This article first appeared in the St. Louis Beacon, March 13, 2009 - Missouri Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who came under fire during last fall's re-election campaign for his use of state money to promote the Tour of Missouri bike race, is happily touting the Golden Boy of Cycling as playing a role in this year's third annual race.
Lance Armstrong may not be participating himself, but Kinder has announced that the world renowned cyclist's team, Team Astana, has agreed to participate in this fall's cross-state cycling race, which runs from Sept. 7-13.
“Noting they are one of the world’s best teams will surely draw large crowds and media attention to our state,'' Kinder said. "It’s another sign this race is growing into one of the premier cycling events in the world.”
Such attention also could provide Missouri's only Republican statewide officeholder with an I-told-you-so moment.
Last fall, Kinder's Democratic opponent -- then-state Rep. Sam Page of Creve Coeur -- ran a TV ad asserting that Kinder "used state job creation money to sponsor his bike race that lost millions of taxpayer dollars."
Page was referring to the first year of the race, in 2007, when the race cost $1.55 million in state money. About $350,000 came from the Missouri Development Finance Board when the race ran in the red.
Kinder countered with a state-funded study that concluded last fall's race-watchers spent $30 million. Kinder said such figures showed that the event was a success, and a sign that the state should continue the race after this fall, the last in the event's three-year schedule.
The tour will begin in St. Louis on Sept. 7. For the first two years, the Gateway City marked the race's end. This time, it will end in Kansas City and span 600 miles.
According to a release out of Kinder's office, "The race will be contested over seven days and seven stages.
"There will be two circuit races (St. Louis, Kansas City), one individual time trial (Sedalia), and four point to point road races (Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau; Farmington to Rolla; St. James to Jefferson City; Chillicothe to St. Joseph).
Team Astana, registered in Kazakstan, joins four other well-known teams: United States-based teams Garmin-Slipstream and Columbia-High Road; Italian pro tour team Liquigas, and the Swiss-based Cervelo Test Team. The race's full field is 15 teams.
The rosters of who will actually be cycling won't be set until later.
Chris Aronhalt, the managing partner of event organizer Medalist Sports, said in a statement: “To have the participation of Astana is yet another huge step for this race. The Tour of Missouri’s reputation is evidently very solid in the minds of the top teams and riders...."
Besides Armstrong, Team Astana's racers include American Levi Leipheimer, 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Cantador of Spain and Tour de France podium finisher Andres Kloden of Germany.
