Photo by Zachary Siebert / St. Joseph News-Press / Purchase this photo

From right, Jazmynn Walker, 14; Paula Hahn; Stormie Walker, 13; Justice Walker, 10; Lynann Robinson, and Victoria Walker, 16, brave the cold and wet elements to take in a display of extreme bicycle ‘observed trials’ in Civic Center Park Saturday afternoon.

It was a beautiful day in St. Joseph for the pre-celebration of the Tour of Missouri.

People watched as cyclists performed stunts, the professional German cycling team signed autographs and St. Joseph resident Spencer Klaassen and partner Dan Clinkinbeard concluded their 1,850-mile bicycle ride from California to Civic Center Park in St. Joseph.

Then the rain came.

Just as the Mark Reynolds Children’s First Bicycle Fund was about to give away free bikes to children, the rain came down hard and people started leaving in droves.

Before the skies let loose on St. Joseph, spirits were high.

The Tour of Missouri’s chief corporate sponsor is Boehringer Ingelheim. David Norwalk, the company’s executive director of human resources and public relations, proclaimed his joy of bringing the event to St. Joseph,

“It’s the first time we’ve set the global stage inside of St. Joseph,” he said.

Mr. Norwalk said the company decided to lead the sponsorship of the Tour of Missouri because it offers cities like St. Joseph a chance to see athletes from around the world.

“This is a global sport, and we are a global company, so it was a great opportunity to partner up,” he said, “It’s very exciting for St. Joseph,”

Dick Johnson, a volunteer for the St. Joseph Convention and Visitors Bureau, agrees.

“It’s excellent. It’ll bring in a lot of tourists who can get a good idea of what St. Joseph is about,” he said.

Of the more than 150 people in attendance, some were St. Joseph residents interested in seeing what the race was about.

“I don’t care much for biking, but this is just very good for St. Joe,” said Jill West. “It’s very good for the community.”

Colin James, of St. Joseph, said the chance to meet people from outside the United States was enticing.

“We’ve got people from all over the world coming here. How often does that happen?” he said, “I love running and biking, so I had to come out and see the response from the area. It’s really good to see people came out.”

Others appeared to be there for the arrival of Mr. Klaassen and Mr. Clinkinbeard, who returned mid-afternoon from their journey from Sacramento to St. Joseph.

The two rode past the checkerboard finish line, looking both fatigued and relieved.

“It was an adventure for me — not a vacation,” Mr. Clinkinbeard said.

Onlookers beamed with pride as they shook hands and took pictures with the men who successfully conquered an amazing feat of athleticism and stamina.

It was that pride that the Collins family, of Lawrence, Kan., found representative of the city.

“I’m a biker, and for someone to ride from California to [St. Joseph] is amazing,” Dan Collins said.

Terri Reynolds, a volunteer for the Tour of Missouri, said despite cycling’s lack of popularity in the United States, exposure to it in St. Joseph could help pique an interest in residents.

“Typically, things like this tend to entice people,” she said.

If Saturday was any proof, she’s right. But it all seems to depend on the weather.

The Tour of Missouri is scheduled to kick off Monday. The National Weather Service reports a chance of thunderstorms both today and Monday.