2 p.m.
FAIR PLAY | About 116 cyclists are riding today, but only a dozen or so were in the first group to pass through Fair Play.
The breakaway group was preceded by the Michelob Ultra beer truck, six State Patrol and Tour of Missouri cars and nine motorcycles. Twelve more cars and motorcycles followed.
1:53 p.m.
FAIR PLAY | A Michelob Ultra beer truck just pulled up, announcing over loudspeakers that the riders are approaching.
But many of the local high school students let out of school so they can watch the race seem more interested in the potential to score beer than the bicycles.
Don’t worry, parents: The beer truck is simply announcing, not selling.
1:39 p.m.
Rumor has it a prowling armadillo took down a bunch of cyclists.
That’s according to Bueford Curl, who lives about five miles outside of Fair Play and just drove up and parked his pickup.
“I heard on the radio that the pack hit a big ol’ armadillo that threw three or four riders,” he told us.
Are you yanking our bike chains, Bueford?
“We’ve got too many of them around here, so I can believe it,” he said. “Those guys probably got some black top bruises and burns.”
Here at Biking with Bill, all we can confirm is that Missouri armadillos are indeed big enough to throw a cyclist. We saw two roadkills – each about twice the size of a box turtle.
One nearly threw us, too, as we hurtled down a highway a little too quickly.
1:30 p.m.
FAIR PLAY | We’re in Fair Play – population a little more than 400 - where several hundred people are lining Highway 32 waiting for the cyclists who should be here in the next 30 minutes or so, we’re told.
Here are a few of the things we’ve seen here:
* A Confederate flag sagging on a pole beneath a U.S. flag. A handful of folks beneath it are having a yard sale today.
* A sign that reads “Liberty or death.” Different yard.
* A tool sale at one of the local gas stations.
*Several horses that have moseyed up to the fence. They look like they’re waiting for the race.
*A girl sitting beneath an umbrella, selling four lab puppies. Two black. One white (sorry – it’s sold) and a Golden. $50 for the males, $40 for females.
*A sign that says “Good luck at college Jeff.”
We also spotted a lone rider about three miles north of town, climbing a steep hill. It got us excited – what a break away! – until we saw him pedal in a circle. Just a random guy trying to steal the spotlight.
Unlike yesterday at the Plaza, no one’s wearing bike jerseys or drinking beer. Instead there are a healthy number of men wearing overalls and ball caps and many pickup trucks.
http://www.kansascity.com/news/local/story/271756.html
