top stars, said Aronhalt.
The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph).
Though a stellar world-class field was presented last year, the three-year-old race is expected to be even better as the Tour of Missouri was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation's for cycling. Additional teams will be announced in coming weeks.
The Tour of Missouri's premier sponsors to-date are Missouri Tourism, Missouri Farm Bureau of Jefferson City and St. Louis-based companies Drury Hotels, Emerson and Edward Jones.
Industry sponsors to date are MAVIC, Yakima, and Hincapie Sportswear.
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According to an Associated Press story: Lance Armstrong fractured his collarbone Monday during a race in Spain, leaving in question his participation in the Tour de France in July. . .
"We'll go from there," he said. "I think for the Tour it's a very big problem."
Armstrong was knocked off his bike during a pileup in the first stage of the Vuelta of Castilla and Leon race and was taken to a hospital by ambulance. . . .
Astana team leader Johan Bruyneel said on his Twitter feed that there were no complications in the break, and suggested Armstrong could be back riding soon. Astana, Armstrong's team, has recently committed to participating in the 2009 Tour of Missouri.
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The Tour of Missouri announced the first of the 2009 teams today: Event organizers and Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder today announced the first five teams for the third Tour of Missouri professional cycling race, scheduled for September 7-13, 2009
Top United States-based teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia-High Road, one of Italy's top pro tour teams Liquigas, as well as the Swiss-based Cervelo Test Team, have been announced.
"We have had record interest in the event, which has precipitated the early announcement of the first teams committed to participate," said Chris Aronhalt, the managing partner of event organizer Medalist Sports. "The stature of the Tour of Missouri continues to grow, and the participation of top teams like Columbia-High Road, Garmin-Slipstream, Liquigas, and Cervelo --- all teams expected to race in the Tour de France this year --- justifies this event's world-class reputation. We anticipate the announcement of more teams in the next couple weeks."
The overall course will take on a very different slant in 2009. For the first time, the race will route east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east starting in Kansas City to finish in St. Louis.
"To attract some of the top teams in the world shows how important the Tour of Missouri has become," said Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. "The caliber of athletes and teams will translate directly into more spectators and more economic impact for the state and host cities."
Garmin-Slipstream is expected to field a top team that will include 2008 Tour of Missouri Race Champion Christian Vande Velde. In the off-season, the team also signed Canadian Svein Tuft, who finished third overall in last year's race.
"We're coming back to Missouri to win again," said Garmin-Slipstream's general manager Jonathan Vaughters. "It's a major objective for us, as it's our chance to show Garmin and its employees what we're all about in their backyard."
Added Vande Velde: "I liked the Tour of Missouri last year. It was well publicized, well organized and had great spectators. Truly world class. It was great to finish my season with a major stage race in the Midwest and not far from my home (in the Chicago area). I look forward to coming back to defend my title with my Garmin teammates."
Columbia-High Road features 2007 Tour of Missouri champion George Hincapie of Greenville, S.C., and Britain's Mark Cavendish, who won three stages of the 2008 race and the Edward Jones Sprint Points jersey, and widely is considered the world's 'fastest man on two wheels.'
"We are looking forward to sending a top team to Missouri again this year," said Bob Stapleton, the owner and general manager of Team Columbia-High Sports, the No. 1-ranked team in the world last season. "We had a great time last year with good success (four stage wins and second place overall). We look to come back and do the same again this year. The race is very well organized and the people of Missouri were extremely welcoming and enthusiastic about the racing."
Liquigas, an entrant into last year's race, is one of Italy's top teams and last year was led by Czech Republic's Roman Kreuziger, who won the Best Young Rider jersey.
The Cervelo Test Team will be a first-time entrant into the Tour of Missouri. Cervelo's team features 2008 Tour de France champion Carlos Sastre, top Norwegian sprinter Thor Hushovd, who already has won a stage of the Amgen Tour of California and Het Volk event this year, and Dominque Rollin, who finished third overall in the 2007 Tour of Missouri and won the Michelob ULTRA King of the Mountain jersey last year.
Race rosters will not be announced until next August but team directors are already talking about sending many of their top stars, said Aronhalt.
The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages. There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph).
The overall mileage for the course is expected to be more than 600 miles.
Though a stellar world-class field was presented last year, the three-year-old race is expected to be even better as the Tour of Missouri was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation's for cycling. The upgrade will guarantee more top teams. Additional teams will be announced in coming weeks.
The Tour of Missouri's premier sponsors to date are Missouri Tourism, Missouri Farm Bureau of Jefferson City, Drury Hotels and Edward Jones, both of St. Louis.
Visit TourOfMissouri.com for full event details.
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Kathleen Nelson of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch is report Lance may be considering the Tour of Missouri 2009 -- The hard-working dudes at Velonews have reported that Lance Armstrong will extend his schedule beyond the Tour de France and compete in the Tour of Ireland in late August, then appear at a two-day cancer conference there.
This is significant because earlier reports indicated that Armstrong would shut it down after July. . . .
So, if Lance is feeling good, he could consider riding the Tour of Missouri. Race organizers dropped the word “Astana” into the conversation several times when they revealed the host cities last month, so it would be no surprise to see Levi Leipheimer, Chris Horner and the other Americans here on Labor Day. Parker suggests a cancer-related sponsor/tie-in may be the missing ingredient. Of course, that makes you ask--what about American Century? Don't they have a huge Lance tie-in already? Wasn't his bout with cancer one reason Jim Stowers of American Century founded the Stowers Institute for Medical Research? There could be a potential tie-in there somewhere . . .
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Notes from the Tour of Missouri press conference announcing the Tour of Missouri route--check online for updates as the press conference continues: What about Lance Armstrong? They are starting to look at teams already, including Team Astana but the final roster will depend on a lot of things . . . Lt Gov wants to make the event a self-sustaining annual event. Hopes people from both parties will not politicize what should be a unifying event that everyone can support. Future of Tour of MO? Lt Gov says they are still working out the state's budget and are looking for cuts in the Tourism budget, as many other budget. Much of the state's funding for the Tour comes from the Tourism budget. Lt Gov thinks the Tour is a good investment and maybe even more so in challenging economic times. Why start in St. Louis & end Kansas City? They like to change up the route each year and wanted to have the end/weekend dates in the western side of the state this year. Lt. Gov Kinder said they are trying to include different areas of the state each year, including southeast Missouri this year. He mentioned the one area that hasn't been hit yet is northeast Missouri, and that part of the state may be in line for 2010. Tyler Hamilton mentioned they are looking forward to seeing George Hincapie at the Tour again in 2009 and are *hoping* to see Lance Armstrong here as well.
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