Sedalia named Tour of Missouri host city

JEFFERSON CITY — Sedalia is one of the 11 host cities for the 2009 Tour of Missouri bicycle race, Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced Tuesday.

Sedalia will host the individual time trials, which is stage five, on Sept. 11. The 2009 Tour of Missouri is scheduled for Sept. 7 to 13.

Officials from host cities, media and race organizers attended the press conference at the Doubletree Hotel just before noon Tuesday. Kinder presented yellow Tour of Missouri jerseys to host city officials, who all expressed their excitement at landing the event.

Fourth Ward City Councilwoman Priscilla Young accepted the jersey on behalf of Sedalia. Young said the city has been home to rails, trails and now bicycles.

“We do look forward to welcoming the Tour of Missouri to Sedalia,” she said.

About 30 communities submitted applications to be tour host cities. Of the 11 selected, four — including Sedalia — are new hosts. A committee evaluates all the proposals and selects the hosts. In the race’s first two years, it started in Kansas City and ended in St. Louis. This year, that will be reversed with St. Louis as the starting point.

Young said she’s watched the Tour of Missouri in Springfield and Kansas City.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity for the citizens of Sedalia because it’s ranked so high,” she said. “It will bring a lot of people to the city and we’re anxious for them to see what Sedalia is all about.”

Cyclists aren’t the only ones competing as part of the tour. One of the race sponsors, Farm Bureau, gives a “spirit award” to the host city and route city that show the most civic pride. The award is a community grant to promote wellness.

The race is fast becoming among the most prestigious in the cycling community, and has attracted international and national teams including Columbia and Garmin-Slipstream.

“It’s now one of the best of the best events around the world,” said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner of event organizers Medalist Sports of the Atlanta area.

St. James Mayor Dennis Wilson, whose city won the 2008 spirit award, said the keys to being a successful host are having good volunteers and having many attractions for race attendees, such as activities, wine tents and vendors.

Now the work and planning begins for Sedalia. Host cities are required to form local organizing committees. Jack McIntosh, an avid cyclist, will chair the Sedalia committee. He said “it’s going to be a lot of work.

“I think in Sedalia, we have a history of embracing these types of things,” McIntosh said. “I’m confident Sedalia will support us.”

City Administrator Keith Riesberg said, “It’s something that will take broad base volunteers to make it successful.” But other communities said they have had no problem enlisting volunteers.

Part of the tour is expected to stay overnight in Sedalia the evening before the trials. The other part of the tour will likely stay overnight in Sedalia following the stage. The time trails are expected to begin and end at the Missouri State Fairgrounds.

The race is well known across the globe. Wilson told a story of how a woman in Germany recognized the Tour of Missouri hat he was wearing on a visit there. She had watched the race on television, along with 4.1 million other viewers.

Kinder, chairman of the Missouri Tourism Commission, was questioned about the future of the race in light of a new administration under Gov. Jay Nixon, and tough economic times. Kinder said he does expect cuts to the tourism budget, but the commission will be careful with its resources.

“I would also caution members of both parties ... not to politicize a bicycle race,” Kinder said.

The Tour of Missouri carries a hefty direct and indirect economic impact of $30 million across the state. Studies also show the impact to host cities ranges from $1 million to $5 million, depending on the city and size of crowds.

Last year, the race attracted spectators from 32 states and 21 countries, with an estimated 434,000 people taking in the event. It is Missouri’s largest international sporting event. The Tour of Missouri, which is in its third year, has received an upgraded status from cycling’s international governing body (Union Cycliste Internationle) and USA Cycling, giving the race a ranking shared with one other American event, the Amgen Tour of California, and a handful of major professional stage races outside of Europe.

American Christian Vande Velde of the Garmin-Chipotle team won the 2008 Tour of Missouri. Vande Velde finished fourth in the Tour de France earlier in 2008 and was the highest-placing American.

The tour’s success is partly due to the support throughout the state, the competition it draws and the terrain. This year’s course is about 600 miles. Tyler Hamilton, U.S. Pro Road champion for 2008, plans to compete in the Tour of Missouri for the first time.

Hamilton, who attended the press conference, said the course included several difficult stages. The time trial in Sedalia will not be as hard as the time trial last year, which will make for a tighter race, Hamilton said.

“I think we’re going to be waiting until the last second, the final dash to the line, to determine the winner,” he said.

Hamilton said he hoped to see world-famous U.S. cyclist Lance Armstrong come to the race. Some 120 cyclists on 15 teams are expected to participate in the race, but organizers said they plan to announce the 2009 race teams later. 

2009 Tour of Missouri Route and Host Cities
Stage 1, circuit race
St. Louis

Stage 2, road race
St. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau

Stage 3, road race
Farmington to Rolla

Stage 4, road race
St. James to Jefferson City

Stage 5, individual time trial
Sedalia

Stage 6 road race
Chillicothe to St. Joseph

Stage 7, circuit race
Kansas City