Tour of Misouri adds women’s criterium

The Tour of Missouri, a seven day professional cycling event featuring elite international men’s teams, is pleased to announce the addition of an invitational pro-am women’s race taking place on Monday, September 8th in Kansas City, Missouri. Top professional women’s teams and riders from across the US will compete in this inaugural event for a $7500 cash purse.

Starting while Stage 1 of the men’s event is underway, the Tour of Missouri Women’s Criterium will showcase the speed and energy of these exceptional athletes on a one kilometer course with multiple turns and hills. The men’s event is the 1st stage of the seven day race, heading from St. Joseph to Kansas City, Missouri, and expected to finish approximately one hour after the women’s finish.

The location of the women’s race is the world-famous Country Club Plaza, Kansas City’s premiere entertainment, shopping and dining destination. The challenging course includes several turns through the winding streets of this dynamic location. As racers fly past the many fountains, high-end boutiques, restaurants and pubs in the Country Club Plaza, spectators will find the course extremely easy to navigate with clear views of their favorite racers from multiple angles. The Spanish-style architecture and high-energy atmosphere of the Plaza provides a backdrop unlike any Criterium course this side of the Atlantic Ocean.

The Women’s Criterium will start at 1:00pm and will cover 55 minutes plus five laps. In addition to the cash prizes, qualified finishers will also be awarded a commemorative jersey and jewelry courtesy of Kansas City’s Silpada. A combined awards ceremony will be held for the men’s and women’s races in the Country Club Plaza, following the finish of the men’s race at approximately 4:30pm.

“It is a privilege to announce this addition to the 2008 Tour of Missouri,” said Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder. “The Tour is the single largest professional sporting event in the state, and the women’s race will be an exceptional prelude to the excitement of the hard-charging finishing circuits of the men’s race.”

The Tour of Missouri is a free event which attracts thousands of race fans and enthusiasts from throughout the country, as well as an international audience through web and TV broadcasts.

The Tour of Missouri is presented by the Missouri Division of Tourism and sponsored by Anheuser-Busch, Drury Inns, Edward Jones, the Missouri Farm Bureau, Emerson and Monsanto. Additional support is provided by the Missouri Wine and Grape Board, Spencer Fane, Dr. Pepper, Felt Bicycle, Bissell and Capital Wind Management. For more information visit www.tourofmissouri.com.