RESOLUTION NO. 070967

Declaring September 11, 2007, as Tour of Missouri day in Kansas City, Missouri.

WHEREAS, cycling ranks as one of the top three participation sports in our nation; it epitomizes a healthy active lifestyle; and

WHEREAS, the City of Kansas City, Missouri encourages the use of bicycles as a means of transportation; and

WHEREAS, City of Kansas City, Missouri will host the first stage of the first annual Tour of Missouri, an elite professional bicycle race that ranks second only to the Tour de Georgia and Amgen Tour of California in North American cycling; and

WHEREAS, the Tour of Missouri will cover 600 miles from Kansas City to St. Louis, showcasing Missouris recreational diversity, beautiful landscapes and historic sites, including the Katy Trail, the Ozarks, wine country and the capitol city; and

WHEREAS, 15 teams of elite American and international cyclists, including national and world champions and Tour de France riders, will race from Country Club Plaza, up 47th Street through the heart of the Plaza, into downtown and through many of Kansas Citys most beautiful parks, before heading through North Kansas City, Parkville, Platte City and back, for three circuits up Ward Parkway and back to the Plaza; and

WHEREAS, the Tour of Missouri will transform the Plaza into a start/finish area with a fun-filled Health and Wellness Expo Area, with vendors, bicycle stunt teams and a large movie screen showing all of the action out on the course; and

WHEREAS, the Tour of Missouri includes a variety of community celebrations and activities, such as an Opening Ceremony on Monday, September 10 to introduce all the teams and a charity ride on Sunday, September 9 to benefit Eldon Rush, a local racer injured in a race last spring; NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF KANSAS CITY:

That the Mayor and Council hereby declare September 11, 2007, as Tour of Missouri Day and encourage our community to participate in the pre-race events and race day activities around Kansas City; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Resolution be spread upon the Minutes of the Council in testimony thereof and that a copy hereof be presented to Tyler Henson, with the local organizing committee for stage one of the Tour of Missouri, with the appreciation of the Mayor, Council and citizens of Kansas City for bringing the Tour of Missouri to the community.

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