"The 33"-Road Bike Racing - Tour of Missouri announcement

Today the Tour of Missouri was officially announced. It's supposed to start near Kansas City and finish near St. Louis. Having never cycled in Missouri, would any "Show Me State" residents like to chime in on possible/ideal routes? It's being billed (prematurely?) as the 3rd biggest U.S. stage race behind Georgia and California.

I've posted information using today's press release:
http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/

Who is managing the event? I didn't see Medalist or G4 mantioned anywhere in it. Those are the two top guns in the industry.

Who is managing the event? I didn't see Medalist or G4 mantioned anywhere in it. Those are the two top guns in the industry.

It's being managed jointly by Medalist Sports and KOM Sports Marketing (Steve Brunner)

If they hit some of the twisty steep roads in the Ozarks, there could be some awesome stages.

I may have to head back to MO to watch a stage or two next year.

Just got an email from someone inside the Medalist family. Yep, they're on board. That means it'll be a top-notch event.
September '07.
I already know what my job will be; same as it is at the Ford and Amgen tours.
Can't wait!

I already know what my job will be; same as it is at the Ford and Amgen tours.

Podium girl?

--Steve

No, that'll be Angie and Jennifer.

My legs are too beefy, and those dresses chafe.

ES, what is it that you do? Announcer? Seems like it could be a pretty cool job.

This is great news for us in the midwest. I definitely plan on taking in a couple days of the race and will try to do a 2 or 3 day tour as well down there, tying it all together will be a blast.

Cool! I can't picture a good approach into Saint Louis proper for the final stage but a crit or time trial in the city would be super cool.

Hmm... I have been thinking about going back to visit at some point.

"Announcering" as Radisa Cubric once called it.
Working in support of Jeff Roake and Dave Towle, the two top dogs.

If I don't get that job, then I'll probably drive one of the cars in the caravan. Like, Comm 4.

Either way, it's a total blast.

"Announcering" as Radisa Cubric once called it.
Working in support of Jeff Roake and Dave Towle, the two top dogs.

If I don't get that job, then I'll probably drive one of the cars in the caravan. Like, Comm 4.

Either way, it's a total blast.


Ok, how can I get involved?

Announcering - I like it. Either job sounds very cool. I've recently been exposed to how important it is to have good announcer. Most of our local races don't have much in the way of engaging announcers. Our team recently put on a cyclocross race and one of our guys, who brought the P.A. system, became the default announcer. Turns out he's a natural. (It helps that he's a cross country coach and teacher so he's used to talking in front of crowds). He was on the mike all day providing color for all the races, calling riders by name and team, etc. Lot's of funny commentary. The racers and people in attendance LOVED it. It really makes a difference and keeps folks involved. Of course, what you do is a huge step above out little race. i'm just saying that having a capable announcer tends to be under appreciated.

I've updated my Tour of Missouri page with tentative stage details you probably won't find anywhere else, but don't go booking your hotels yet :D

http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/

I've updated my Tour of Missouri page with very tentative stage details you probably won't find anywhere else, but don't go booking your hotels yet :D

http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/


I think the generalization on your page is spot on. There are NO sustained climbs in Missouri, but a full day of those hills one after another after another has wrecked me plenty of times.

Based on that preliminary route, the second day should be fun. Like Talewinds said, there's nothing out there that has more than a few minutes of climbing, but over the course of a day those 5 minute intervals can be killer. Never have a chance to really recover.

There's nothing in the first 3 days of the Tour de Georgia that challenges the riders. They roll over those hills (that would break OUR mortal legs) like they were bridge overpasses.
So most likely, in MO, you'll see big long breakaway attempts getting systematically chased and caught just miles from the finish, followed by a field sprint.

But I have found that, aside from us, nobody really cares about that. These events aren't designed to find the best rider in the bunch. They are designed to help the economic status of places like Missouri and Georgia by bringing visitors, showing off the state in a national TV contract, etc.

Georgia is cool with that. They'll gladly take the $36million economic impact that the race brings every year. As long as the beer is cold and the food is hot, the crowds don't care how they get to the finish line.

And to be honest, in a city such as Rome, GA, there's nothing more exciting than the breakaway that comes onto the final circuits with a lead that gets swallowed up before our eyes.
So I look forward to Missouri and turning on a bunch of new people to the best sport on earth.

I'm sure the locals will be very supportive... (http://mobikefed.org/2005/07/missouri-motorist-douses-race-across.php)

I should be back in St. L by then, sounds cool!

There's nothing in the first 3 days of the Tour de Georgia that challenges the riders. They roll over those hills (that would break OUR mortal legs) like they were bridge overpasses.
So most likely, in MO, you'll see big long breakaway attempts getting systematically chased and caught just miles from the finish, followed by a field sprint...

Perhaps. We drove across the southern part of Missouri on our vacation this past summer. It was a non-stop roller-coaster. Nothing all that long, but repeated, steep grades could add up to quite a prodigious total altitude change over the course of a stage. This is great news to me, as I'm hoping to influence my wife to consider moving to southern Missouri in a few years. This would give Missouri yet another advantage over Michigan. :D

So most likely, in MO, you'll see big long breakaway attempts getting systematically chased and caught just miles from the finish, followed by a field sprint.. But I have found that, aside from us, nobody really cares about that. These events aren't designed to find the best rider in the bunch. They are designed to help the economic status of places like Missouri and Georgia by bringing visitors, showing off the state in a national TV contract, etc.
But the tv ratings will suck if viewers only see a cycling parade. If showing off the cycling scenery was the most important element then I'd have a real tv program by now! A subtle infomerical isn't going to be too riveting unless it's revealed the Missouri countryside is somehow comparable to the French countryside. There has to be a Brasstown Bald, in some form, among the six stages.

Well then, they appear to be doomed from the start because I don't know of any snow-capped peaks in Missouri.
Should we cancel the event?

They may not be snow-capped, but if they hit the Ozarks, the knobs and hills will break up a pack. And September weather can be unpredictable in Missouri. I recall Septembers with days in the 50's and 60's, as well as late summer 90's. The humidity can be devastating.

No, it ain't the Alps, but it ain't the Tour of Qatar, either.

I am making plans to be there for a few of the stages.

They may not be snow-capped, but if they hit the Ozarks, the knobs and hills will break up a pack... The humidity can be devastating.


Yes, that's what I'm referring to by some form of terrain to make it interesting. Someone should upload some pictures so we can finally get up close with the Ozarks. Here's one that was posted elsewhere of somewhere in Mo. String enough of these rollers together and there won't be much of sprint finish in the end:
http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/missouri-rollers.jpg

The final stage from Hannibal to St. Louis will have some decent size climbs. I would assume the route would follow Route 79 (i think) which goes along the river bluff and has some good elevation changes. I'll try to get out there sometime in the next week to take some pictures, but I think some would be surprised by how hard the climbs can be. Granted . . . the pro boys will make them look like an overpass compared to me, but I will definitely enjoy watching them go up the same hills I struggle with a few times a year. Pics will come soon.

Yes, that's what I'm referring to by some form of terrain to make it interesting. Someone should upload some pictures so we can finally get up close with the Ozarks. Here's one that was posted elsewhere of somewhere in Mo. String enough of these rollers together and there won't be much of sprint finish in the end:
http://www.steephill.tv/2007/tour-of-missouri/missouri-rollers.jpg


Uuugghhh (shudder), brings back baaaaaad memories.

yeah i remember doing the tour of the ozarks..this was in Rolla and it was only 50 miles and lemme tell ya, it was constantly up and down..very steep hills.....no level riding at all.

this is exciting news for me.