Upstaged: Cuban leads pack, Tour de France winner

KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Ivan Dominguez of Cuba fought off cramps and an unexpected hill on the final stretch to break out of a tight clump and win the first stage of the inaugural Tour of Missouri on Tuesday with a time of 3:05:37.

Dominguez, riding for Toyota-United, found himself without any team members to help as he took the lead with about 300 yards to go. Second was Each Bell of Symmetries Cycling team, followed by Kyle Wamsley of Navigators Insurance Cycling. Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Discovery Channel was 85th among the team of international riders who made the 85-mile circuit beginning and ending in Kansas City's Country Club Plaza.

An estimated 40,000 spectators lined the streets and highways as the riders made their way through downtown Kansas City, along the Missouri River and through small towns in the sometimes-hilly country of northwest Missouri. Weather for Missouri's first foray into international racing was perfect -- low winds, cloudless blue skies and warm temperatures in the mid-80s.

Dominguez's average winning speed was 27.557 mph.

"I was not expecting to see that climb there," said Dominguez. "It put my legs under a little bit of pressure. I started getting tired. I looked, and thought, 'I'm going to go and see what happens.'

Tour de France champion Alberto Contador of Spain signed autographs before Tuesday's first stage of the Tour of Missouri in Kansas City, Mo. The six-day-long race ends Sunday in St. Louis. (CHARLIE RIEDEL ~ Associated Press)

"And I started going and passing guys like they were standing there. I was like, 'Wow! this is great."'

The six-day, 600-mile race started on Kansas City's Country Club Plaza, where fans applauded cycling heavyweights including Contador and American champion Levi Leipheimer, who had to pause for several minutes early in the race to replace a chain.

Organizers and state officials must have been pleased with the reception the riders got along the way. In every town, spectators lined the roads, many holding signs greeting the riders and thanking them for coming to Missouri. In one town, excited youngsters came spilling out of an elementary school just as the pack sped past.

The race, touted by the governor's office as the largest sporting event in the history of the state, will end Sunday in St. Louis.

It will pass through 20 counties and about 50 cities and towns, continuing today with a leg from Clinton to Springfield.

Ivan Dominguez of Cuba celebrated as he crossed the finish line to win the first stage. Dominguez won the 85-mile stage in 3 hours, 5 minutes, 37.8 seconds.