Disappointment Brings Forth New Opportunities

As some of you may know, the Tour of Missouri has been canceled due to a lack of funding, by the last minute removal of funds by the State's Department of Tourism. (if you would like more information please ask, though this is not the time or place to launch into the details and history)

with that, the only opportunity I had this year to shoot Professional level cyclists flew out the window (Tour of Missouri was 1 of only 2 top level bike races in the nation) and there is still a part of me that is heart broken and I have basically abandoned any hope of getting to any races to photograph riders, because all of the big races (UCI professional) left this season are over in Europe (like the Tour de France) and that means all of the racers are over there as well.

That all changed a couple of weeks ago. While driving through mid-town, I passed some cyclists out on the road wearing Kelly Benefits and Jelly Belly jerseys, both teams are mid-level professional cycling teams, and I could not figure out what they were doing in town, since the Tour of Missouri had been canceled. Soon after, I discovered that STL was hosting a set of small bike races, the tour de grove. As you can guess I immediately rearranged my schedule in order to make it out for both the Saturday Mid-Town Sprints and Sunday's Tour de Grove.

I found out about the races from the twitter of rider Jeremy Powers, of team Jelly Belly, about 5 mins before the race began. I made great time getting down to it, but during the drive clouds began to over take the sky . . .

and as you can tell it began raining . . . raining HARD. The floodgates opened just as I was arriving at the race.

The race was in one of my favorite parts of Saint Louis, on Locust in Mid-Town.

it was so good to see fans come out in the rain to watch the race. you can not see it here, but the road is almost completely flooded on the edges where the fans were.

that is Jeremy Powers on the right, and the race winner Brad Huff (a Missouri resident) on the left.

more photo's from Sunday's events to come . . .

Tour of Missouri 2009

I was planning to update when I was done editing, but seeing as it has been a week and I am still not done editing, I have chosen to share some of my favorites from the week.

Jelly Belly handlebars. I love this shot. Do not be surprised to find it hanging on my wall in the near future.

George Hincape at the start of Stage 1 in St. Louis in his new National Champion Jersey

Team Columbia controlling the race as it passes through Lafayette Square.

Yaroslav Popovych making it look easy, as he travels through Soulard

Local police leading the way through downtown St. Louis, past Anheuser Busch brewery.

Mark Cavendish at the end of Stage 1, in yellow and posing on his new motorcycle for the crowd

Cavendish, Hincape, and VandeVelde leaving St. Genevieve. Christian lasted about another 15 be minutes before having to abandon the race with his broken left wrist.

Cavendish after his sprint win in Cape Girardeau, Stage 2

I had a lot of fun this year playing with the reflections in the riders glasses. You can see here how happy fans were to meet and receive autographs from the riders.

Another photo that I am in love with. It is interesting to see the variety between the shoes for a majority of the riders.

Bernhard Eisel at rider sign-in in Farmington, MO.

George Hincape signing autographs before the start of Stage 3 in Farmington

The Mavic service cars. Constantly seemed to travel behind them between finish and start stages.

Cavendish on the podium for the last time of 2009 in Rolla. He did not start stage 4 the next morning in St. James, because of a pulmonary infection. Last I heard he is still recovering . . .

Thor Hushovd enjoying his first win and first yellow jersey at the Tour of Missouri.

The peloton being led into the Stage 4 feedzone, by Marco Pinotti of Team Columbia-HTC

A bunch coming through the Jefferson City circuit. . . this is before the nasty crash that happened just east of the capital building.

David Zabriskie, National Time Trial Champion, showing his stuff at the Stage 5 TT in Sedalia.

Levi Leipheimer coming into the finish in Sedalia.

Thor Hushovd wearing the green during the time trial, having lost the yellow to JJ Haedo.

David Zabriskie signing autographs in the yellow jersey, which he gained by winning the individual time trial.

The peloton, led by a small breakaway, barreling through the streets of Kansas City, MO. What you can not see is that I found one of only 3 Starbucks in their city, and they had closed that day, because of the tour. If they had only known that the race will ALWAYS bring in business (even if the road is closed, just ask Park Ave Coffee)

One of the many future riders hanging out in the crowd in Missouri.

Christian VandeVelde (Garmin-2008 ToMO winner) presenting David Zabriskie (Garmin -2009 ToMO winner) with the yellow jersey and his Norton Wine (to the right is Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, who is largely responsible for bringing in another professional sport to St. Louis)

Team Saxo Bank, ended up winning the overall team title taking it from last years winner Columbia HTC.

I want to again thank everyone who was a part of this race, from organizers to fans . . . The work and dedication that goes into making this race is amazing. Many Tours of this caliber are put on by entire countries, yet we (and California) are showing that the US can not only create a grand tour here, but we can have 2, highlighting the diversity of our Nation.

Night for now

More From the Tour

So i just realized, that i never came back to share more of the tour. All of these are from the final stage in St. Louis. If you have not already heard, the circut had to be cut short due to severe flooding in forest park, but in the end it all worked out for the better, because i happen to get a prime shooting spot.

Before the race, this woman was trying to get the autograph of every person from Columbia and Garmin (which made her a perfect person to stand next to) she was really sweet, and ended up talking to Marco Pinotti in intalian, which was quite a shock for him.


Mark Cavendish talking to the same woman, she just seems to have a way with these professional cyclists.


These were the two who lead most of the stage. the rider on the left, Jeremy Powers, took the title for most aggressive rider for the day.



Mark Cavendish, supporting the green jersey, which he is now the current champion. He seemed to have a way of always being in my frame. I have at least two other photos, where he shot through a shot i was taking of someone else.


The whole of the peloton coming through the central west end.


Michael Rodgers and George Hincape of Team Columbia.


the celebration of Team Columbia, after winning the overall team title.



So i said i was only going to be posting photo's from St. Louis. I was wrong. This is one of the podium shots from St. Charles. That is Christian Vande Velde in Yellow, Mark Cavendish in Green, and Bernhard Eisel in Red. (Though i guess since you can not see the colors it probably does not matter to much)
Below the podium pic, is a progression shot of Mark Cavendish's sprint to the finish in St. Chuck (which he won). Though i doubt Cav needs anymore of an ego boost, i can see why many announcers have dared to call him "the fastest man in the world".






That is all for now. I have a few more which might be put up. We will see. . .

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.