As two versions of the race were gradually built up, the tour of the show-me state began to be seen as one of the top among the nation. Then the 2009 edition catapulted its success to the international level. Competing with the traditionally deep Tour of Spain, which occurred over the same week, the Missouri stage race was still able to entice top caliber riders. In fact, several of the most prominent international pro teams - Columbia HTC, Astana, Saxo-Bank, and Garmin-Slipstream split their teams so to have riders in both competitions. And as it turned out, their best raced in the Midwest.

Props to the fans of the great state of Missouri, the hardworking race organizers, the tenacity of Lt. Governor Peter Kinder, and funding from the Missouri Department of Tourism for pulling off such a feat. Their efforts put the foundation in place for the race, which turned out to be a compelling sporting event.

From the get-go, the race was full of exciting sprint finishes, grueling breakaway attempts to out power the almighty peloton, and the dreadful crashes that left spectators gasping and wondering how the rider was able to pedal onward.

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The Stage Seven win went to Martin Gilbert of Team Planet Energy who narrowly crossed over the finish line ahead of Andrew Pinfold of Team OUCH and Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo in a time of two hours, 33 minutes, and 11 seconds. The peloton finished three seconds behind the homestretch sprinters; however, no rider was able to close the 30 second gap that Zabriskie had put on the field in the overall standings after his individual time trial victory, enabling him to glide under the finish line as the new champion.

Riders kept a brisk pace through much of Stage Seven, a 72 mile circuit race which wound its way through the streets of downtown Kansas City, Mo. 10 laps through the course kept Kansas City’s devout fans entertained as they packed both sides of the street to cheer on the athletes and eventual winners.

While Zabriskie went nearly unchallenged in clinching the yellow jersey as the general classification winner, several battles went on during Sunday’s race for the other jersey competitions. Hushovd held off threats from opponents to officially claim the green sprints jersey, the jersey he’s worn through the majority of the week’s races. Dario Cataldo of Team QuickStep put on his white best young-rider jersey for the final time in the post race ceremony, and Moises Aldape of Team Type One wrapped up his bid for the climbers jersey. Team Saxo Bank secured title as the top team in the tour.

Zabriskie’s overall winning time for the 2009 Tour of Missouri was 22 hours, 26 minutes, and 56 seconds over a total of 600 miles. 

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

The vigorous finish was not enough to stir up the results of the Tour of Missouri general classification; Team Garmin-Slipstream’s David Zabriskie still holds a 30 second lead over the second place rider. Each of the other points competitions also retain the same leaders; Hushovd with the green sprints jersey, and Dario Cataldo of Team QuickStep in the white young-rider jersey.

Stage Four’s century-plus-ten mile route from Chillicothe, Mo. to St. Joseph, Mo. featured northern Missouri’s flat but wind prone region. The peloton stayed tight and teams tucked away their top riders early in the race. Contrary from other stages this week, it was Team Garmin-Slipstream that set the pace and controlled the moves of the main pack in effort to protect the lead tour leader Zabriskie.

The tour ends Sunday when the riders compete for victory in Stage Seven in Kansas City, Mo. Similar to Stage One in St. Louis, Stage Seven will be run as a circuit race throughout the streets of downtown Kansas City. Zabriskie will be looking to defend his yellow jersey, and to take his first ever multi-stage race victory. With a 30 second gap between the next closest podium spot, it would take an epic breakway performance by an opponent to take the lead from Zabriskie.

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

The fastest man of the day proved to be Team Garmin-Slipstream’s four-time U.S. Time Trial champion David Zabriskie, who spun his way through the 19 mile course in 36 minutes, 30.49 seconds in Stage Five of the Tour of Missouri. His next closest opponent, Gustav Larsson of Team Saxo Bank, finished a lengthy 30 seconds behind in second place. Rounding off the podium in third place was Tom Zirbel of Team Bissell Pro Cycling.

The time trial may have been the Tour’s moment of truth, no man can hide when riding alone – it’s rider vs. himself. The tour favorites and most notable names were anticipated to perform at a high level in this especially important stage, and the stage’s fastest man from point A to point B could potentially take center stage and all but secure the yellow jersey.

“Today is the day that all of the riders who think that they can win this race [Tour of Missouri] must come out of the shadows and prove they’re worthy of victory,” race commentator Paul Sherwen said prior to the beginning of the race.

With his commanding stage victory, Zabriskie becomes the new general classification leader, and will wear the golden fleece in Stage Six. ‘God of Thunder’ Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo kept his claim on the green sprints jersey, and Dario Cataldo of Team QuickStep will stay in the white young-rider jersey.

Stage Six is set to start at 1 p.m. on Sept. 12, and is a 110 mile road race venturing from Chillicothe, Mo. to St. Joseph, Mo. The race terrain is visibly flat up to the St. Joseph area, however the region is known for gusty wind bursts this time of the year. It will be a fight against both the peloton and Mother Nature for the competing teams. Team Saxo Bank is expected to race aggressively, as they currently have two riders seated within the top ten in overall standings, and as usual Team Columbia HTC is anticipated to make a bid with their top riders, including inaugural Tour of Missouri winner Geroge Hincapie. Team Saxo Bank is currently the overall top team after five stages. 

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

As the riders made their way up Capitol Hill and through the spectator-lined streets of scenic Jefferson City, Mo., it was all eyes on the road. They had no time to check out the alluring capital building and its surroundings as they traveled around the circuit.

After the race, however, was a different story. And he with the best view of the state capitol from the top of the podium was Juan Jose Haedo of Team Saxo Bank.

Haedo grabbed the victory in Stage Four of the Tour of Missouri after finishing the 109.2 mile route in four hours, seven minutes, and 55 seconds. He also grabbed the yellow leader jersey for the first time in his career.

"It was my first year ever to wear yellow jersey. I'll be processing it all night. Today I reached the right energy level at the right moment," said Haedo of the day’s race.

The trek from St. James, Mo. to Jefferson City, Mo. began with gentle rolling hills and long straights of farm land, but as the road hit the Ozark region for the second consecutive day the riders were once again challenged with frequent climbs and twisting down-hills. Those created a problem for the breakaway group, who took off early in the race. Although they rode by themselves for nearly 90 miles, the steep climbs near capitol city ended their bid for an upset victory. The peloton, directed today by Team Saxo Bank, gathered in the rebellious riders with fewer than five miles to go. From there it was tight riding through the finish.

Haedo was able to maneuver around a 20 man accident with two miles to go and out dueled green jersey sprinter Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo for the victory. In addition to laying claim on the golden fleece, Haedo also took possession of the green sprints jersey. Team Columbia HTC’s Mark Cavendish, previously the owner of the white jersey, gave up his after withdrawing from competition to nurse an injury. The new leader of the young rider competition is Dario Cataldo of Team Quick Step.

Stage Five of the tour is the much anticipated individual time trial in Sedalia, Mo. Race favorites, including Team Columbia HTC’s George Hincapie and Team Garmin’s David Zabriskie, are expected to post top times. Racing against the clock kicks off at 2 p.m. Friday over a flat 19 mile course.

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

Photos by Brent Davidson

Hushovd’s stage win during the Stage Three race on Sept. 9 created a wave that had a ripple effect on the race standings. Hushovd leaped over Team Columbia HTC’s Mark Cavendish, who finished fith, in the overall standings for the yellow leader jersey. Although tied in overall time with Hushovd, Cavendish now leads only the top young rider points competition, and will sport his white young-rider jersey in Stage Four.

Hushovd was especially satisified with Wednesday’s victory because he was finally able to edge out Cavendish, today after a chaotic sprint to the end. Cavendish was plagued with a flat tire early in the race and had to spend extra effort to again reach the peloton. Once he again joined the main group, he made his way to the front to ride with Team Columbia HTC, who again controlled the pace and positioning of the pack. Wednesday’s race looked similar to Tuesday’s stage, with several breakaways that were reeled back in, and a sprint finish once the group hit the final stretch in Rolla, Mo. Hushovd had just enough to outkick his rivals, and go from green jersey to yellow.

“It's always good to be in yellow and first of all I'm more happy to win a stage because of course it's confusing to get beaten by Cavendish every time, so I'm really happy to win. For me it was a perfect final, and all my teammates on Cervelo Test Team, they did a really great job," said Hushovd.

Hushovd recognizes the challenge ahead of him in protecting the overall lead; with four stages yet to come in the tour, hundreds of miles have yet to be covered and scenarios are countless.

“When we have yellow jersey we have more responsibility. Tomorrow we see what we can do; we do our best to keep this jersey for as long as possible,” Hushovd added after rolling into victory and taking the podium.

It will take a maximum effort for Team Saxo Bank to keep their sprinter in the yellow jersey; lurking only 20 seconds behind in the overall classification are race favorites Levi Leipheimer of Team Astana, and David Zabriskie of Team Garmin-Slipstream. In Stage Four the athletes will race 109.2 miles from St. James, Mo. to the state capital of Jefferson City, Mo. The route again will present challenges as the roads wind through the Ozark region’s countless hills.

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

Cavendish increased his slim overall lead to keep the yellow jersey, and again finished in first place for overall points in the green sprints jersey competition and the white young-rider jersey competition. He will continue to sport the yellow jersey in Stage Three, and the second place riders in each of the points competitions will wear the green and white jersey.

Finishing directly behind Cavendish to round off the podium spots were, in second place, Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo, and in third place, Juan Jose Haedo of Team Saxo Bank. The pair finished in reversed order for second and third in Monday’s stage.

Tuesday’s race through southern Missouri was won in a time of four hours, 16 minutes, and 53 seconds. The Stage Two race lacked the presence of the defending race champion, Team Garmin’s Christian Vande Velde, who withdrew from competition shortly after the start of the race. After being injured in an accident 500m from the finish line in Stage One, it was determined late Monday night that Vande Velde had suffered a broken finger and swollen wrist. Although he was expected to race today, team officials informed the tour officials that Vande Velde would back out of the race because of the discomfort from injury.

Brisk pace and uncomfortable Midwest summer conditions were consistently kept throughout the trek into Cape Girardeau, Mo. Several unsuccessful attacks were launched early in the race, but 80 miles from the finish a three man break away finally forced a four and a half minute lead on the peloton. Team Columbia HTC vied to control the main group, with team leader George Hincapie setting the tone. The boys in white tucked their Stage One winner in behind Hincapie and went to work; with four miles remaining in the race, the peloton ended the breakaway group’s bid for victory by capturing riders Kiel Reijnen of Team Jelly Belly, Tim Duggan of Team Garmin, and Francois Parisien of Team Planet Energy. Several team attacks with 10k to go in the race upset the tempo and rhythm of the peloton as they entered the Cape Girardeau city limit. Cavendish adjusted to the change and tucked in behind the wheel of Hushovd. In a sprint to the finish, Cavendish won by several lengths, again showcasing his world-class dominance in final sprints.

Stage Three of the Tour of Missouri is set to take place Wednesday in a race from Farmington, Mo into Rolla, Mo. The route contains the most elevation of all stages in the tour, and is also the longest in length. Cavendish will look to protect his lead, however it will be a day made for the climbers.

By Tour of Missouri Correspondent Tyler Peeples

And the color was not limited to red. A broad spectrum lined the streets as people gathered to cheer on cycling’s best in the third annual Tour of Missouri on Sept. 7. But the colors that stood out above the rest were yellow, white, and green –  those of one man.

Team Columbia HTC’s Mark Cavendish zipped past opponents throughout the course’s various points stages and again down the homestretch of Market Street to take Stage One of the Tour, which was raced over a circuit course of ten laps through a 7.5 mile loop around downtown. With the win Cavendish acquired the yellow over-all leader jersey, the green sprint-leader jersey, and the white young-rider jersey.

Clearly dominant in Stage One, Cavendish remained humble, giving a large amount of credit to his teammates and their riding abilities for his victory.

“I can’t do it alone. I have the best team around me,” Cavendish said after the victory, which was won in two hours, 43 minutes, and 56 seconds.

High speeds and tight group riding bluntly sum up the circuit ride through St. Louis. Except for a three man breakaway after lap five, low profile racing strategies consumed a great portion of the race as teams remained conservative over the fast course throughout much of the afternoon. Speed picked up with two laps to go in the race, as riders and teams jockeyed for position, at times reaching over 30 mph. Columbia HTC commanded the peloton in the final laps, protecting their world-class talent and gearing him for a quick dual in the final meters of the race. That strategy paid off as Cavendish responded to the roar of the crowd when rounding onto Market Street and battled wheel-to-wheel with Juan Jose Haedo of Team Saxo Bank, and Thor Hushovd of Team Cervelo, finishing second and third, respectively.

While the finishing-kick sprinters near the front competed cleanly for a chance at victory, a crash claimed the efforts of a number of riders in the middle of the pack in the final 500m of the race. Although no serious injuries have yet to be reported, defending champion Christian Vande Velde of Team Garmin was involved in the accident and taken to a local hospital as a precautionary measure.

Stage Two of the Tour of Missouri kicks off at 2 p.m. Sept. 8 in a 112.4 mile road race from St. Genevieve, Mo to Cape Girardeau, Mo. The tour continues throughout the week, ending Sept. 13 in Kansas City, Mo. 

By Tyler Peeples