Stage One is Wet but Volunteers Dont Mind

Early morning rain showers didnt keep volunteers from taking part in the opening stage of the Tour of Missouri at St. Joseph on Monday September 8th. Scott Clark, volunteer coordinator for the St. Joseph start, had everything under control as about 135 volunteers lined up to be registered and assigned their placements on the route. And, after months of preparation pouring rains stopped just long enough and under overcast skies the starting gun was fired at 12:30PM taking some of the worlds most talented endurance athletes on a 90 mile journey through Northwest Missouri countryside from St Joseph to Weston, Platte City and Parkville to a three lap circuit finish at Kansas City's Plaza district.

Winning the first stage was Mark Cavendish of Team Columbia. Martin Kohler of the BMC Racing Team winning second place and Michael Van Stayen from Robobank placing third. Cavendish who is 22 years of age won the day with three jerseys including the Youngest Rider jersey, Most agressive rider and the Edward Jones Sprint Jersey. This gives Cavendish his 15th stage win for the 2008 season, four of them being at the Tour De France.

Midway through the stage, ridders met some of the most challenging terrain Northwest Missouri could offer with steep roller coaster style hills just North of Weston with Martin Koler of the BMC Racing Team and Tom Zirbel of Bissel Pro Cycling leading the peloton by nearly 5 minutes.