Bicycle.net: News Flash: Tour of Missouri

Bicycle.net, April 11th:

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News Flash: Tour of Missouri

By System6 on April 11th, 2010

It’s not exactly news when a U.S. based pro cycling race loses sponsorship, ala the now-dormant Tour de Georgia, and in these unusually harsh economic times it’s actually newsworthy when an event might get the funding it needs.  That’s the latest with the 2010 Tour of Missouri.

Tour organizers and supporters indicate that Missouri’s Senate Appropriations Committee discussed funding for the 2010 Tour of Missouri in a hearing last Tuesday, and that the Senate is on track to support funding for the 2010 Tour as approved previously by the Missouri House.  Although not exactly a done-deal, having state house and senate support apparently in hand is clearly reason to be encouraged.

Possibly the story within the story, is how in the world this event avoided surgical removal from the state’s budget, when so many programs are being hacked away so the state can balance its budget.  Undoubtedly many factors come into play, but in this case it appears to have been propped up by a communications campaign in which Missouri Bicycle Racing Association and others rallied race fans and cycling enthusiasts to shout out to their elected representatives.  Apparently they did just that, and the lawmakers got an earful, so last week the Senate committee decided to leave intact about $1 million in funding for the race in the House’s proposed budget, which is especially significant in the light of $500 million of cuts state lawmakers have made from the state’s 2011 proposed budget plan.

MOBRA President Mike Weiss, who chairs of the race organizing committee, said, ”It appears the state has achieved their goal of reducing $500 million from the budget without having to cut our funding. We are pleased that legislators see the value of the race.”

Perhaps other pro race events ought to take a close look at the playbook used by MOBRA and the Tour of Missouri organizers to keep this event on the race calendar.

For those who haven’t taken in the Tour of Missouri, a two words of advice:  Do It.  Beautiful country, Midwest hospitality, and many of the same racers you’ll follow at the Tour de France will be mixing it up with top domestic pro teams.  Many of these teams have taken to using the Tour of Missouri, which runs August 31-September 6 this year, as their season finale.

Domestic tour events are always a precious commodity:  one year they’re on, the next they’re gone.  So when you have the chance to see one, don’t miss it. Check it out at: http://www.tourofmissouri.com