The decision to start the 2008 Tour of Missouri here is a great honor for St. Joseph. We owe the people who organize one of the premier bicycle races in the country and those who brought it to town a thank-you note.

This year’s race is one of five on USA Cycling’s 2008 Pro Tour, along with tours of California, Georgia, Pennsylvania and Colorado. USA Cycling is the official cycling organization recognized by the United States Olympic Committee. Those are some impressive credentials.

St. Joseph is honored to be the starting point for this year’s race.

The race also will be a fantastic opportunity for this community and Northwest Missouri. The inaugural 2007 Tour of Missouri attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators over six days and featured many of the world’s top riders and teams. They included 2007 Tour de France winner Alberto Contador and the final race for Lance Armstrong’s former Discovery Channel team.

St. Joseph will own the center stage of world bicycle racing. It is a perfect opportunity to show off the city’s history and hospitality. The city should celebrate the start of the race on Monday, Sept. 8, with a weekend filled with fun and ceremony. Just by coincidence, the Coleman Hawkins Jazz Society already is penciled in for its second blues festival that Friday and Saturday. That is a start.

It also is an opportunity of the St. Joseph School District to capture one of those important “teachable moments.” Bicycling is healthy. That is a critical lesson for a student body that unfortunately faces the same challenge of obesity that is a growing concern for the nation.

The 2008 Tour of Missouri also is a huge responsibility for this community. For this city to shine, dozens of agencies (governmental and service) will have to work together to raise money and coordinate events.

The tour will bring world class talent and attention to St. Joseph. The community needs to start now to organize its talent to deliver a world-class event this fall.