Tour of America’s Dairyland returns to East Troy June 22
The largest competitive cycling event in the United States, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, will make its seventh stop in East Troy on Friday, June 22.
The East Troy Cycling Classic begins at 10:35 a.m. with nearly nine hours of high-energy professional cycling around the East Troy Village Square and nearby streets.
“ToAD has differentiated itself by evolving into a community-wide festival that happens to have cycling throughout the day,” said Vanessa Lenz, Executive Director of the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event. “East Troy is day 2 on the 11-day race series and our schedule represents everything our local community has to offer.”
Spectators may watch the cyclists whiz by once every three minutes from anywhere on the racecourse, which will feature plenty of food, drink and entertainment. Admission is free.
“This year’s event features live music, the East Troy Farmers Market, an ESPN radio broadcast and more. Many surrounding businesses will get in on the action with race day specials and bike themed items,” Lenz said.
“We’ve got two races for locals to get in on the action. East Troy’s fourth annual Slow Ride Bike Race will feature riders competing to be the slowest without stopping. Last place comes in first. The winner gets $100 and there will also be a prize for best costume,” she added.
“The Tour de Square Kids Fun Races has been a favorite for the past six years. This race gives children the chance to compete like the pros as they pedal their two-, three- or four-wheel bikes fast and furiously toward the finish line. Entry is free but pre-registration is required.”
East Troy is only one of three hosts on the ToAD 2018 series to host handcycling – a form of adaptive cycling that enables athletes of all abilities to ride a “bike” exclusively using the upper body.
“It’s been praised for providing a newfound resilience and autonomy for these cyclists,” Lenz said.
The lowdown
The East Troy race start and finish will be on the east side of the square (2096 Church St.).
About 500 cyclists from around the country and abroad will ride laps around the half-mile course between 10:35 a.m. and 8 p.m. for timed races that range from 40 to 90 minutes.
The race will shut down streets on the course, but local businesses will remain open. Parking will be available in the Chester Byrnes lot, 2031 Division St., and a golf cart shuttle will be available.
The title sponsor for the East Troy Cycling Classic is the Dennis and Janice Klumb Family Foundation, which put up half of the bid fees to host the race. The East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce serves as the local host, with funding for the balance of the fees donated by other local and regional sponsors.
ToAD 2018, which marks its 10th anniversary, runs Thursday, June 21 through Sunday, July 1 and features criterium-style races daily in different Wisconsin communities. With the exception of Schlitz Park in Milwaukee, ToAD 2018 races will return to the same communities as last year.
ToAD has become one of the most popular bike race series in the sport earning an outstanding reputation for delivering a world-class race experience for both participants and spectators.
In 2017, nearly 1,000 racers from more than 40 states and 15 countries participated in ToAD with an average of 450 racing daily.
Overall an estimated 100,000 spectators attended races and other special race-day events in host communities.
“The East Troy Cycling Classic is a great time to celebrate summer and East Troy. It not only brings with it some of the top racers from around the world, as well as competitions for locals, but also puts the spotlight on our community, its residents and our businesses,” said Lenz.
ToAD & Kwik Trip partnership
Tour of America’s Dairyland announced recently Kwik Trip Inc. is the series’ new Presenting Sponsor.
The series will now be branded as ‘Tour of America’s Dairyland presented by Kwik Trip.’
Additionally, as part of the three-year sponsorship commitment, ToAD has also designated Kwik Trip as the series’ “Official Fuel Stop.”
Kwik Trip Inc., one of the largest independently held convenience store chains in the United States, owns and operates more than 600 stores in Wisconsin, Minnesota and Iowa.
ToAD promoters also announced the addition of Janesville as the newest venue for the series.
ToAD was started in 2009 by several local cycling enthusiasts, including former professional and elite racers Tom Schuler and Bill Ochowicz, and extends the legacy of multi-day bike racing that first started in Wisconsin in 1969.
Many of the sport’s top professionals have raced on the streets of Wisconsin, including Greg Lemond, Eric Heiden, Davis Phinney, Alex Stieda and Cadel Evans.
See the full list of ToAD 2018 dates and cities, click tourofamericasdairyland.com.
Race Day Lineup
10:35 a.m. – Citizens Category 5
11:05 a.m. – Category 3/4/5 Women
11:55 a.m. – Cat 4/5
12:45 p.m. – Masters 3/4 (40+)
1:45 p.m. – Cat 3
2:45 p.m. – Masters 1/2/3
3:55 p.m. – Pro 1/2 Women
5:05 p.m. – Handcycle Races
5:40 p.m. – Slow Ride Bike Race
6 p.m. – Kids Race
6:30 p.m. – Pro Men 1/2
