Northwest Missourians should feel both fortunate and honored. For a change, they can enjoy the experience of having something that everyone else wants.

St. Joseph’s selection as the kickoff city for the 2008 Tour of Missouri bicycle race is a special moment. Kansas City had the distinction a year ago, when the inaugural race was run, and to this day its bicycling enthusiasts are wondering why they will not repeat.

Some suggest there was internal clash between Kansas City organizers and tour officials. Others suspect the race is reaching farther north — to St. Joseph — because it’s a political year and someone is receiving a favor.

We’re not buying either thought. To do so is to diminish everything that makes northwest Missouri the perfect choice for launching this race, which is said to be the third-highest-profile competitive bicycle event in the United States.

To begin with, St. Joseph has a world-class parkway system that had its beginning 90 years ago and today continues to evolve and grow. It’s a tribute to the foresight and stewardship of many people who have come before that the parkway remains such an important point of pride.

Then there are the region’s legendary ties to the Pony Express, the city’s place of prominence along the Missouri River, and the scenic 90-mile route through DeKalb, Weston and Platte City and finally to the Plaza in Kansas City.

Finally, we must mention the passion of local bicycling enthusiasts and their community partners who have embraced this event and given tour organizers every reason to think the kickoff weekend will be huge success.

This year’s race will start at midday on Monday, Sept. 8, and cover 90 miles the first day. Six more stages will follow before the event concludes Sept. 14 in St. Louis.

Local organizers have multiple events planned for the days leading to the start: two USA Cycling time trials for amateurs and semi-pro bicyclists on Sept. 6 and 7; a Coleman Hawkins Blues Festival on both days; and also a health and wellness expo.

A year ago, the state invested $1.7 million in tax money in sponsoring the first Tour of Missouri. A University of Missouri study found that investment helped attract more than 367,000 spectators and produced $26.2 million in new economic activity across six days.

Any part of that bounty that falls our way will be welcomed — not simply as “found money” but as dividends well earned from investments of vision, resources and effort.