Published: Saturday, October 24, 2009
Updated: Sunday, September 27, 2009 8:07 AM CDT

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - Professional cyclist Lance Armstrong has called Missouri Gov. Jay Nixon to thank him for funding this year’s Tour of Missouri bicycle race.

Nixon spokesman Jack Cardetti says Armstrong called the Democratic governor late Friday afternoon. According to Cardetti, Armstrong said it would be great to continue funding the race but that the cyclist also indicated that he understood securing additional corporate sponsorship for the race would be necessary.

Several Democratic leaders in the Legislature this week sent Nixon a letter urging him to continue state funding.

Missouri’s three-year sponsorship deal ended with this year’s race, which was won earlier this month by American David Zabriskie. The state paid $1.5 million annually for the event.