KANSAS CITY, Mo. — Northwest Missouri residents gave heaps of enthusiastic support Monday to more than 100 of the world’s top bicycling professionals, despite cold and wet weather.

St. Joseph residents lined the city streets as the 15 teams in the Tour of Missouri kicked off their first day of seven that will take them more than 600 miles through the state. As the cyclists topped the hill on the Parkway at Bartlett Park, hundreds of screaming schoolchildren competed with a barrage of fireworks that signaled the official beginning of the race.

The staging area was on Francis Street behind Civic Center Park, where fans mingled with their favorite riders and a gaggle of local and international media conducted interviews. The cyclists made their unofficial start there and headed east on Frederick Avenue before going south on Noyes Boulevard and jumping on the Parkway. They cruised through the South Side led by a convoy of law enforcement, tour vehicles and team support vehicles and headed south to DeKalb.

St. Joseph residents Sharon and Ted Reynolds were snapping photos in Civic Center Park before the start of the race.

“When can you see this many bikes in the same space at the same time?” she said, noting the team vehicles topped with racks full of the most expensive bicycles available. “But it’s not the bikes. It’s the riders.”

The cyclists were met by supporters all along the route, including DeKalb, Weston, Platte City, Parkville, and finally in Kansas City where the race finished.

British rider Mark Cavendish won the first stage, riding 83 miles in three hours, 15 minutes. On two occasions after the finish he mentioned that the crowds weren’t only out in droves, but that they were enthusiastic and “nice.”

St. Joseph’s own Dick Sipe was on the awards platform in the Country Club Plaza to hand over to Mr. Cavendish the Mochila Premium, which consists of a $1,500 cash prize as well as a replica of the leather saddle bags that Pony Express riders carried on their journeys to Sacramento, Calif. (the replica was mistakenly left out of the actual ceremony but was given to Mr. Cavendish later).

The award was conceived by St. Joseph natives and cycling fanatics Bob Fitzpatrick and Tim Garvey. The Pony Express Museum came on board to make the Mochila Premium a reality.

Also receiving an award Monday was Weston, Mo., receiving the $1,000 “spirit” award given to the community on each stage of the tour that shows the most enthusiasm. The West Platte High School band kicked into action and hundreds of community members and students lined the streets as the riders quickly made their way through town. Weston will be up against six future “spirit” award communities for a final grand prize of $5,000.

Weston resident Mark Gash said the people in the community have been talking about the race for some time now, but he was still surprised by the turnout.

“I didn’t think that many people would show up,” he said from atop his minivan where he hoped to get some good pictures.

Jimmy Myers can be reached at jimmym@npgco.com.