Move over Tour de Georgia and Tour of California — the Tour of Missouri is joining the ranks of the USA Cycling Professional Tour as an internationally sanctioned bicycle race.
What this means is that top pro teams that compete in Union Cycliste Internationale events in Europe can also ride in the stage race as it winds through Missouri between Kansas City and St. Louis next September.
This is just another indication that interest in bicycle racing is exploding in the US. No more dreary returns like those from the Tour duPont and Tour de Trump.
In February, an estimated 1.3 million bike racing fans watched the inaugural Tour of California, drawing an estimated $100 million into the host cities. The Tour de Georgia draws upwards of 800,000 and had an estimated economic impact of $26 million in 2006.
The newly created USA Cycling Professional Tour will include 15 races (five of them stage races) in 11 states, comprising 40 days of pro cycling in the US. The pro tour includes all UCI-events scheduled in the US, as well as the three USA Cycling professional championships.
Bike riders will accumulate points at the races, with an overall champion to be crowned at the end of the season.
Show Me Tour
The Tour of Missouri will invite up to 16 teams to compete in the UCI-ranked event that runs from Sept. 11-16. Although the route hasn't been chosen, it's expected to cover about 600 miles of rural, as well as urban, roads.
Medalist Sports of Tyrone, Georgia, is the main organizer of the race; it also handles the Tour of California and the Tour de Georgia. Marketing for the race will be handled by KOM Sports Marketing. More about the Tour of Missouri at the Daily Peloton.
The schedule for the 2007 USA Cycling Professional Tour:
Feb. 18-25: AMGEN Tour of California – California
Apr. 14: U.S. Cycling Open – Richmond, Va.
Apr. 16-22: Tour de Georgia – Georgia
June 3: Commerce Bank Lancaster Classic – Lancaster, Pa.
June 7: Commerce Bank Reading Classic – Reading, Pa.
June 10: Commerce Bank International Championship – Philadelphia, Pa.
June 17: Austin Men’s Invitational – Austin, Texas
June 23: Saturn Rochester Twilight Criterium – Rochester, N.Y.
June 30-July 7: Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah — UtahAug. 12-19 (tentative date): Larry H. Miller Tour of Utah – Utah Aug. 19: USA Cycling Professional Criterium Championships – Downer’s Grove, Ill.
Sept. 1: The Cliffs USA Cycling Professional Time Trial Championships – Greenville, S.C.Sept. 3: The Cliffs USA Cycling Professional Road Championships – Greenville, S.C.Sept. 8: Univest Grand Prix – Souderton, Pa.Sept. 11-16: Tour of Missouri – Missouri
Sept. 15: Tour de Leelanau – Traverse, City, Mich.
Links for Tour of Missouri, Tour of California, and Tour de Georgia.
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