Missouri Governor Jay Nixon yesterday approved the use of $1.5 million in state tourism funding to save the Tour of Missouri cross-state stage race for 2009.
The race has been on the verge of being cancelled and going away (likely forever) due to lack of funds.  The stipulation for use of the money is that the race organizers must provide open book accounting to the tourism officials after the race so they can share how the money was used with the tax paying public…which is probably the way it should be for taxpayer funded initiatives, anyway (IMO).
The 2009 Tour of Missouri is scheduled for September 7 – 13 with circuit races in St. Louis and Kansas City, and an individual time trial in Sedalia.  The other four stages are point to point routes.  They expect about 15 pro teams, including Astana, to participate.
