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Tour of Missouri - Stage Six winner Ivan Domiguez, of Toyota-United, crossed the finish line with hands in the air, followed by Andrew Pinfold, of Symmetrics, in second place and Dominique Rollin, of Kodak in third place.
Congressman Russ Carnahan presented Ivan Domiguez with a commemorative Missouri gold coin.
Ivan Domiguez was awed when given the key to the City by St. Louis Mayor Francis G. Slay.
Tour of Missouri winner George Hincapie salutes the crowd after receiving a check from Missouri Governor Matt Blunt.
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Tour of Missouri Race Was a Champagne Finish in St. Louis
by Betty Moore, SLFP.com
KANSAS CITY, MO (SLFP.com), September 16, 2007 - The sixth and final stage of the inaugural Tour of Missouri was a fast 74.2 mile (119.4km) circuit race through the streets of St. Louis.
It was also an unprecedented sporting event drawing tens of thousands of spectators to downtown St. Louis and going up against sellout crowds just blocks away for the St. Louis Rams football game at the Edward Jones Dome and the St. Louis Cardinals baseball game at Busch Stadium.
"For a first-time event, it's been exciting," stated Congressman Russ Carnahan, a cycle enthusiast, as he watched the final circuits of the Tour of Missouri. "There's been such an explosion of bike paths and biking here in the St. Louis area. For myself, I'm a member of the congressional bike caucus in Washington, so we are always trying to get funding for new green spaces and bike paths when we are doing transportation projects."
When asked if the money was well spent on the Tour of Missouri, Carnahan responded that people are going to assess the costs when it's done. "From everything I've heard, it's been a great success and we'd love to have it back," he shouted as a cheer arose from the crowds watching the race on a giant screen nearby.
When the announcer said the race was in its final 250 meters, fans surged toward Market Street in front of Saint Louis Union Station, hanging over the barriers with their cameras, cell phones and ringing cow bells.
"It looks like George Hincapie is going to be the 'King of Missouri'," the announcer said, acknowledging the overall points achieved by the Discovery Channel cyclist. Then, "The pack is on its way."
The cyclists came into sight, sprinting downhill toward the finish line in front of Saint Louis Union Station with ballistic speeds of 40 miles per hour. A thunderous roar greeted the three top winners of Tour of Missouri - Stage Six. Ivan Domiguez, of Toyota-United, crossed the line in a photo finish win with hands in the air, followed by Andrew Pinfold, of Symmetrics, and Dominique Rollin, of Kodak.
Suddenly, within 100 meters from the finishing line, Slipstream's Brad Huff, from Springfield, Missouri, went down. The crowd watched quietly as his teammates turned around after finishing and returned to check on Huff's condition. Amid clapping and shouts of support, the fallen cyclist got up and escorted by the team, finished the race.
The event far exceeded their expectations as one of the tour sponsors, stated Chuck Drury, President & CEO of Drury Hotels, as he watched the awarding of leaders jerseys to the winning cyclists. "This has been a super week for the State of Missouri, for St. Louis, and of course for Drury Hotels."
Over the loud cheers of thousands of fans surrounding the stage, Drury added that this event should happen every year. "The Convention and Visitors Bureau has so much money to spend and some of it could be spent on events like this. It costs very little and brings so much to Missouri and to St. Louis. This is what we really ought to be working on."
"There's not many events like this where you get all the excitement, all of this money and all these people coming to town and after that champagne on everybody," he laughed as the winners popped the corks on bottles of Missouri champagne and with great enthusiasm, began spraying everyone.
"It is an honor and a privilege as governor to conclude what has truly been an outstanding cycling race. Missouri has been privileged to host this race and showcase to the world just how much our state has to offer," Governor Matt Blunt said to the cheering fans in front of the stage.
In 2 hours 37 minutes 13 seconds, Stage Six was over. For tour officials and racing fans, it was a day to celebrate and plan for the future of more cycling events in Missouri. See review of Stage One - Kansas City. and Stage Five - St. Charles.
Missouri Lt. Governor Peter Kinder presented the Slipstream Team with a check for Overall Best Team.
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The crowd watched anxiously as race officials checked on Slipstream's Brad Huff's condition after he fell within 100 meters from the finish of Stage Six of the Tour of Missouri.
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