Tour of Missouri pedals through potential cuts

The tour rolls in on the final year of the race's contract.

By Pierce Courchaine

Published Sept. 11, 2009

The Tour of Missouri bicycle race is back on after a summer of uncertainty.

The race, which began Sept. 7 and goes until Sept. 15, was one of the cuts proposed by the state's Department of Economic Development. Gov. Jay Nixon then decided against cutting the $1.5 million in government funding for the tour.

"Missouri currently faces tremendous financial challenges, and the state must find ways to reduce spending," Nixon said in a news release. "Even as my administration continues to tighten its belt, I believe that the 2009 Tour of Missouri should go forward."

Nixon spokesman Scott Holste said the race was important, but not essential.

"The state is facing very tough economic times," Holste said. "The revenue projection continues to look very challenging."

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder spokesman Gary McElyea said the race gives a boost to tourism.

McElyea said the 2008 tour brought in $28 million in tourist revenue. In addition to the $1.5 million government funding, the tour receives additional funds from corporate advertising.

"I think the tour has been a huge win for communities across the state." McElyea said. "This is the largest sporting event Missouri has ever held. It showcases our state via television coverage and news coverage all across the world."

McElyea said the race, which is held in seven stages across the state, had 435,000 spectators in 2008 and was viewed in about 120 countries.

Columbia does not participate in the race because of conflicts with the MU football schedule.

Ian Thomas, executive director of PedNet Coalition, a Columbia bicycle advocacy organization, said the tour is having a large impact on the cycling community.

"I think it's a great thing for Missouri," Thomas said. "When kids see professional cyclists, it can be inspiring. It raises the profile of cycling. In the area of cycling races, only a handful of states do a tour like this."

Despite major tours in Britain and Spain at the same time, McElyea said many of the world's top cyclists are coming to Missouri and seven of the top 15 teams from the Tour de France have riders in the Tour of Missouri.

Although this year's race has gone as planned, questions remain about the tour's fate next year because this is the third and final race by contract.

"We have to make sure the state of Missouri lives within its means just like a family lives within its means." Holste said, "Gov. Nixon wants to continue to provide essential services without raising taxes."

Kinder and his team plan to make the 2010 race a priority.

"The lieutenant governor has made it a goal to bring back the race in 2010," McElyea said. "As soon as this race is over next week, our eyes will focus on doing what we can do to make it happen again next year. Right now it comes down to cycling enthusiasts and supporters of the race contacting their representatives."

McElyea is proud of the progress the tour has made and only expects it to grow.

"In just three short years no other cycling event has escalated in the world's eye faster than the Tour of Missouri," McElyea said.