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Libby Weddle and Brennan may have been competing for last place in the ages 5 to 7 bicycle race Sunday, but Dona Reynolds was at the finish line cheering them on. Ms. Reynolds is mother to Mark Reynolds, a cyclist who was killed by a mountain lion as he was riding in California four years ago. The events Sunday will benefit the Mark Reynolds fund.

Kobe Montgomery didn’t want to lose to big brother Kaeden.

In a prelude to today’s Tour of Missouri, kids like the Montgomerys raced around Civic Center Park on Sunday for bragging rights, a free drink and plain old fun. The winners — every rider in the field — even got gold medals.

The brothers lined up together at the checkered start-finish line for the final race. At the starter’s signal, 6-year-old Kobe raced past most of the pack. Only three riders from the nearly 40-bike field beat him to the first turn, and 7-year-old Kaeden wasn’t one of them. In fact, Kobe built up so much speed on the straightaway that a volunteer on the sidewalk warned him to slow down.

Unfortunately for Kobe, he found out the hard way that the rear brakes on his bike were broken. The front brakes worked fine, perhaps a little too well, and locked up the front wheel. The handlebars jerked to the right, back to the left, and Kobe bounced to the pavement. The rest of the riders, Kaeden included, rushed safely past for a quick lap around the Pony Express statue before they pedaled back to the finish line.

“I was way in front of my brother,” Kobe bragged after the race. “Then I fell off.”

Other than a skinned knee, Kobe was unhurt. Both brothers said they had fun and wanted to ride in the race again if the tour returns in 2009.

Lt. Gov. Peter Kinder, one of the tour’s biggest supporters, said one of the race’s benefits was that it exposed children to a good form of recreation. Mr. Kinder even took a ride of his own: a lap around the sidewalk on an oversized adult tricycle.

“What’s better than a bicycle race to teach health and wellness to kids?” Mr. Kinder asked.

Clinton Thomas can be reached

at clintonthomas@npgco.com.