Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, with the aid of local dignitaries, unveiled “Host City Tour of Missouri” signs Thursday morning during a brief ceremony at The Centre.
“There will be a lot of people coming to your area for the Tour of Missouri,” Kinder said after the 2-foot by 2-foot sign was uncovered.
The ceremony was coordinated with the Missouri Department of Transportation’s placement of numerous “Host City” signs at city borders along Interstate 44, U.S. Route 63, Missouri Route 72 and other highways.
The colorful white, yellow and blue placards were placed on posts below the city limits signs on the outskirts of both St. James and Rolla.
It was a ceremony that afforded Kinder and politicos the opportunity to stress the magnitude of the race.
“Last year for the finish, the (Chicago) Cubs were in town, and there was not an available hotel room all the way to Sullivan,” Kinder said of the bicycling race finish in St. Louis.
During the inaugural event last year, the six-day race was estimated to pump $26.2 million into Missouri’s economy. With an additional stage for 2008 and its increased awareness, even greater gains are expected this year.
“It’ll be one of the world’s largest, class events in the state,” Kinder said.
Kinder made the comments in the Entertainment Area of The Centre, in front of the huge stone fireplace.
The lieutenant governor was joined by Rolla Mayor William S. Jenks, III, St. James Mayor Dennis Wilson, Rolla City Administrator John Butz, Candace Connell, St. James Director of Community Development, State Reps. Bob May and Jason Smith, Phelps County Commissioners Randy Verkamp, Bud Dean, Larry Stratman and Local Organizing Chairman and Centre Director Scott Caron and various other committee members and other dignitaries.
“We’re very excited about this. This may be the biggest thing ever to come to Rolla,” Jenks said of the second annual cycling race that is expected to bring 120 of the world’s best cyclists through Rolla.
“This will be huge, putting Rolla on a world stage,” Jenks said.
Jenks also said the Local Organizing Committee is working with Missouri University of Science & Technology officials to make the Rolla finish memorable.
“With the university having an explosives program, we’re expecting some fantastic fireworks at the finish line,” Jenks said of the yet unreleased conclusion expected to be in downtown Rolla.
Rolla will be the finish line for Stage Four, which begins in Lebanon on Sept. 11.
On this historic day, the race tentatively is expected to come through Fort Leonard Wood as racers conquer the long climb up to Rolla from Jerome. The exact race routes are expected to be announced in mid-June.
“This has the potential to be the toughest stage,” said Jeff Corbett, an official with Medalist Sports, of the Rolla Stage Four. Medalist Sports is the company organizing the event.
Stage Five will begin the next day in St. James and will conclude in Jefferson City before the final two stages will go through Hermann, to St. Charles and culminating in a grand finale in St. Louis.
With the Missouri Wine Council as one of the sponsors of the race, local organizers are hoping those undetermined routes from St. James will pass at least some of the local wineries.
“We’ve had some big events, the Centennial, the Sesquicentennial ... but I think this could be the biggest thing to come to Phelps County ever,” said Verkamp, the county’s presiding commissioner, echoing comments made by Mayor Jenks.
Wilson, the St. James mayor, said excitement for the race is growing.
“The race has really energized the community,” Wilson said. “The other day I was at Maramec Spring Park, and I saw a dozen license plates there from people out of town. I think it’s going to have that kind of impact on St. James and Rolla.
“I can’t say enough about the partnership that has developed between St. James and Rolla, and I think it will have a long-term benefit for people of both communities,” Wilson said.
The Tour of Missouri last year was a 600-mile, six-day world-class race.
It is a race that features point-to-point racing, starting in St. Joseph on Sept. 8 and concluding in St. Louis on Sept. 14. There are stages to Kansas City, to Springfield, a time trial in Branson, to Rolla, to Jefferson City, to St. Charles and then to St. Louis.
The race will feature teams of eight persons from 15 of the world’s top professional cycling teams. Those teams will be announced next month.
Last year, in the inaugural event, the six-day Tour of Missouri drew 367,000 spectators and brought an estimated $26.2 million into the state’s economy. Race officials in Rolla are hoping for a “stage share” of that in Rolla and St. James, keeping in mind the largest finishes are in Kansas City and St. Louis.
The estimated total audience last year, which included video feeds to 13 states and 22 countries, included 22.038 million viewers, newspaper coverage included 425 million readers and 67 radio stations provided coverage.
Caron said the Local Organizing Committee still is seeking sponsors for the race.
“There’s still time to be a sponsor,” Caron said. “We just need to get all these things to the printer in time.”
Caron, who will write a column beginning June 9 for the Rolla Daily News about the Tour of Missouri, said persons or businesses seeking to be a sponsor should call him at 573 341-2386.
