Professional Cycling For the Fans - Viewing Tour of Missouri from the road

It starts next week and I am wanting to try to go see it Saturday and Sunday but the Tour of Missouri web site is absolutely terrible (reminds me of the rest of Missouri :p). The details on race routes absolutely sucks!

I'm so glad I know that they will be taking "route Z" for example and oh that the map is awesome and very detailed so I know exactly what road "route Z" is. Thank God for Google Earth so I can get an idea of what roads they might be on. It's just so damn frustrating!

http://tom2009files.s3.amazonaws.com/tom2009routemaps/ToMStage6BasicLog.pdf
http://tom2009files.s3.amazonaws.com/tom2009routemaps/09ToMStage6Map.pdf

Anyway if I go, I'm wondering where are the best places to see it from? I know people say to get on hills but will they be super crowded? Is the finish line a good spot or is it just crazy to try to do anything after the race is over? What about trying to talk to some of the pros? How early would you recommend I go to stake out a spot? Will it even be worth me driving 2 hours home and then another 1 1/2 - 2 hours to see only part of the race?

It starts next week and I am wanting to try to go see it Saturday and Sunday but the Tour of Missouri web site is absolutely terrible (reminds me of the rest of Missouri :p). The details on race routes absolutely sucks!

I'm so glad I know that they will be taking "route Z" for example and oh that the map is awesome and very detailed so I know exactly what road "route Z" is. Thank God for Google Earth so I can get an idea of what roads they might be on. It's just so damn frustrating!

http://tom2009files.s3.amazonaws.com/tom2009routemaps/ToMStage6BasicLog.pdf
http://tom2009files.s3.amazonaws.com/tom2009routemaps/09ToMStage6Map.pdf

Anyway if I go, I'm wondering where are the best places to see it from? I know people say to get on hills but will they be super crowded? Is the finish line a good spot or is it just crazy to try to do anything after the race is over? What about trying to talk to some of the pros? How early would you recommend I go to stake out a spot? Will it even be worth me driving 2 hours home and then another 1 1/2 - 2 hours to see only part of the race?

My wife and I went last year, to the ITT in Branson and caught the start and finish of the next stage, finishing in Rolla. We were close enough to touch the riders as the start on our second day, hung over the barrier in Rolla as the winner and next group came by. and had to get out of the way of early riders on thier way to the start at the ITT. Going back this year, not to St. Louis but the next two days.

I am going to KC for the final stage. Should be a lot of fun. I am pumped to see Cav and Jens.

Yeah, I should make it out for the final stage in KC. Last year I went to the opening stage and got a spot on a hill on Ward Parkway near the finish/The Plaza. It was cool since the race ended with a circuit up and down that hill a few times where I was. Got to see some good suffering and feel the ridiculous amount of wind a pro peloton produces.

Going to Sunday's final stage, just not sure where I'll be yet. I will probably go down to the start/finish line pretty early and try to get a good spot for the day.

I live in KC and I will probably watch them climb up the Summit St hill up to 17th from Pennway for about half the race (located at the far western part of the course)

and

Watch them them take that 45 mph left hand turn in front of Union Station at Main and Pershing (very close to the start and finish

and

Maybe the climb up Kessler Rd back into Penn Valley Park up to the WW1 Memorial. (another hilly section)

Dan