Tour of Missouri is a seven-day elite bicycling point to point race, starting in St. Joseph on Sept. 8 and concluding in St. Louis Sept. 14. Stage 4 of the race, Lebanon to Rolla, is Sept. 11.
Missouri Tourism is the presenting sponsor of the fast-paced event.
The race is dedicated to promote tourism for the state and cycling with a platform of helmet safety, health and wellness as well as science and geography education for children.
“As a partner of Pulaski County, and a co-sponsor of stage 4 of The Tour of Missouri, Pulaski County Tourism Bureau is excited to be a part of this professional sporting event which promotes our area to international and national audiences,” said Beth Wiles, Executive Director of Pulaski County Tourism Bureau.
“This is a great opportunity for our citizens to watch a world class cycling event as the riders race through our county,” Wiles said.
Fifteen teams from 24 countries are 120 of the best world-class cyclists the sport has to offer. Many team members are world champions, national champions, or Olympians and some have just competed in Beijing.
George Hincapie, last year’s TOM Champion, is back from China to defend his title with team US Team High Road. The Columbia U.S. Team is ranked first in the world.
Stage 4 of the race is Sept. 11 and starts in Lebanon at 8 a.m.
Riders (flanked by crews, race organizers and media) are expected to race through Pulaski County from approximately noon to 2 p.m. via Richland, West Waynesville, then on to Fort Leonard Wood through the west gate, exiting through the east gate onto J Highway and into Phelps County, finishing in Rolla approximately 3 p.m.
The route will enter Pulaski County in Richland approximately 12:11 to 12:30 p.m. and travel along Highway 133 to Route T. They will then go south on Route T to Highway 17 in Waynesville. From Highway 17, they will take Ichord Avenue to Polla Road where riders will enter the west gate of Fort Leonard Wood paying homage to our Armed Forces and then exit the east gate of the post into Phelps County. Sprint lines will be contested at Fort Leonard Wood and Richland en route to the finish.
The Pulaski County route will take approximately an hour and 11 minutes for the teams to navigate through on their way to the finish line. Riders’ speed will average about 25 mph.
This stage of the race features long stretches in the Mark Twain National Forest and three “ultra KOMs,” otherwise known as “King of the Mountain Best Climber Awards,” with perhaps the toughest climb, a nasty 12 percent half-mile climb outside of Waynesville. The route also tracks on and off the famous Route 66. Touted as “deceivingly tough,” this may be the surprise stage of the race, according to race organizers.
Spectators will have the thrilling opportunity to witness and feel the excitement of this highly competitive professional racing event and cheer the teams as they speed thru our communities.
In Richland, spectators are encouraged to line the race route and show support for the event. Organizers ask spectators to arrive early. Racers are due approximately 12:11 to 12:30 p.m.
In Waynesville, spectators may view the race from Townfield Plaza at the Pulaski County Tourism Bureau Pep Zone and should arrive about 1 hour before the riders are due to arrive approximately 12:52 to 1:22 p.m.
At Fort Leonard Wood, the community is invited to the Joint Services Park to watch the Tour of Missouri bike race as it travels trough, view exhibits, listen to the CG commemorate the events of 9/11. Riders are due at the west gate approximately 1:04 to 1:37 p.m.
Roads through the stage 4 route will be closed accordingly for about a half hour as riders race the course with re-openings shortly after racers departure.
Wiles said she understands that road closures will be an issue.
“This minor inconvenience is definitely worth the reward of Pulaski County's route inclusion in the big race,” Wiles said. “It will be very exciting.”
Roads affected by closure on the stage 4 route in Pulaski County are as follows:
From Richland: Highway A, Northview, Chalfant, Warren, Walnut, Chestnut, Highway 7/133, National, Jefferson, Locust, Miller, LG Myers, Hillvale, Bryan, Odell, South Dublin, Sycamore Drive, Highway 133, Richfield Road, Sycamore Drive onto Highway 133, Richfield Road, Rodeo Road, Rapid Road, Rose, Highway BB and Bloomfield Road.
From Swedeborg: Highway T, Ann, Apple, Rawlins Road, Rockport Road, Rule Road, Redding Road, Rosebud, Robin, Reno, Riverside Road, Ridge Lane, Raleigh Road, Roswell Lane, Reporter Road, Robot Road, Reward, Rainbow, Rossett and Roberta.
From Waynesville: Oak Ridge, Lovely Lane, Long Dr., Highway 17, Settlers Pass, Charles Street, Cash James, Ichord Avenue, CW Parker Avenue, Old Highway H, Spruce Road, Southside, Seneca Lane, Highway H and Sybil.
Drivers in these areas should stay alert for traffic delays between noon and 2 p.m. as roads open and close for the race.
Last year’s race was very successful for the state as a tourism vehicle as people from 73 countries caught part of the event via live webcasts and people from 21 states came into Missouri to see the event. A state-commissioned survey on the event provides impressive numbers. In 2007, the race brought in $26.2 million to the Missouri economy. The total estimated audience was 360,000; video feeds to 13 states and 22 countries included 22 million viewers, 425 million newspaper readers and coverage from 67 radio stations.
Live coverage of this year’s event will be broadcast in 100 foreign countries, and will have multi-media national coverage including Fox Sports.
Extensive information on the race can be found at www.tourofmissouri.com, where those who are interested can follow the race, view the routes and read about the teams.
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