Race Report - Tour 0f Missouri, Stage 1
By Neil Shirley, Kelly Benefit Strategies
Tour of Missouri marks the end of stage racing in the US for the 09’ season. I’m happy to get the chance to wind my season down at the second largest stage race in America, behind only Tour of California. It will be my first time at the race and to the state of Missouri for that matter. So far I’m impressed with St. Louis, the site of the opening stage. I can sit in my hotel room looking out at the St. Louis Arch, the mighty Mississippi, and the Mormon religion even believes that the Garden of Eden was actually in Missouri. I wouldn’t quite go that far but it seems nice enough to me.
Kelly Benefit Strategies brought a strong squad with realistic ambitions for the 7-stage event. We realize that we won’t be winning sprints head to head against guys like Cavendish and Hushovd but we will have opportunities to get on the podium in other ways. Coming off of a strong showing by the team last weekend at USPRO Time Trial and Road Race Championships, it’s evident that all the guys are riding well. I’m excited to support the guys in the sprints and hope to have a few opportunities to seek out breakaways during the week.
Getting a result in a stage or in the GC would be a great way to wrap up the season. After Missouri I will only have one event left for the year, the Mt. Charleston Hill Climb outside of Las Vegas. The rolling terrain of Missouri won’t exactly be the best prep for the 5,300 foot gain of Mt. Charleston but that’s how it goes. It will be a fun race and one that I’ve wanted to do for years now.
OK, it’s time to get kitted up and go race my bike!
Stage 1 - was a 75-mile circuit race through downtown St. Louis. It was a gorgeous 80-degree sunny day with an estimated 75,000 spectators lining the course. There was no doubt in anyone’s mind that it was going to be a sprint finish. With $5,000 for the stage win plus a $15,000 Buel motorcycle thrown in from a local motorcycle shop there was plenty on the line for the sprinters.
Right on que Columbia-HTC took control of the race and started riding tempo from the beginning. Three riders got away in the opening laps and maintained a minute gap for most of the race. Columbia, Cervelo, and Liquigas rode a steady pace until the break finally conceded and came back with 10 miles to go. Columbia-HTC kept the pressure on with their well oiled lead out train rolling along. I stayed towards the front hoping to help Candelario in the finale. The speed was high but I guess the motor pacing I’ve done lately is paying off since I was comfortable at 30+ mph. I was able to avoid a couple of wrecks in the last mile and slot into the top-20 at the finish. Candelario finished around 7th or 8th in the sprint. Fortunately none of the KBS boys hit the deck today so we’ll all live on to fight it out in stage 2. I’m off to dinner now and then up for my massage.
Thanks for reading,
Neil
