Cities wanting to play host to one of the world’s best bicycle races have made their case. Next up: about six weeks of evaluations. Cities wanting to be part of the action for the 2009 Tour of Missouri had to get their applications in by Monday. The race has become a bigger deal in its first two years and now has been upgraded to the status of only a few professional races outside of Europe.
Cities are competing to be a starting city or a finishing city.–or to fill both roles. They have to show thousands of dollars in financial and logistical support. Project director Stacey Blomberg says the efforts to be key cities during the seven-day event have become more competitive. "We’ve had a lot more cities contact us this year," she says. She says the Tour of Missouri website had hits from people in 139 countries last year—showing the event provides exposure for the state and its cities it could never get any other way.Organizers will make site visits and do other evaluations for the next few weeks. The winning cities will be announced in late January.
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