Support the Tour of Missouri

Fate of 2010 Tour of Missouri in question after funding is cut

March 22, 2010 7:00 PM

Courtney Hudson

The Sedalia Democrat

The tour that brought in athletes from more than 30 countries the past three years has local bike enthusiasts in Sedalia wanting it back again.

The Tour of Missouri is scheduled to race across the state Aug. 31 through Sept. 6, but the state’s Division of Tourism has cut all funding for the 2010 tour.

Mike Weiss, president of the Missouri Bike Racing Association, said money for the tour was provided by the state’s tourism budget the last three years. Weiss said the tourism’s budget has been reduced by more than 40 percent for the 2010 year.

“Right now, it’s in the hands of the Senate and the governor,” Weiss said.

Gary McElyea, spokesman for Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, said the Tour of Missouri is a big opportunity for the state not to have an investment in.

“The lieutenant governor is actively supporting and encouraging lawmakers to support funding for the 2010 Tour of Missouri,” McElyea said.

Weiss said a request for funding from the board members of the Tour of Missouri was approved by the House last week.

“We hope the state will make the right decision,” Weiss said. “It’s looking very favorable.”

Last year, Sedalia hosted the individual time trials as part of the tour and Sedalia Mayor Elaine Horn said she would like to see the time trials in Sedalia again.

“We would love to have it come back,” Horn said. “It was a great experience.”

Horn said Sedalia has the perfect venue for the event and the tour brings in needed tourism dollars.

Since the tour began three years ago, it has generated more than $75 million and host cities have received media coverage in more than 170 countries.

Jack McIntosh, local organizing chair for the 2009 Tour of Missouri, said the event is a top-ranked professional athletic event.

“It’s a rare opportunity for a community of our size to host this type of event,” McIntosh said.

He said the tour exposed Sedalia to a variety of media on a local, state, national and worldwide level.

“We’re attracting a different mix of people,” McIntosh said.

An estimated 1.2 million spectators from more than 40 states and 20 countries have visited Missouri in the past three years to see the athletes race.

McIntosh said hosting the time trials last year brought the community together and people were excited.

No decisions have been made about cities that may host part of the Tour of Missouri, according to the tour’s Web site.

For more information about the Tour of Missouri, visit tourofmissouri.com 

You can help support the 2010 Tour of Missouri:

• Contact Missouri officials in support
• Donate to the Tour
• Join the Support the Tour page on Facebook
• Join the Support the Tour twitter page
• Visit TourOfMissouri.com for more info