My thigh muscles are a bit stiff today. Spinning class must have worked me over a bit last night. I rather like the feeling of some sore muscles. There is a certain satisfaction in knowing that you worked hard and that it should make you stronger when the racing starts.
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The 2008 Tour of Missouri route was officially announced today. The race organizer, Medalist Sports, followed the traditional pattern that has been set with their GA and CA races. Keep the same basic route with a tweak here and there to mix things up. I'm not saying that is a bad formula. In fact, it is probably a good thing for newer races to establish a certain amount of familiarity. Ultimately, I think variety is what makes for a good stage race however.
This year's race will again head west to east. St Joseph is this year's Grand Depart. I like the change from last year's out and back KC route, while still having the finish in the large population of KC to get things kicked off strongly.
Stage 2 from Clinton to Springfield is unchanged. This nondescript stage surprisingly brought about the decisive break in last year's race. Hopefully, the race will not be decided so early in the race this year.
Stage 3 is again the Branson TT. This is a difficult and very hilly course. At least it seemed that way to me when I pre-rode the course. I'm not surprised to see this stage return. Branson did a nice job of hosting and provided an awesome backdrop for the awards ceremony with fireworks and fountains along the riverfront.
Stage 4 again starts in Lebanon. They did an terrific job as a start town last year so I am glad to see this smallish town's efforts rewarded with another hosting opportunity. The stage finishes in Rolla and could potentially provide some nice hills if it approaches Rolla from the south. The rudimentary route map seems to indicate a northward loop. Not sure what this stage will hold.
Stage 5 from St James to Jefferson City. I've never traveled between these two cities. My guess is that this will be a rolling stage but not terribly hilly.
Stage 6 again finishes in St Charles but, instead of starting in Jeff City, the start moves to Hermann this year. Being from the St Louis area, this is the stage piques my interest. This stage is listed as being 13 miles shorter (110 miles) than last year but Hermann is almost 50 miles closer to St Charles.
What does this mean for a revised route? My sinking feeling is that after going through the Augusta wine region it could mean a loop northward to Troy/Winfield area before heading south into St Charles. I liked the Augusta area for a race and the crowds on Schluersburg were incredible but the thought of that northern loop concerns me.
I would like a pretty hilly stage and keeping the route a little more southerly sets up nicely. An added bonus is that it would be closer to me and would like to see the race go along our training routes. This is my hoped for stage... Like last year, head east on 100 to Washington but don't cross the Missouri River into Augusta. Instead, continue on to Gray Summit, take Old Gray Summit Rd into Pacific. Leave Pacific on Hwy F. Go over John McKeever Rd into Byrnesville. Take Hwy W into House Springs. Briefly, get on Hwy 30 and then onto Lower Byrnes Mill. Go up Franks into High Ridge. Go down Antire and up Jim Weber and into Eureka. Go over Alt, up Woods and onward to Pond Rd, past Babler. That puts the race into course designer Kevin Livingston's childhood stomping grounds. Take Orville to Strecker, Kehrs Mill and Wild Horse. From there, things flatten out along Olive and River Valley/Creve Coeur Mill area. Cross over the Page Extension and finish on the St Charles riverfront. That route is right at the listed 110 mile route. I like it for various reasons.
1) This would be a pretty hilly stage and keeping the route a little more southerly sets up nicely for what I think would be a hillier route than going north.
2) The race would pass through a good number of towns with some good sized population. Among those cities are Washington, Pacific, Eureka, Wildwood and Chesterfield.
3) On a selfish note, it would be closer to home and I would like to see the race go along our training routes.
Stage 7 in St Louis seems to be the same circuit as last year. That's okay.
----------------------
The 2008 Tour of Missouri route was officially announced today. The race organizer, Medalist Sports, followed the traditional pattern that has been set with their GA and CA races. Keep the same basic route with a tweak here and there to mix things up. I'm not saying that is a bad formula. In fact, it is probably a good thing for newer races to establish a certain amount of familiarity. Ultimately, I think variety is what makes for a good stage race however.
This year's race will again head west to east. St Joseph is this year's Grand Depart. I like the change from last year's out and back KC route, while still having the finish in the large population of KC to get things kicked off strongly.
Stage 2 from Clinton to Springfield is unchanged. This nondescript stage surprisingly brought about the decisive break in last year's race. Hopefully, the race will not be decided so early in the race this year.
Stage 3 is again the Branson TT. This is a difficult and very hilly course. At least it seemed that way to me when I pre-rode the course. I'm not surprised to see this stage return. Branson did a nice job of hosting and provided an awesome backdrop for the awards ceremony with fireworks and fountains along the riverfront.
Stage 4 again starts in Lebanon. They did an terrific job as a start town last year so I am glad to see this smallish town's efforts rewarded with another hosting opportunity. The stage finishes in Rolla and could potentially provide some nice hills if it approaches Rolla from the south. The rudimentary route map seems to indicate a northward loop. Not sure what this stage will hold.
Stage 5 from St James to Jefferson City. I've never traveled between these two cities. My guess is that this will be a rolling stage but not terribly hilly.
Stage 6 again finishes in St Charles but, instead of starting in Jeff City, the start moves to Hermann this year. Being from the St Louis area, this is the stage piques my interest. This stage is listed as being 13 miles shorter (110 miles) than last year but Hermann is almost 50 miles closer to St Charles.
What does this mean for a revised route? My sinking feeling is that after going through the Augusta wine region it could mean a loop northward to Troy/Winfield area before heading south into St Charles. I liked the Augusta area for a race and the crowds on Schluersburg were incredible but the thought of that northern loop concerns me.
I would like a pretty hilly stage and keeping the route a little more southerly sets up nicely. An added bonus is that it would be closer to me and would like to see the race go along our training routes. This is my hoped for stage... Like last year, head east on 100 to Washington but don't cross the Missouri River into Augusta. Instead, continue on to Gray Summit, take Old Gray Summit Rd into Pacific. Leave Pacific on Hwy F. Go over John McKeever Rd into Byrnesville. Take Hwy W into House Springs. Briefly, get on Hwy 30 and then onto Lower Byrnes Mill. Go up Franks into High Ridge. Go down Antire and up Jim Weber and into Eureka. Go over Alt, up Woods and onward to Pond Rd, past Babler. That puts the race into course designer Kevin Livingston's childhood stomping grounds. Take Orville to Strecker, Kehrs Mill and Wild Horse. From there, things flatten out along Olive and River Valley/Creve Coeur Mill area. Cross over the Page Extension and finish on the St Charles riverfront. That route is right at the listed 110 mile route. I like it for various reasons.
1) This would be a pretty hilly stage and keeping the route a little more southerly sets up nicely for what I think would be a hillier route than going north.
2) The race would pass through a good number of towns with some good sized population. Among those cities are Washington, Pacific, Eureka, Wildwood and Chesterfield.
3) On a selfish note, it would be closer to home and I would like to see the race go along our training routes.
Stage 7 in St Louis seems to be the same circuit as last year. That's okay.
1 Comments:
They said June would be the month we would learn about route details.
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