From the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
Just as the Tour de France is peaking interest in cycling around the world comes word that the Tour of Missouri could be cancelled.
The race has been placed in jeopardy because $1.5 million in state funding has been frozen.
A memo dated July 6 from Linda Martinez, director of the department of economic development, outlined $9.9 million in budget cuts, including a proposal to cut the $1.5 million allocation for the Tour of Missouri from the state’s tourism budget.
I’m not a bicycle racing fan. I have nothing against it. This is a shame because the Tour appears to be a money-maker for the state (the math on these things seems fuzzy to me). Perhaps a sponsor will step up.
Comments 3
That stinks! I was planning on riding to Sedalia to watch and photograph the time trail.
No doubt I was going to spend lots of money along the way and back! I suppose I’ll spend that money in Chicago now since I live there part time! lol
Posted 09 Jul 2009 at 4:12 pm ¶I have followed the tour for the last two years working a booth for MoBikeFed. I don’t care near as much about the race it’s self as for what it does for bicycling in Misery. The Expo area was cancelled in StL last year on the last day of the race, so I packed up & came home. The race did go on & I probably should have stayed & worked the crowd … I was just too tired …
Posted 13 Jul 2009 at 11:05 am ¶BTW … Brent Hugh is suggesting everyone CALL the Governor’s office. I may forward that directly to you, Andy, unless I see evidence you already have it.
Coy… I haven’t seen it yet. So please do copy me,
Posted 13 Jul 2009 at 11:12 am ¶