Cape biking group to ride Tour of Missouri route before race begins

For enthusiasts who want to experience the Tour of Missouri route from the seat of their bicycle, Velo Girardeau will host a "Ride the Route" event Sept. 6, two days before the professional cyclists take the road from Ste. Genevieve to Cape Girardeau.

For those who feel like tackling the entire 112.4-mile route of Stage 2 of the race, the event will begin at 8 a.m. Sept. 6 on Merchant Street in Ste. Genevieve, Velo Girardeau president Chris Moore said Thursday. A less taxing ride will begin at 1 p.m. the same day in Altenburg, where riders will be able to join the group riding from Ste. Genevieve and follow the winding route through northern Cape Giardeau County into downtown Cape Girardeau, Moore said.

To make sure riders can complete the race or to help out riders who try to do more than they can handle, a van with a professional bicycle mechanic will accompany the riders. The mechanic will fix breakdowns, and riders who must fall out of the event will be able to climb into the van for the remainder of the route, Moore said.

Participants must pay $10 each to defray costs, Moore said. For $20, participants will also be provided with T-shirts to commemorate the event, he said. Contact Velo Girardeau at its website, www.velogirardeau.com, for more information about the Sept. 6 ride.

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, MO