Road Bike Racing - Tour of Missouri: and the first team to sign up is...

Discovery.

Link to story (http://www.stltoday.com/stltoday/sports/stories.nsf/othersports/story/03112A2471CB70E9862573060012722E?OpenDocument)

That's great news for the Tour of MO.

I'm planning on heading down there to see parts of a couple of stages. The ride through the southern part of the state should be excellent with the relentless Ozark hills.

Well, as a resident of St. Louis, MO, I'm extremely excited about this!

Sprinters race anyone?

Sprinters race anyone?
You've never been to Missouri, have you?

The southern part of the state (stages 2, 3, 4) is basically into the Ozark Mountains. Nothing terribly tall in elevation, but the hills are steep and don't let up. Stage 5 could do a lot of climbing up and down the bluffs along the Missouri River, too.

This has the makings of a great race.

Tour of MO website: http://www.tourofmissouri.com/

Certainly a lot better than ToC and TdG

While Missouri might not have any long, sustained climbs, we definitely have lots of never-ending rolling hills, not to mention the Ozark Mountains.

Has anyone seen a map of the Tour?

While Missouri might not have any long, sustained climbs, we definitely have lots of never-ending rolling hills, not to mention the Ozark Mountains.

Has anyone seen a map of the Tour?
The map is on the website but course profiles are not yet available.

http://www.tourofmissouri.com/images/map.gif (http://www.tourofmissouri.com/map.php)

The artical actually mentions armstrong 3X more than anybody actually riding the race

Clinton to Springfield will be brutal! Lots of climbing!

Am I correct to assume this probably won't be getting any TV coverage? Someone told me VS is no longer doing the Cyclism Sundays....

The artical actually mentions armstrong 3X more than anybody actually riding the race

I don't think any teams have announced their rosters.

1 TT and 5 circuit races?


Sorry for not being interested...

1 TT and 5 circuit races?

Huh? Where do you see 5 circuit races?

Stage 1 is actually an out and back to Kansas City.

Stages 2, 4, and 5 are point to point across pretty big distances and heavily hilly terrain.

The final stage is a crit in St. Louis, from what I gather.

Huh? Where do you see 5 circuit races?


...



http://www.tourofmissouri.com/images/map.gif (http://www.tourofmissouri.com/map.php)

...
Never mind. I see where you see the words circuits....

I'm a little dense.

I guess it will be a little more spectator friendly...

1 TT and 5 circuit races?


Sorry for not being interested...

1 TT and 5 road stages that end in circuits. I can understand your lack of interest, but at least support the growth of pro cycling in America.

1 TT and 5 road stages that end in circuits. I can understand your lack of interest, but at least support the growth of pro cycling in America.
The KC ride I can see being a good one to do a circuit end, but the other three road stages would be better served having no circuits. I can see breakaways on those routes perhaps sticking and who wants to see one guy or a few guys trying to out-crit the pack? Make them straight up finishes.

The Branson TT could be interesting if they put some hills in there. And if Yakov Smirnoff, Andy Williams, and the Osmonds all show up, what a day it would be!

"Branson, Missouri. My dad says it's like Vegas -- if it were run by Ned Flanders." -- Bart Simpson

The KC ride I can see being a good one to do a circuit end, but the other three road stages would be better served having no circuits. I can see breakaways on those routes perhaps sticking and who wants to see one guy or a few guys trying to out-crit the pack? Make them straight up finishes.

Points well taken. On the other hand, I fully understand the philosophy of the race organizers: to make racing exciting for rookie spectators, to make it more TV-worthy, and to generally increase exposure of cycling in America.

Will this be the most exciting race to watch? Nope. But who cares, it's a start.

I'm going to try and make it up there for the TT, I have alot of family in the area. I think it will be pretty cool, however I would like to see the sprint into Springfield. For those that know the area know that deer are everywhere, my brother nearly hit one on this bike.