CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — The city’s population is expected to more than double next weekend, when huge crowds are expected to watch more than 100 cyclists zip through Livingston County in the Tour of Missouri bicycle race.

Saturday will mark the first time Chillicothe will serve as a location for a leg (Stage 6) of the multi-city tour. Officials, who have worked since early January to prepare, are confident the race and other weekend events will draw major crowds.

“Immediately, we thought this will be the biggest event ever,” said Amy Supple, director of the Greater Chillicothe Visitors Region. “We’re truly hoping for 10,000 (visitors).”

The tour will dovetail with Chillicothe’s 25th annual Chautauqua in the Park, a two-day arts and crafts festival in Simpson Park off U.S. Highway 65 North. “It was truly just serendipity,” Ms. Supple said. “It is going to be super fun.”

City officials met Wednesday afternoon to plan for the competitors’ entrance and exit from the city, and other details such as traffic patterns and first aid stations. About 150 volunteers attended a training meeting earlier in the week. A 40-member local organizing committee also is working on the tour.

“We’re expecting 150 VIPs,” Ms. Supple said. The list of dignitaries includes Chillicothe Mayor Chuck Haney, state Sen. Brad Lager, R-Savannah; and state Rep. Mike Lair, R-Chillicothe.

The city also expects 75 reporters and photographers, including international correspondents, for the race. One of the city’s renovated historic buildings will serve as a hospitality center.

Other events have sprouted across the town in connection with the tour. A Chilli Bike Fest on the courthouse square Friday night will serve as a race kickoff. The bike fest continues downtown Saturday, with a celebrity trike race at 10:30 a.m. A “Home of Sliced Bread” baking contest is set for 10:45 a.m. at the intersection of Washington and Webster streets. Chillicothe claims to be the birthplace of sliced bread.

The cycling teams should begin to arrive at about 11:30 a.m. Stage 6 is set to start at 1 p.m. and heads for St. Joseph.

Third-grade through eighth-grade students will participate in their own tour event — riding a 1.5-mile portion of the professionals’ route Saturday afternoon after the professional riders leave. A total of 200 young cyclists are expected for the 1:15 p.m. start. Bicycles and bike helmets will be given away at various parts of the tour events.

A barbecue contest will be held at 4 p.m. at the Chillicothe Country Club.

Shuttle service will help visitors attend the Chautauqua; it will run between Simpson Park and downtown, said Chillicothe Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Lindy Chapman.

Many organizations and volunteers have combined to prepare for the weekend, Ms. Chapman said. “It’s been a nice spirit in town,” she said. “People are excited.”

Businesses such as Golden Corral are anticipating brisk business. “We’re figuring our breakfast will at least double,” said Kevin Murray, the restaurant’s manager. “We’re hoping to get a nice crowd after the festivities. ... We’ll get about 50 percent more foot traffic.”

For more information, log onto www.bikechilli.com, www.chillicothemo.com and www.visitchillicothe.com.

Ray Scherer can be reached

at rscherer@npgco.com.