Tour of Missouri bike race host cities announced

(See Tour of Missouri news)

One of three major US stage races in 2007

Now the thousands of TransAmerica bicyclists who suffered through Missouri's Ozarks region in mid-summer heat can see how the pros handle it.

Organizers of the Tour of Missouri have released a general map and list of host cities for the inaugural event that's being launched as one of the top pro bike races in the country.

Although the timing of the race — Sept. 11-16 — might mean slightly cooler temperatures, that roller-coaster Missouri terrain should still be a factor. The cyclists will ride 600 miles in 6 stages, with starts or finishes in Kansas City, Clinton, Springfield, Branson, Lebanon, Columbia, Jefferson City, St. Charles and St. Louis.

Along with the Tour of California in February and the Tour de Georgia in April, the bike race is being sanctioned by the Union Cycliste Internationale, which means there will be many world-class teams and cyclists in the peloton.

Sports marketing company Medalist Sports is organizing all three races, as well as the USA Pro Cycling Championships scheduled for the Labor Day weekend in Greenville, South Carolina.

Here's the breakdown:

Stage 1, Sept. 11 — Kansas City to Kansas City, road race
The world-class international race will start in Missouri’s second largest city as cyclists will race an out-and-back course.

Stage 2, Sept. 12 — Clinton to Springfield, road race
After an auto transfer, the race starts at the trailhead of Missouri’s famous Katy Trial cross-state bike path, and races to Missouri’s third-largest city.

Stage 3, Sept. 13 — Branson, individual time trial
The caravan will make its way 40 miles south for an individual time trial in the hilly resort town of Branson.

Stage 4, Sept. 14 — Lebanon to Columbia, road race
The caravan transfers north to the agricultural town of Lebanon for to race to the home to the University of Missouri.

Stage 5, Sept. 15 — Jefferson City to St. Charles, road race
Cyclists race from the state's capital city through the wine region to the historic river city of St. Charles.

Stage 6, Sept. 16 — St. Louis, circuit race
A criterium in the shadows of the Arch.

The exact bike race route will be released this spring, according to the press release.

Down among the names at the bottom of the press release is corporate development and sales director Mark Gorski, who I instantly remembered as a cycling gold medalist I saw at the 1984 Olympics in Los Angeles. That was my destination the summer I was introduced to bicycling through the Missouri Ozarks.