Lance Armstrong won't be in Tour of Missouri, organizer says

The biggest name in professional cycling won't cruise the streets of Cape Girardeau during the Tour of Missouri.

Lance Armstrong, the Texan who overcame testicular cancer to win seven consecutive Tour de France titles, has another commitment and won't compete in the seven-stage Tour of Missouri.

"His team, Astana, will be here, but to date he's not on the roster," said Chris Aronhalt, managing partner for Medalist Sports, which organizes the Missouri race. "He's got a pretty big fundraiser in Canada for his foundation."

Aronhalt was in Cape Girardeau for Tuesday's news conference about the Tour of Missouri's second stage, which ends Sept. 8 on Main Street in Cape Girardeau.

Armstrong drew fans to cycling with his life story of battling cancer before breaking the record for Tour de France victories. He retired after his win in 2005, but returned to the Tour de France this year and finished third. Aronhalt said he understands the role Armstrong has played in generating excitement among casual fans and wishes Armstrong would be riding in this year's Tour of Missouri. But Aronhalt said Armstrong's absence doesn't diminish the quality of this year's event.

"Lance has been a huge help in riding his coattails of notoriety," Aronhalt said. "There are other great North American cyclists, and I think you'd be amazed at how many spectators and fans there are of cycling, either recreational or professional."

This will be the third edition of the Tour of Missouri, which begins Sept. 7 in St. Louis and concludes Sept. 13 in Kansas City. Aronhalt said the race's reputation is the key factor in drawing cycling's biggest names.

"The first year of the Tour of Missouri, it was a smashing success," he said. "So right off the bat the event was safe, it had credibility as far as a world-class event."

Aronhalt pointed to the number of top-tier teams as an indication of the event's positive reputation.

"The number of pro tour teams that were in the Tour de France, last year we had three," he said. "This year we have seven. I think that's a significant jump. We also have expanded television coverage, which again shows the product we're putting out on the field is of value and of interest."

Some of the sport's top names like Mark Cavendish, Christian Vande Velde and Levi Leipheimer are expected to compete, but the Tour of Missouri won't be able to boast the participation of Armstrong, the most recognizable name in cycling.

"It ranks right up there with the top events in the world, obviously a step below the grand tours," Aronhalt said.

kmorris@semissourian.com

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