Tour of Missouri stage finish draws crowds to downtown Cape Girardeau

The Tour of Missouri on Tuesday breezed through Cape Girardeau, drawing families and biking enthusiasts downtown as top rider Mark Cavendish of England chalked his second stage win in as many days.

A crowd estimated by police at about 5,000 was on hand when Cavendish, of Team Columbia HTC, crossed the finish line in front of Hutson's Fine Furniture. As he waited on the riders, Jerry Statler of Cape Girardeau said he brought his grandson downtown because he wanted to see what kind of athletes could race under their own power for 112 miles.

The spectacle was also a draw. "Nothing like this has ever happened in Cape Girardeau," he said.

The race itself drew attention away from vendors hawking food, jewelry, nutrition supplements and bicycle and bike accessories for only a short time. And as the awards were presented -- Cavendish took honors for top young rider in the stage, sprint leader for the stage and remained overall race leader after two days -- local dignitaries took their time at the microphone to pump up Southeast Missouri's claim to a spot as a host city if the race is continued beyond this year.

"I could not be prouder of how my home area, Southeast Missouri, has responded to this race," said Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, the race's biggest booster in state government, in remarks from the awards stage. Kinder devotes time of several staffers to help out in organizing the race.

Those thoughts were echoed by Cape Girardeau Mayor Jay Knudtson, who said the race was a watershed event for the area. "We saw something that in little old Southeast Missouri we thought we would never see," Knudtson said.

The Tour of Missouri is in its third and final year under the contract that established the cross-state bicycle race. Bringing the race back next year will require a renewed commitment from the state in the form of tourism tax dollar support -- crucial to each of the race's first three years. John Gatch, competition coordinator for Medalist Sports, the company that organizes the race under contract, said he believes in the race -- he cited the number of top cyclists who are competing in Missouri rather than in Spain or England where similar races are underway -- and wants it to continue.

"Races come and go," Gatch said. "We aren't looking for it to go; we are looking for it to continue."

Cavendish as well as Francois Parisien of the Planet Energy team, the two riders made available for a news conference after the race, said they enjoy racing in Missouri. Cavendish, a winner of six stages of the 2009 Tour de France, said Tuesday's stage resembles the countryside of central France.

"The hills are not short enough that you off them, but they are not so tough you have to attack them," he said.

Cavendish, who could have competed in Spain or England, said the crowds help draw him to Missouri. "There's nothing more exciting than to be racing when you see an enthusiastic crowd," he said.

Tuesday's crowd, while smaller than the biggest estimates made before the race, was enthusiastic. At the finish line, people stood three, four or five deep to catch the riders as they passed.

Angie Seabaugh brought her children and stepchildren downtown for the finish. "I think it is an awesome thing," Seabaugh said. "That is why I brought all my kids and friends, to see a part of history happen."

Weeks of planning went into the preparations for Tuesday. The parking plan worked well, said Lt. Tracy Lemonds of the Cape Girardeau Police Department, and only six cars were towed throughout the day.

Police swept through areas with restricted parking soon after the 6 a.m. cutoff for parking along many downtown streets and were able to get almost every car on the route removed.

Crowds began growing after 1 p.m., with police making adjustments in traffic controls -- access to Water Street was blocked at Broadway -- and business picked up at the food, merchandise and information booths.

"For a first time I think it all came together very well," Lemonds said. "We'll have a debriefing, discuss how this went, what lessons were learned and how to improve it if it comes again."

For Tracey Glenn, vice president of the Cape Girardeau Area Chamber of Commerce and chairwoman of the local organizing committee, race day was a day to enjoy the results of the labors in preparing for the Tour of Missouri -- recruiting volunteers, finding sponsors and lining up vendors.

"I think we were prepared locally knowing what was coming," said Glenn. "We had been to other cities and knew what was coming. I think things went very smoothly today, with just a few hiccups. Things were very smooth, and I am proud of everybody who worked on this locally.

"I took time several times today to enjoy what was going on," she said.

The day was planned for the spectators, Glenn said. People like Hannah Trautman and her mother, Debbie, who were joined by Hannah's classmate, Alexis Phillips, and her mother, Jeanne, at the hospitality area. As they picnicked, the girls said they were told by their history teacher at Alma Schrader Elementary School not to miss the Tour.

"I am excited about seeing the people come through and being with my friends," Hannah said.

rkeller@semissourian.com

388-3642

Pertinent address:

Cape Girardeau, MO