Alongside four day of Pro/Am racing in the Midwest’s largest racing series, The THF Realty Gateway Cup

The best female cyclists in the United States will once again kick-off the final event on the UCI North American Professional Racing Calendar, The Tour of Missouri Professional Cycling Race. Continuing the tradition started in 2008 with the one-day Tour of Missouri Women’s Criterium in Kansas City, for 2009 the speed and skill of the top female athletes in the country will be on display over 4 days of racing with a combined purse of $15,000.

The 2009 Tour of Missouri begins in St. Louis, Missouri over Labor Day Weekend, the same weekend as the Midwest’s largest competitive Pro/Am cycling series, the 18th edition of The Gateway Cup (www.gatewaycup.com). Four days of racing in the heart of four of St. Louis’ most distinctive neighborhoods, the top amateurs and professionals in the country will compete for over $34,000 in prize money. Each day of The THF Realty Gateway Cup will feature a stage of the Tour of Missouri Women’s Series.

All eyes will be on Missouri for the largest sporting event ever held in the State, the Tour of Missouri, as St. Louis hosts the present and future stars of cycling. Labor Day, Sept. 7th, The Tour of Missouri Women’s Finale will be the final event of The THF Realty Gateway Cup, leading into Stage 1 of the Tour of Missouri. Starting in the morning, fans and racers can enjoy a full day of activities and racing as the Gateway Cup and the Tour of Missouri Women’s Finale share the same finish line, crowds and excitement of Stage 1 of the men’s professional international race.

“The Gateway Cup group has been great to work with. We felt the partnership between the Tour of Missouri and the Gateway Cup could only grow the brand and give our core audience a chance to race and then see the best riders in the world," said Steve Brunner, President of KOM Sports Marketing, the event's marketing arm that works with Medalist Sports. "It's going to be a blockbluster weekend for cycling enthusiasts Labor Day in St. Louis."

Previous winners of both the Tour of Missouri Women’s events and The THF Realty Gateway Cup represent the top professional men and women competing in the United States. Double US National Champion, Brooke Miller, racing for Team Tibco, won the inaugural Tour of Missouri Women’s race in 2008. The 17th edition of the Gateway Cup was won by Toyota-United’s Australian powerhouse Henk Vogels immediately prior to him contesting the Tour of Missouri.

The THF Realty Gateway Cup presented by the Residence Inn Marriott St. Louis Downtown takes place in the heart of four unique St. Louis neighborhoods- Lafayette Square, the St. Louis Hills Neighborhood-Francis Park, the Italian Hill Neighborhood and the historic Gateway Mall. Within each of these host communities the race course is defined by an approximately one mile lap known as a criterium This Americanized style of racing appeals to both athletes and spectators alike as the peloton, or pack of cyclists, pass by every few minutes at impressive speeds holding lines only inches apart from one another. Spectators can watch the race unfold lap after lap as the announcers commentate race strategy and rev up the crowd.

Families and children will be able to take part in the action, with each day of the Gateway Cup featuring children’s races benefitting the Big Brothers Big Sisters Amaci Program. From Big Wheel to twelve, kids will be able to race across the same finish line as the pros with prizes and awards presented by St. Louis famous City Museum.

Other events to look forward to over this action packed weekend will be a Tour of Missouri Women’s Soiree and team presentation and party Saturday September 5th, a recreational ride from the Giro Della Montagna race on Sunday September 6th sponsored by www.trailnet.org and cycling themed art exhibits in the Lafayette Square neighborhood and at the Soulard Artists Guild.
Admission for spectators is free, aligning with the vision that the Tour of Missouri and the Gateway Cup remain accessible, family friendly, community events. Fans can enjoy the close proximity and accessibility of the athletes, taking advantage of memorable interactions and autographs.

ABOUT THE GATEWAY CUP
The Gateway Cup presented by THF Realty is in its 18th year of operation under the direction of Big Shark Racing and promoters Tim Ranek and Mike Weiss. The event was founded as a local racing series that showcased the most interesting and historic neighborhoods around St. Louis and has grown into the largest competitive cycling event in the Midwest. Please direct all questions/comments to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it . Visit the event website at www.gatewaycup.com