CHILLICOTHE, Mo. — A week of cooperative weather held steady on Saturday for the start of the sixth stage in the third annual Tour of Missouri.

Thousands crowded the town square in Chillicothe to get a glimpse of the bicyclists preparing the 100-mile-plus ride into St. Joseph.

Piggybacking on the Chautauqua in the Park event in its 25th year, at least one organizer thought the town could hit numbers of 50,000 with the professional race in town. About 10,000 usually show for the Chautauqua.

Heather Deshayes, a Chillicothe event organizer, admitted that her 50,000 estimate might be a bit steep, but looked for something wooden to knock on when asked how the day was panning out.

“We could not be more excited,” she said. “We have had amazing community support in addition to international exposure we wouldn’t have gotten otherwise.”

More than 100 bicycles ...  Read More »

One of the biggest reasons to continue the Tour of Missouri in St. Joseph was the people and money it brings from all over. Civic Center Park served as an example to keep the race in the city Saturday afternoon as hundreds gathered from different states and countries to watch ...  Read More »

Drivers will encounter a few road closures when the Tour of Missouri comes to town Saturday. St. Joseph Streets Superintendant Gary Leftin said the city will work with the Missouri State Highway Patrol to ensure roads are closed for as short a time as possible. When riders reach Savannah at ...  Read More »

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) ...  Read More »