Tour de France champ Alberto Contador has some nice things to say about the inaugural Tour of Missouri in the latest issue of Velonews.

Asked “How was racing at the Tour of Missouri,” Contador is quoted as saying: “I really liked it, most of all because I could help (George) Hincapie to claim the overall victory when he was working the entire season for me. It was a nice race and I was surprised how many American fans were so informed and so excited about cycling. It’s encouraging to see.”

There you have it. Missouri put on a good show in September,  and the international cyclists in the event are spreading the word through the professional peloton, which should bode well for the Tour of Mo.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Contador’s new team, Astana,  at the Tour of Missouri next year now that former Discovery Channel director sportif Johan Bruyneel is in charge.  Bruyneel also has talked up the Tour of Mo in the international press. And T-Mobile, which is directed by American Bob  Stapleton, also may appear as the company tries to build its brand and gain face-time in the U.S., which would enable  Hincapie  to defend the yellow jersey he won  this year.

Those teams alone would give the Tour of Missouri additional cachet, and more may follow.  With the Vuelta a Espana no longer a must-do event on the UCI’s Pro Tour schedule, teams with cyclists having world championship aspirations may see the one-week Tour of Missouri as a viable option to the grueling three-week Vuelta.

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