Tour of Missouri Brings World-Class Professional Cycling to the StateST. LOUIS, Mo. (October 17, 2006) ---- Missouri Governor MattBlunt and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder announced today that the state willplay host to the inaugural Tour of Missouri professional cycling race,September 11 – 16, 2007. In its initial year, the Tour of Missouri will be anointed oneof the nation’s top three stage races behind the prestigious Tour of Georgiaand Tour of California races, providing an historic landmark for the sportwith three major domestic stage races on American soil. "Missouri is known as the Show-Me State, and we look forward toshowing our state to spectators around the world through the Tour of Missouri,"Missouri Gov. Matt Blunt said.  "This event has great potential tobring economic benefits to our state and is an opportunity for us to jointhese world class cyclists to spread the message of the positive benefitsof an active and healthy lifestyle."Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, in his role as Chairman of the Missouri TourismCommission remarked, "The Tour of Missouri is an exciting way to showcaseour beautiful state. The entire state will be surprised and pleased bythe size and economic impact this event will have on Missouri and Missouri'stourism industry. This race represents millions of additional dollars eachyear being pumped into our larger cities and our smaller rural areas."The Tour of Missouri has been slated as one of only five stage racesin the newly-created USA Cycling Pro Tour, which will highlight the topmulti-day races in America.  The race also will be granted a high-rankingby the Union Cycliste Internationale, the international governing bodyfor the sport of cycling. The race is sanctioned by USA Cycling, the officialcycling organization recognized by the USOC. “It’s a distinct pleasure to be involved with the continued evolutionof the sport of professional cycling in this country, and Missouri willbe a great venue for a world-class event,” said Jim Birrell, the race’sdirector and someone who has been involved in staging elite professionalcycling races for more than 20 years.  “The support of the state hasbeen tremendous, and I’m sure the citizens of Missouri will enjoy thisfree public event while also enjoying the rolling festival that comes alongwith it.” The Tour of Missouri will play host to up to 16 major internationalprofessional teams, including top U.S.-based pro tour teams as well assome of Europe’s top Pro Tour teams. Fred Rodriquez, a three-time U.S. Professional Champion and arider with the Belgium-based Davitamon-Lotto team, one of the top squadsin the world was in attendance as well and commented, “The Tour of Missouriis situated perfectly for American domestic teams as well as top Americanswho have raced much of the season in Europe.  For an American, havingthree major stages in the U.S. for the first time is great news. It showsthe growth of cycling as a sport. The Tour of Missouri will provide a greatopportunity for Americans looking to prepare for the World Championshipsat the end of the season.”The mid-September dates follow the USA Professional Cycling Championshipsin Greenville, S.C. and before the World Championships, which are usuallythe last week of September.  Rodriquez, who attended Tuesday’s pressconference at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis, finished a very respectable15th in the World Championships in Salzburg, Austria three weeks ago. The six-day race is expected to start in the western part of thestate around Kansas City and finish around St. Louis, according to raceorganizers, who will begin negotiating with potential start and finishcities immediately.The race is expected to cover about 600 miles and highlight urban aswell as rural parts of the Show Me State. The State of Missouri is a proud supporter of the Tour of Missouri. Tourism is a $13.4 billion industry for the state of Missouri, generatingmore than 37.7 million domestic person trips each year.  The professionalcycling races in other states like Georgia and California has registeredmore than $40 million in quantified economic impact and tourist attraction. Medalist Sports, Inc. of Tyrone, Ga., just south of Atlanta, inpartnership with KOM Sports Marketing, are the premier event managementand marketing organization for professional multi-day cycling races inNorth America.  It currently is the event management group for theAmgen Tour of California and Tour de Georgia, as well as the USA CyclingProfessional Championships.  Medalist’s managing partners are JimBirrell and Chris Aronhalt. KOM is led by Steve Brunner. Combined the threehave more than 50 years combined experience organizing top internationalsporting events, including elite cycling events the Tour de Trump (1989-90),Tour DuPont (1991-96), Tour of Georgia (2003-06), Amgen Tour of California(2006), as well as five Olympics Games, multiple Olympic Trials and threeGoodwill Games.  Medalist is also the event management group for theUSA Cycling Professional Championship held annually in Greenville, S.C.

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State Contact: 
Barry Bennett, State of Missouri
Barry.bennett@ltgov.mo.org
573-751-1088 - officeRace Information Contact:
Steve Brunner, Tour of Missouri
 sgbrunner@kom-sportsmarketing.com
719-322-7022 - mobile