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2009 Sponsors

2009sponsors

2009 Poster

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Click HERE for a printable version of the 2009 Tour Of Missouri Poster featuring 2008 Champion, Christian VandeVelde!
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Tour of Missouri Announces 2009 Host Cities

Third Annual Elite Pro Cycling Race Takes Place September 7-13

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Lt Governor Peter Kinder and current U.S. Professional Champion Tyler Hamilton were on hand to announce the 2009 Tour of Missouri course. Click HERE for hi res version of image.

tomarticle03JEFFERSON CITY, MO (January 27, 2009) Event organizers and Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder today announced the start and finish host cities and the overall course for the third Tour of Missouri professional cycling race, scheduled for September 7-13, 2009.

The following cities will play host to a leg of the Tour: St. Louis, Ste. Genevieve, Cape Girardeau, Farmington, Rolla, St. James, Jefferson City, Sedalia, Chillicothe, St. Joseph, and Kansas City.

"We had a record amount of cities inquire about the Tour of Missouri," said Lt. Governor Kinder. "It is a testament to the success of the race. We faced a very difficult process of eliminating some great cities. Our commitment, however, is to continue to route the course to all areas of the state. This year, for the first time, we will visit the southeast part of Missouri while spending a longer time north of Interstate 70. In addition, we will be able to highlight some of the agricultural regions."

The overall course will take on a very different slant in 2009. For the first time, the race 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 to finish in St. Louis. Stage by stage courses will be announced at a later date.

"In keeping with tradition, we will change the course from year to year to keep it fresh," said Chris Aronhalt, the managing partner of event organizers Medalist Sports of the Atlanta area. "There will be new drama on the race route and we expect a few more hills. Overall, we have some great and very excited host cities."

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).

"I like what they've done," said 2008 Tour of Missouri champion Christian Vande Velde, an American who also finished fourth overall at last year's Tour de France. "It's a totally different race course and it looks like they've added some challenging terrain. Last year's race was very fast and tougher than it looked on paper. I look forward to coming back with my Garmin teammates to defend my title."

Added Team Columbia's Mark Cavendish of Britain, who won three stages of the 2008 Tour of Missouri: "Last year's race was very well organized and promoted. I really liked it. As a sprinter, I had several opportunities to win races, which is always good. With more hills expected, we'll see what happens."
Read more: 2009 Host Cities Announced
 
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Initial Sponsors Announced for 2009 Tour of Missouri

Impressive Line-Up of Missouri Companies Backs Elite Pro Cycling Race

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. − (January 27, 2009) − Today officials with the 2009 Tour of Missouri, an elite professional cycling race, announced an impressive list of returning sponsors for the seven day, 600+ mile event, taking place September 7-13, 2009. Two of the four named sponsors have supported the event since it's debut in 2007, and two are returning for the second consecutive year.

"It is a testament to the success of this event, as well as to the value it brings to sponsors, to name these outstanding Missouri companies and entities which are renewing their support for the Tour," said Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. "Since the inaugural race in 2007, this event has consistently delivered a positive economic impact to Missouri, and invaluable recognition throughout the state, country and the world to our sponsors."

The first firm to back the race in 2007, Edward Jones returns for the third year. The financial services firm effectively bridges its mission of "Making Sense of Investing" to "Making Sense of Cycling." A key component of the company’s sponsorship is on educational materials, including the official map guide and informational brochures.

"Edward Jones believes in physical and financial fitness. Edward "Ted" Jones was such a strong supporter of cycling that he purchased the Katy Trail and gave it to the people of Missouri. This was Ted's way of fostering fitness and appreciation for the outdoors. "Our sponsorship of the Tour of Missouri is another way to demonstrate the firm's dedication to health, the outdoors and the spirit of competition," says Mike Esser, principal of the firm.

Also returning for the third year, is Drury Hotels, the official hotel of the Tour of Missouri. The company’s invaluable support is activated in a number of ways, including billboards along major interstate highways as well as lodging for teams and support staff.

"Drury Hotels is proud to welcome cycling enthusiasts back for the 2009 Tour of Missouri. There are many outstanding reasons to visit Missouri, but none that wrap the entire breadth and depth of our state's geography, history and culture in one truly world-class athletic event," explains Eric Strand, vice resident of sales and marketing for Drury Hotels. "Over 30 of the 130 Drury family owned-and-operated hotels are located in our home state of Missouri. We take particular pride in the Tour making its first visit to the Boot Heel area of the state where the Drury brothers built their first hotel over 40 years ago."

Returning for the second year is Emerson. Emerson has set the bar for local community outreach, using its sponsorship of the Tour as a platform for promoting health and wellness.
Read more: 2009 Sponsors