Tour of Missouri . Hermann . Stage 6

For the few (many) whom i have not shared the news with, God has blessed me with a new camera, and if it couldn't be better timed, he gave it to me a week and a half before the tour of missouri.
with that being said, I am going to break the photo's up into multiple post simply because the number of shots is overwhelming (i was only there for two of the seven days and i took 1000 shots.


so lets begin at the start of stage 6, in hermann mo. This may be one of my new favorite "little towns". it had the quaintest coffee shop ever.




feeling kind of artistic before the race. I may be persuaded to say liquigas has the coolest looking bikes.




this is the starting corner of Stage 6.




i seriously love the look of the Garmin-Chipotle cars. I was taking some detail shots of the plates, when lo and behold, look who snuck into the top corner of the photo; Mr. George Hincape




this kid was so cute. . . he is waiting (with about 50 other people, all adults) out side of the Columbia RV, to meet Mark Cavendish (who went on to win the stage later in the day)





Christian Vande Velde, looking like he is having a smashing time. There is a story to the laugh, mostly it has to do with the other racers feeling a bit sarcastic, and giving him a 15 ft. start advantage.

Tour of Missouri '07

So typically around this time of year, i am starting to crave the tour de france. I look forward to july more than i can comment on. This year is different. I am thourally displeased with the organization which runs the tour, because they put a ban on riders who are not associated with the drama of last year. The majority of riders who were effected were the boys who formally rode for team discovery, the team who has won 7 of the last 8 tours. (i think there could be alternative motives here) that being said, the "discovery boys", or the new team astana will be making the trek over here in september for the Tour of Missouri, so in light of that I bring photos of last years tour!!!!!

this is big george. for those who do not watch cycling, he was lance armstrong's right hand man. he won last years tour of missouri.

isn't this kid adorable. the grandfather who was holding him, once he realized i was taking photos, scooted me in front of him so i could see. it was very kind.

the finish line of the final stage at the inaugural tour of missouri.

this is Dan Schmatz. he is the guy who crashed because he hit an armadillo. he recieved his own prize, a photo of an armadillo.

Yay!!! team discovery in there final competition in america. it was a historic moment, i am very thankful God allowed me to be apart of it.

this was the first shot of the day. I pretty much love it.

this woman was so kind. i think she possesses a stoic quality which is hard to find in others.

this is the award platform from stage 5, both George hincape and Stephen Cozza are there. I think both will be in both the tour of Missouri and le tour de france.

I love this shot, i am hoping to get a full arch/ road shot this year.

a group of discovery boys rounding the corner by the history museum. i think Alberto Contador is in that photo, he is the current winner of le tour de france.