As the Tour of Missouri winds
its way across the state, a combination
of a caravan and a circus on
two wheels, volunteers perform
crucial work behind the scenes.
Planning and organizing the event
can be staggering, with constantly
changing circumstances to challenge
Tour workers.

One of these workers, Clint
Hays, graduated from Monroe City
High School in 1997. Hays served
as Director of Information Technology
for the race. He set up the
media workroom and wireless Internet network at each of the race’s
stages for journalists covering the
Tour.

Hays, the son of Joe and Gloria
Hays of Hannibal and formerly
of Indian Creek, also set up different
technology at each stage to enhance
the viewing of the Tour.
The Tour of Missouri ranks as
one of the most prestigious cycling
races in America. This year’s
event, won by American David Zabriskie,
featured 118 world-class
riders from 23 countries racing for
15 teams. Seven of these teams
competed in the Tour de France,
cycling’s biggest race. In addition
to bringing global talent and attention
to Missouri, the race gives
Missourians like Hays an opportunity
to work with the national and
global media.
Hays earned two degrees from
Linn State Technical College, in
networking systems and computer
programming. He was working as
an intern with the Department of
Natural Resources when Tour organizers
asked if he wanted to help.
He had the expertise and already
worked for the State of Missouri,
which funded the Tour.
“It saved money in the budget
because [Tour organizers] didn’t
have to contract it to someone
else,” Hays said.
When people discuss planning
the race, the words “logistical
nightmare” often describe the
Tour, which lasts for one week in
September. Race organizers must
transport the cycling teams, which
resemble small international armies,
from stage-to-stage, plan
road closings along the routes and
accommodate thousands of fans
and a strong contingent of the media.
Hays joined this wild caravan,
traveling across the state with the
Tour and setting up the technology
at the stage start and fi nish cities
for the media to cover the race and
for the fans to watch it.
“Each city presented its own
challenges,” Hays said. “…You
don’t sleep much that week.”
Hays recently started working
for the Jefferson City Fire Department,
and he sees similarities
between the skills required to serve
as a fi refi ghter and to do his work
with the Tour.
“Both involve controlling your
stress level,” Hays said. “You don’t
know what to expect. You have to
be able to adjust.”
Traveling across the state, Hays
saw the exposure and benefi ts for
Missouri towns of hosting the
Tour. This year’s edition of the race
featured more small towns than in
years past. Stage 6 was the fi rst stage
in rural North Missouri, running
from Chillicothe to St. Joseph in
Northwest Missouri.
“It’s an opportunity to see worldclass
cyclists,” Hays said. “It could
be a once in a lifetime thing.”
Despite the benefi ts, the Tour
needs to land a new title sponsor to
continue next year. The Missouri
Division of Tourism was the primary
sponsor for the fi rst three years
of the Tour’s existence. Hays said
if the
To u r
a s k s
him to
h e l p
again,
h e
would
c o n -
s i d e r
t h e
o p -
portunity
and then decide if he’ll help with
the race again.
Regardless of what happens
with the future of the Tour of Missouri,
Hays enjoyed his opportunity
to work with this unique event.
While working for the Tour, he met
people from across the country, including
cycling fans from places
like Georgia, California and Colorado
who came to the Show-Me
State to see this race. The Tour was
a hectic week of travel, problem
solving and seeing new parts of
the state. The race includes all that,
Hays said, but he can sum up his
Tour experience easily.
“It’s just a lot of fun.”