Schedule
Race Course will Highlight Missouri’s Scenic Diversity and History
The Tour of Missouri, America’s newest elite professional cycling race, today revealed final race and route details for all six stages of the upcoming 600-mile race through the state, from Kansas City to St. Louis, Tuesday to Sunday, September 11-16, 2007.
“Missouri is a very diverse state and we will be showcasing some of its finest areas,” said Jim Birrell, the race’s director. “From Kansas City to St. Louis, this will be a great postcard of Missouri to the world.”
“The overall course will be deceivingly difficult,” said the Tour’s competition director Kevin Livingston, a Missouri native who rode on two of Lance Armstrong’s successful Tour de France championship teams. “This is an American-type of race could see a lot of attacking and breakaways. The course lends itself to tough chases and could highlight a rider in good form going into the World Championships later that month.”
Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder added, "The Tour of Missouri is an exciting way to showcase the beauty of our state. I believe this race will capture the imagination of the entire State of Missouri. The race will create the potential for millions of additional tourism dollars being pumped into the local economy's of Missouri cities as well as our smaller, rural communities."
Stage by stage course details:
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 11
STAGE 1 - Kansas City to Kansas City, road race, 85 mi. (137 km)
START: 1 PM
FINISH: 4:30 PM
This out and back course will start in the uptown section of Kansas City in the trendy Plaza District and route north into the rolling Missouri countryside, passing through North Kansas City, Farley, East Leavenworth, Beverly, Tracy and Platte City. After a few potential breakaway attempts, the 120 cyclists should enter the final three five-mile circuits en masse for a finish that will likely feature the top sprinters jousting for position and a chance to not only win the stage but capture the Missouri Tourism Yellow Leader’s Jersey. The final circuits will feature some of Kansas City’s world-famous fountains. The first point for the Michelob ULTRA King of the Mountains competition will be awarded.
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 12
STAGE 2 — Clinton to Springfield, road race, 125.6 mi. (202 km)
START: 11 AM
FINISH: 3:30 PM
After an hour transfer south to the quaint small town of Clinton, near the trailhead of the state-long Katy Trail, racers will meander through flat to rolling terrain farther south to the All-American city of Springfield. The race will start in the historic district of Clinton before heading adjacent to Highway 13, passing through the towns of Fair Play, Aldrich, and Walnut Grove; including an Edward Jones’ sprint line the town of Stockton, before racing into downtown Springfield and two final circuits. Barring a potential odd breakaway, this should be another day for the top sprinters in the field. With time bonuses on the road and at the finish line, a change is the race leadership is possible.
THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 13
STAGE 3 — Branson, individual time trial, 18 mi. (29 km)
START: 11 AM
FINISH: 1:55 PM
The caravan will transfer 45 minutes south to the booming tourist town of Branson. The Landing, a new development along the river, will play host to the start of an individual time trial with a finishing climb rolling up to Shepherd of the Hills, at about 1,300 feet. KOM points will be awarded for the final climb up to the finish. Dubbed ‘the most decisive day’ of the inaugural Tour of Missouri, this 18-mile time trial features very hilly terrain with stretches on a four-lane highway that will keep speeds high for top time trialists. Branson is known for showmanship; therefore, the winner of this stage needs to put on a big performance with the likely result being the yellow fleece which he and his team will most likely need to protect all the way to St. Louis.
FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 14
STAGE 4 — Lebanon to Columbia, road race, 133 mi. (214 km)
START: 10:30 AM
FINISH: 3:25 PM
The caravan once again will transfer, this time 90 minutes north to the agricultural hub of Lebanon, for the start of this lengthy stage. The race will snake through the towns of, Guthrie, and Ulman, highlighted by a sprint in Jefferson City and points available for the Edward Jones’ sprint jersey. The longest stage and potentially the most difficult of the inaugural event, the first part of the race will be flat before rolling as it gets closer to Missouri’s beautiful rivers en route to the finish in the educational center of Columbia. The race will finish near the campus of the University of Missouri in the heart of downtown Columbia. It will be a double bonus for Mizzou students as its Parents Weekend.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 15
STAGE 5 — Jefferson City to St. Charles, road race, 126.6 mi. (204km)
START: 11:30 AM
FINISH: 3:40 PM
The caravan will make a short 30 minute transfer to Jefferson City for the start of the penultimate stage of the race. Starting against the backdrop of Missouri’s Capitol building, this stage will be difficult despite no major climbs. Though starting dead flat for the first 25 miles, the course features a serpentine route along Highways 94 and 100 along the Missouri River, passing through the heart of Missouri’s booming wine country, hitting Augusta, Herman, Washington en route to the finish in beautiful and historic St. Charles, the second oldest American settlement west of the Mississippi. The race finishes near the famous Lewis and Clark Rendezvous, passes near Davy Crockett’s house and includes a quarter mile stretch near the finish line over bricks on St. Charles’ historic Main Street. With a reported 6,000-feet of undulated climbing, this stage is ripe for a breakaway that could stick, or at bare minimum challenge the race leader and his team.
SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 16
STAGE 6 — St. Louis, circuit, 74 mi. (119 km)
START: 1 PM
FINISH: 3:50 PM
The race makes a short jaunt south and east to Missouri’s largest metropolitan area---St. Louis. Peering down Market Street, riders will glimpse at the famous ‘Arch’ as they start. The start and finish will take place at St. Louis’ famous Union Station. Riders will race seven circuits of 10-plus miles through urban terrain. The race, likely a promenade of sorts, still could feature a breakaway of riders way down in the general classification. The course moves west and back east, driving through the northeast part of Forest Park, which played host to the 1904 World’s Fair and Olympics. The course sandwiches St. Louis University, passing by the north and south side of the campus. With the Cubs at Cardinals and 49ers at Rams taking place during the early part of the race, the finish could see spill over crowds from those two sporting events, making the finale one to remember for this sports-crazy town. Either way, the backdrop is something the overall champion won’t soon forget.
About Tour of Missouri
The Tour of Missouri is a 600-mile, six-day world-class bicycle race patterned after the Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California. It is a race that features point-to-point racing. The race starts in Kansas City, September 11 and concludes September 16 in St. Louis, including legs to Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, and St. Charles. The race will feature teams of eight from 15 of the world’s top professional cycling teams.
The race is sanctioned by the UCI, the international governing body for cycling, and USA Cycling, the national governing body for cycling. It is ranked as a 2.1, second in ranking to only the Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California in North American cycling. The event’s management group is Medalist Sports of Tyrone, Ga., the organizers of both the California and Georgia races. KOM Sports Marketing of Colorado Springs, Colo., is the event’s marketing agency.
EVENT SCHEDULE
September 11 — Kansas City to Kansas City, road race (out and back)
September 12 — Clinton to Springfield, road race
September 13 — Branson, individual time trial
September 14 — Lebanon to Columbia, road race
September 15 — Jefferson City to St. Charles, road race
September 16 — St. Louis, circuit race
