SPRINGFIELD -- Springfield-Greene County will host the second stage of the Tour of Missouri professional cycling race on Tuesday with a variety of activities surrounding the arrival of 120 world-class competitors, including recent Tour of France and Olympic competitors.
 
   The Stage 2 finish line will be at Kimbrough Avenue at East Trafficway.  Riders likely will arrive after 3 p.m. on Tuesday.  The 126-mile course begins at 11 a.m. in Clinton and winds through Walnut Grove and Willard in northwestern Greene County before riders hit the final circuit in downtown Springfield for nearly three full laps to the finish line.
 
   Here is a recap of Springfield-Greene County Stage 2 events and traffic plans for the Tour of Missouri:
 
   Community Bike Ride: A free, police-escorted family bike ride will show the two-mile final circuit at 6:30 p.m., Monday, starting at Jordan Valley Park.  No advance registration is necessary. Registration and activities begin at 5:30 p.m. at Jordan Valley Park. This event is supported by Springfield Police, Springbike and the Polk County Bike Club. Police will give away youth bike helmets while quantities last and participants can draw for two free bikes and Tour of Missouri merchandise.

  Health and Wellness Expo: CoxHealth is the presenting sponsor for an afternoon of sports and wellness information and kids activities at Mediacom Ice Park parking lot adjacent to the Tour finish line. The Expo opens at 1 and remains open until after the awards ceremony. Local dance band Lost Highway will perform about 2 and again after the awards ceremony. Tour merchandise will be available and CoxHealth will sell cowbells to cheer on the cyclists for $3, which will benefit the CoxHealth Foundation’s Bethlehem Fund for high-risk, low-income expectant mothers.
 
   Block Party: CoxHealth also will host a block party about 2:30 Tuesday for employees and area residents at its Cox North campus, which is on the Tour route as riders turn south from Division Street onto Jefferson Avenue to head toward the finish circuit. Bleacher seating, free refreshments, activities, games and wellness education will be available for employees and neighbors.
 
   Traffic Plans: To maintain the safety of riders and spectators, the Tour will necessitate temporary street closures along the route throughout Tuesday afternoon.

   The intersection of Trafficway at Kimbrough will be closed completely about 6:30 p.m., Monday to prepare the finish line area. Traffic will be detoured using St. Louis and Tampa streets.

   No on-street parking will be allowed on the Tour route on Tuesday. Vehicles that are not moved off the route by 7:30 a.m. Tuesday will be ticketed and towed. Springfield Police will put warning notices on cars parked along the route this weekend and signs will be clearly posted in the affected area.

   As the riders enter Greene County, sections of the route will be closed to traffic for 20 to 30 minutes at a time until riders pass. This will affect access to driveways and parking lots during these closure periods. The downtown circuit will be closed for up to two hours as riders approach the finish on Tuesday afternoon. Notification of the closures has been sent to all addresses on the route throughout Greene County. Police and volunteer course marshals will provide traffic and closure direction throughout the afternoon with the goal of re-opening sections of the route as quickly as possible after riders have passed.
 
   Stage 2 from Clinton to Springfield is the longest ride of the seven-day event with Edward Jones sprint points in Stockton and Willard. Last year’s overall winner George Hincapie, racing for the Discovery Channel team, took the lead during Stage 2. Hincapie is racing again this year, now for Team Columbia.
 
    For more information about the Tour activities, visit http://www.tourofmissouri.com or http://www.tourofspringfield.com. Copies of cycling publication Velo News with a Tour of Missouri guide and Tour of Missouri maps are available at local bike shops, Springfield-Greene County Park Board recreation centers and downtown Springfield businesses while supplies last.