(Update: July 11 — The Missouri Tourism Commission reaffirmed its support of the Tour of Missouri on Friday, voting unanimously to retain funding for another year.
The final decision rests with Gov. Jay Nixon, however.)
July 10 — Organizers of the third annual Tour of Missouri are scrambling to find more money for the week-long stage bicycle race after the governor froze state funds for race.
Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, one of the race's biggest supporters, is urging cycling enthusiasts to contact Gov. Jay Nixon to request that he reinstate the funding for the Sept. 7-13 event.
Supporters of the Tour of Missouri can leave a phone message at 573-751-5261. Also, here's an email link to Gov. Nixon's office. While it would mean a lot for Nixon to hear from voters, I'd also recommend contacting Nixon if you were considering a trip to Missouri to see the race this year.
A blog, “Save the Tour of Missouri,” is following developments in the race to reinstate or find funding for this September's event.
The state Department of Tourism had agreed to pump in $1.5 million this year to help pay for the Tour of Missouri, which Kinder says brings in $60 million in economic impact to the state.
Gov. Nixon issued the decision after he asked the various state departments to propose cuts to Missouri's seriously depleted budget. The Department of Economic Development moved to block the $1.5 million set aside for the Tour; just part of the $10 million in cuts the department is making.
As the Tour of Missouri has a $3.3 million budget for the coming race, the freezing of the state's $1.5 million eliminates nearly half the budget. Without that money, the race is history.
According to the Kansas City Star:
“The study of last year’s tour estimated attendance at all seven stages
to be more than 430,000, and calculated spending by spectators at $29.8
million, including $15.6 million spent by tourists from out of state.”
It sounds like saving a few bucks now will cost the state a lot more in lost revenue.
Among the cycling teams scheduled to race:
- Astana (KAZ)
- BMC Racing (USA)
- Cervelo Test Team (SUI)
- Garmin-Slipstream (USA)
- Jelly Belly (USA)
- Liquigas (ITA)
- OUCH presented by Maxxis (USA)
- Quick Step (BEL)
- Team Saxo Bank (DEN)
- Team Columbia-Highroad (USA)
If efforts to fund the race fail, the Tour of California will remain the only highly ranked bicycle race in the US. The Tour de Georgia ended its six-year run in 2008.
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