Move over Tour de Georgia and Tour of California -- the Tour of Missouri is joining the ranks of the USA Cycling Professional Tour as an internationally sanctioned bicycle race.

What this means is that top pro teams that compete in Union Cycliste Internationale events in Europe can also ride in the stage race as it winds through Missouri between Kansas City and St. Louis next September.

This is just another indication that interest in bicycle racing is exploding in the US. No more dreary returns like those from the Tour duPont and Tour de Trump.

In February, an estimated 1.3 million bike racing fans watched the inaugural Tour of California, drawing an estimated $100 million into the host cities. The Tour de Georgia draws upwards of 800,000 and had an estimated economic impact of $26 million in 2006.

The newly created ...   more »