Liveblogging Tour of MO route press conference

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.