September 15, 2007 (St. Charles, Missouri) — Team Slipstream’s Danny Pate of Colorado Springs, Colo., accelerated past two other cyclists with less than 2 miles to go and propelled his way to victory in front of an estimated 30,000 spectators at the finish of Stage 5 of the inaugural Tour of Missouri.

Pate crossed the finish line eight seconds ahead of Mexico’s John Fredy Parra of Team Tecos and and Salt Lake’s Jeff Louder of the Health Net presented by MAXXIS team in a time of four hours, 50 minutes and 21 seconds over the rolling 125-mile course.

“This is a big win for me,” said Pate, who most recently finished fifth and second, respectively, at the USA Cycling Professional Cycling Championships in the Road Race and Time Trial. “To win a race in front of a crowd like this is special.”

With less than two miles before the finish line, Pate pushed past Bernado Colex (Tecos) and Matti Helminen (DFL-Cyclingnews-Litespeed), who launched their own attack on the remaining breakaway group of six riders. As the three battled, Colex and Helminen briefly caught Pate, when Pate used a final burst of speed to leave the two behind. “There were a lot of attacks in the last 12 kilometers and there was always someone in front,” said Pate. “I had some good timing on getting away from the group and then up to the two guys. A lot of race experience from some of the races I’ve done, and being in breakaways helped me get the win.”

Well-protected by his Discovery Channel team, George Hincapie will wear the yellow jersey into the final day of competition as General Classification (G.C.) leader, with a one-minute, 40-second lead on Will Frischkorn (Slipstream/Chipotle.) David Cañada (Prodir-Saunier Duval) holds onto third, two minutes and 20 seconds off the pace. Today’s stage win moves Pate up to 13th place in the G.C. Other notables in the G.C. include, Levi Leipheimer (Discovery Channel) in 14th, Nathan O’Neill (Health Net/Maxxis) in 15th, and 2007 Tour de France champion Alberto Contador (Discovery Channel), who dropped to 23rd.

In the shadows of The Capitol Building, the riders were sent off to a rousing ovation in front of the Governor Matt Blunt and Lt. Governor Peter Kinder in Jefferson City. The race took athletes from Missouri’s current capital city to its original capital in St. Charles. It was another long, tough stage of 126.8 miles/ 204.0 km through the hills of Missouri’s beautiful wine country. Another set of daunting challenges awaited the racers as they faced three Michelob ULTRA King of the Mountain (KOM) races, and the cobblestone roads of historic St. Charles, one of the first colonial settlements in the country.

In addition to the beautiful wine-producing region, today’s course showcased Missouri’s rich history.

Not only was St. Charles the launching point for Lewis and Clark’s historic trek up the Missouri River, but it was also the first state capital of Missouri, making today’s stage a race from Missouri’s present to its past.

“We’re glad to be here in the Show Me State, and to be able to show off some of its most beautiful assets,” commented Jim Birrell, race director. “Going through Hermann, Washington, Augusta, and along the Missouri River, you couldn’t ask for a better backdrop.”

The crowds through Missouri’s wine country were massive, said the athletes, and reminiscent of those in the Tour de France said one.

A new jersey was awarded to John Fredy Parra (Tecos), voted the Drury Hotels Most Aggressive Rider by the judges. The other leader jerseys remain the same; Stage Four winner Luciano Pagliarini will keep the Edward Jones Sprint Leader jersey, Jeff Louder remains as the Michelob Ultra King of the Mountain Leader and for the third straight day, Steven Cozza (Slipstream/Chipotle) will wear the Build-A-Bear Best Young Rider jersey.

Sunday is the grand finale for the Tour of Missouri, which will culminate with circuit race through the streets of St. Louis. The 74.2-mile/119.4-km race will begin and end at St. Louis Union Station, formerly the largest passenger rail terminal in the world, now a high-end shopping and entertainment area. Cyclists will compete in the shadows of the St. Louis Archway and cut through Forrest Park, home of the 1904 World’s Fair.

Quotes from 2007 Tour of Missouri Stage Five

Danny Pate, Team Slipstream Powered by Chipotle
About today’s race”¦
“It was really aggressive the last 12 kilometers or so. We knew the time gap was big enough that we were going to make it. There were a lot of attacks in the last 12 kilometers and there was always someone in front. I had some good timing on getting away from the group and then up to the two guys. A lot of race experience from some of the races I’ve done, and being in breakaways helped me get the win.”

About the Tour of Missouri”¦
“The atmosphere was great. It was right along the lines of California and Georgia. There were a lot of people out there. At the finish today, at the podium there were probably more people than I’ve seen at those races, even. All the spectators had a lot of energy out there.”
“The Tour of Missouri has been a great race, it’s one of the biggest races now in the States. It’s been put together really well. The courses have been great. The time trial was really challenging, probably the hardest time trial I’ve been for awhile. All the courses were great. I was surprised at the big highways we were riding on, seemed like they were willing to shut down any road for us.”

Jeff Louder, Team Health Net Presented by Maxxis
About today’s course”¦
“Today was probably the most beautiful of all the stages, just riding along the Missouri, cutting off up these hard little climbs, through the small times. It was very quaint.”
“Yesterday’s stage was extremely undulating, not a flat bit of road. Add to that the headwind the entire way, we didn’t really it made for a grind. Today was a little more varied — there were some long flat sections along the river, and then some “¦ Two really different stages, and tactically it made for a different race. I think the reason we could stay away is that we had more flat area for cohesion. Yesterday was just brutal, it was a really hard day.”

About the Tour of Missouri”¦
“It’s been a fabulous race. It compares to anything that I’ve done all over the world. The terrain is amazing for bike racing, reminds me a lot of Northern Europe and Northern France.”

“Next year everyone will know what the stages are like, I think more people are going to want to come to this race. We didn’t really know what to expect, but it’s been really well organized and the terrain has been amazing, and the spectators have been amazing. I think this is something people will put on their calendar in years to come.”

Jim Birrell, Race Director
“It’s a great honor to be able to create platforms for these young athletes to fulfill their dreams. The fact that we’re helping these guys achieve greatness with their peers and their mentors and their peers is a great honor for us and all the sponsors who’ve helped us make this come true for these guys.”

Lieutenant Governor Peter Kinder
“Each stage has built upon the previous one and really exceeded our greatest hopes. And on this magnificent day in St. Charles, you can really feel the momentum and the excitement building.”

Results

1. Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 4.50.21 (42.156 km/h)
2. John Fredy Parra (Col) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 0.08
3. Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
4. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
5. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
6. Matti Helminen (Fin) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
7. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
8. Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
9. Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 0.3
10. Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 2.26
11. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse
12. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
13. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval – Prodir
14. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
15. Jeremy Vennel (NZl) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
16. Robby Meul (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
17. Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada
18. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
19. Steven Cozza (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
20. Jake Rytlewski (USA) US National Development Team
21. James Meadley (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
22. Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
23. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
24. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis
25. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel
26. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
27. Stefan Parinussa (Ger) Team Sparkasse
28. Michael Friedman (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
29. Nathan O’Neill (AUS) Health Net p/b Maxxis
30. Cameron Jennings (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
31. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
32. Brad Huff (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
33. Sheldon Deeny (USA) US National Development Team
34. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
35. Andrew Guptill (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
36. Fausto Esparza (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
37. Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
38. Kane Oakley (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
39. Antonio Cruz (USA) Discovery Channel
40. Danilo Wyss (Swi) Saunier Duval – Prodir
41. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel
42. John Devine (USA) Discovery Channel
43. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Discovery Channel
44. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
45. Max Jenkins (USA) US National Development Team
46. Rhys Pollock (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
47. William Frishkorn (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
48. Mark Walters (Can) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada
49. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
50. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
51. Luciano Andr̩ Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval РProdir
52. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel
53. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
54. Fuyu Li (Chn) Discovery Channel
55. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel
56. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval – Prodir
57. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net p/b Maxxis
58. David Vitoria (Swi) BMC Professional Cycling Team
59. Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
60. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis
61. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
62. Ben Bradshaw (USA) US National Development Team
63. Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
64. Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
65. Francisco Matamoros (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
66. Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team
67. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
68. Guy East (USA) US National Development Team
69. Chris Monteleone (USA) US National Development Team
70. Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
71. Juan Pablo Magallanes Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
72. Stefan Löffler (Ger) Team Sparkasse
73. Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval – Prodir
74. Jesus Zarate Estrada (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
75. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
76. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
77. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
78. Gregorio Ladino (Col) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
79. Hector Rangel (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
80. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
81. Daniel Vaillancourt (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light
82. Timo Honstein (Ger) Team Sparkasse
83. Andy Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
84. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
85. Sven De Weerdt (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed
86. Christian Lademann (Ger) Team Sparkasse
87. Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
88. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
89. Kyle Wamsley (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team
90. Christoph Schweizer (Ger) Team Sparkasse
91. Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada
92. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
93. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
94. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
95. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle
96. Zach Bell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
97. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 2.46
98. Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse 2.5
99. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 2.54
100. Cody O’Reilly (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada
101. Brian Dziewa (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team
102. Ben Raby (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 3.3
103. Dan Timmerman (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada
104. Peter Lopinto (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 6.55
DNS Christopher Baldwin (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team
DNS Joshua Thornton (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada

GC after Stage 5

General classification after stage 5
1. George Hincapie (USA) Discovery Channel 18.23.13
2. William Frishkorn (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 1.4
3. David Canada Gracia (Spa) Saunier Duval – Prodir 2.22
4. Dominique Rollin (Can) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 2.23
5. Michael Friedman (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 2.48
6. Frank Pipp (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 2.57
7. Valery Kobzarenko (Ukr) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 3.04
8. Andrew Randell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 3.48
9. Stefan Parinussa (Ger) Team Sparkasse 4.2
10. Matt Rice (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 6.21
11. Andrew Guptill (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 6.25
12. Jonathan Garcia (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 6.34
13. Danny Pate (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 11.48
14. Levi Leipheimer (USA) Discovery Channel 12.23
15. Nathan O’Neill (AUS) Health Net p/b Maxxis 12.39
16. Glen Chadwick (Aus) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 13.38
17. Anthony Colby (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 14.3
18. Timothy Duggan (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 14.54
19. Darren Lill (RSA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 14.59
20. Matti Helminen (Fin) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 15.11
21. Rory Sutherland (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 15.18
22. Bernardo Colex Tepoz (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 15.19
23. Alberto Contador Velasco (Spa) Discovery Channel 15.2
24. Rubens Bertogliati (Swi) Saunier Duval – Prodir 15.3
25. Scott Moninger (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 15.59
26. Steven Cozza (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 16.08
27. Sergey Lagutin (Uzb) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 16.15
28. Chris Wherry (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 16.35
29. Huub Duyn (Ned) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 16.4
30. James Meadley (Aus) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 16.49
31. Svein Tuft (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team
32. Patrick McCarty (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 16.51
33. Bernard Van Ulden (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 16.54
34. Jeremy Powers (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 17.05
35. Zach Bell (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 17.08
36. Andy Bajadali (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 17.14
37. Matthew Crane (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 17.19
38. Jeremy Vennel (NZl) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 17.25
39. Will Routley (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 17.38
40. John Devine (USA) Discovery Channel 17.4
41. Antonio Cruz (USA) Discovery Channel 17.42
42. Jacob Rosenbarger (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 17.45
43. David Vitoria (Swi) BMC Professional Cycling Team 17.48
44. John Fredy Parra (Col) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
45. Jake Rytlewski (USA) US National Development Team 17.52
46. Gregorio Ladino (Col) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara
47. Phil Zajicek (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 17.59
48. Mark Walters (Can) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 18.01
49. Kari Menzies (Aus) Health Net p/b Maxxis 18.07
50. Fausto Esparza (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 18.13
51. Benjamin Noval Gonzalez (Spa) Discovery Channel
52. Ryder Hesjedal (Can) Health Net p/b Maxxis
53. Christian Lademann (Ger) Team Sparkasse
54. Gert Vanderaerden (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 18.18
55. Jeff Louder (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 18.19
56. Brad Huff (USA) Team Slipstream p/b Chipotle 18.28
57. Nicholas Reistad (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 18.32
58. Eric Wohlberg (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 18.33
59. Adam Bergman (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 18.38
60. Yaroslav Popovych (Ukr) Discovery Channel 18.41
61. Andrew Pinfold (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 18.46
62. Timo Honstein (Ger) Team Sparkasse
63. Ian McKissick (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 18.49
64. Jackson Stewart (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 18.57
65. Hector Rangel (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 18.58
66. Davide Frattini (Ita) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 19.06
67. Daniel Vaillancourt (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 19.07
68. Guy East (USA) US National Development Team 19.11
69. Cameron Evans (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 19.25
70. Guido Trentin (Ita) Saunier Duval – Prodir 19.26
71. Francisco Matamoros (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 19.28
72. Ivan Dominguez (Cub) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 19.33
73. Juan Pablo Magallanes Aranda (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 19.41
74. Charles Dionne (Can) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 19.5
75. Mike Sayers (USA) BMC Professional Cycling Team 19.58
76. Jesus Zarate Estrada (Mex) Tecos de la Universidad Autonoma de Guadalajara 20.03
77. Christoph Schweizer (Ger) Team Sparkasse 20.06
78. Max Jenkins (USA) US National Development Team 20.14
79. Heath Blackgrove (NZl) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 20.19
80. Sven De Weerdt (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 20.38
81. Luciano Andr̩ Pagliarini Mendonca (Bra) Saunier Duval РProdir 20.42
82. Ben Raby (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 20.46
83. Ben Bradshaw (USA) US National Development Team 20.53
84. Tim Johnson (USA) Health Net p/b Maxxis 20.54
85. Chris Monteleone (USA) US National Development Team 20.56
86. Danilo Wyss (Swi) Saunier Duval – Prodir 21
87. Sheldon Deeny (USA) US National Development Team 21.06
88. Rhys Pollock (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 21.25
89. Fuyu Li (Chn) Discovery Channel 22.35
90. Robby Meul (Bel) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 22.36
91. Cody O’Reilly (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 22.38
92. Jesse Anthony (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 23.2
93. Tyler Wren (USA) Colavita – Sutter Home p/b Cooking Light 23.59
94. Kane Oakley (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 24.22
95. Dan Timmerman (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 24.24
96. Sebastian Frey (Ger) Team Sparkasse 24.49
97. Kyle Wamsley (USA) Navigators Insurance Cycling Team 24.52
98. Jacob Erker (Can) Symmetrics Cycling Team 25.04
99. Peter Lopinto (USA) Kodakgallery.com – Sierra Nevada 25.2
100. Philipp Mamos (Ger) Team Sparkasse 25.41
101. Stefan Löffler (Ger) Team Sparkasse 26.1
102. Cameron Jennings (Aus) DFL – Cyclingnews – Litespeed 27.02
103. Brian Dziewa (USA) Jelly Belly Cycling Team 30.24
104. Justin England (USA) Toyota – United Pro Cycling Team 30.57