JEFFERSON CITY, MO − (May 26, 2009) − Today officials with the 2009 Tour of Missouri announced five additional sponsors, adding to the impressive line up of previously announced Missouri companies supporting the race. The Tour of Missouri is an elite pro cycling race, spanning seven days, September 7-13, and covering 600-plus miles. Illustrating the success of the three-year-old professional sporting event, each of the featured sponsors — Wind Capital Group, MAVIC, Yakima, Missouri’s Electric Cooperatives and Assurant Health Insurance — is renewing their support for the event.

“The commitments from each of the returning sponsors underscore the event’s unprecedented marketing value as well as its positive economic impact to the community and the state,” said Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder. “We salute our sponsors and look forward to presenting another world-class professional sporting event, free to attend and watch for fans across the globe. We are committed to creating even more opportunities for new sponsors to help partner with the Tour of Missouri.”

Based in the Midwest, Wind Capital Group builds wind farms with a project strategy that places serious focus on community involvement and developing relationships to guide a project toward success. Wind Capital Group has developed and constructed the only four operational wind farms in the state of Missouri, totaling 162 megawatts. One of these projects, the Loess Hills Wind Farm, led to the city of Rock Port, Mo., which has become America's first 100 percent wind-powered community. According to Wind Capital Group's President Tom Carnahan, partnering with the Tour of Missouri is an ideal fit.

"We are proud of the opportunity to once again be a part of the Tour of Missouri and recognize the great value an event like this brings to the state and its local communities," he said. "Wind Capital Group harnesses and delivers natural American wind energy resources, powering thousands of homes across the United States, mirroring the natural energy intrinsic to the sport of cycling."

Currently, Wind Capital Group is developing wind farm projects in 16 states across the central United States with a development pipeline of over 2,500 megawatts, including an additional 500 megawatts in the northwestern part of Missouri.

Also renewing its support is MAVIC, which will provide neutral technical support for the race. Recognized by their bright yellow cars and motorcycles, which are featured as part of the caravan, MAVIC provides crucial services for riders who cannot gain support from their team cars during a race. It marks the third year MAVIC is supporting the Tour.

Yakima, the world leader in the design and manufacture of cargo management equipment solutions for outdoor enthusiasts, has committed as the official roof rack of the 2009 Tour for the third year. “Our bike racks are utilized by cyclists at every level, from elite professionals to families headed out for a weekend ride. Sponsoring the Tour of Missouri is an exceptional opportunity to support professional cyclists, biking enthusiasts and cycling fans throughout the world,” said marketing manager Joel Grabenstein.

Additional sponsors include Missouri’s electric cooperatives and Assurant Health Insurance, which has corporate headquarters in Milwaukee, Wis.

The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives is a group of 41 electric member-owned distribution cooperatives, six transmission cooperatives and one generation cooperative that serve more than 600,000 rural Missourians around the state. The group will be the title sponsor for the Stage 5 time trial in Sedalia.

“I’m proud that Missouri’s electric cooperatives will be sponsoring this event since it takes place predominantly in rural areas,” says Barry Hart, executive vice president of the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. “Having the tour pass through these rural communities will pay dividends well into the future.”

“The Tour is garnering support from a broad spectrum of organizations,” said Steve Brunner, the president of KOM Sports Marketing, the marketing agent for Tour of Missouri. “Our sponsors recognize the value of aligning their brands with a world-class, professional sporting event which is free for fans to attend while thousands more around the world watch it online.”

Previously announced sponsors are Missouri Tourism of Jefferson City; Drury Hotels, Edward Jones and Emerson, all of St. Louis; and Missouri Farm Bureau of Jefferson City.

The three-year-old race was granted an upgrade to one of the top five-ranked events outside Europe by international and national federation’s for cycling. The upgrade will guarantee more top teams. A total of nine elite teams have been announced to date:

• Astana, No. 6-ranked
• BMC Racing
• Cervelo Test Team
• Columbia High-Road
• Garmin-Slipstream
• Jelly Belly
• Liquigas
• Quickstep
• Saxo Bank

Additional teams will be announced in coming weeks, bringing the field to 15.

For the first time since its inaugural year, the 2009 Tour will route east to west, starting in St. Louis and finishing in Kansas City. The past two years, the race routed west to east, starting in Kansas City and finishing in St. Louis.

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). The overall mileage for the course is expected to be more than 600 miles.

Sponsorship, hospitality and VIP packages are now available for the 2009 Tour. For more information visit www.tourofmissouri.com or for sponsorship availability contact King of the Mountain Sports Marketing at CLOAKING or (719) 272-7022 or Jerry Dowell at CLOAKING or (573) 462-0208.

RACE CONTACTS:
Priscilla Visintine, (314) 422-5646 or
Steve Brunner, (719) 322-7022

STATE CONTACT:
Gary McElyea, (573) 751-1088