Cycling Classic to close streets around square Friday
A five-block area surrounding East Troy’s historic Village Square will be clogged with traffic of another type Friday – bicycles.
More than 500 men and women racers will transform the heart of the village into a professional cycling venue when the East Troy Cycling Classic visits the village.
And while the event will be great for race fans and bicycle enthusiasts, those whose only goal is to make it through the village are advised to avoid the area surrounding the square.
The race start and finish will be outside the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce office, located at 2096 Church St. The cyclists will ride laps around the half-mile course between 11 a.m. and 7:30 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. Admission is free and spectators may watch the races anywhere on the race course, including on the square where local vendors will offer a variety of food items and craft beer, soda and water.
In addition, the Carpetbaggers will perform classic, country, blues and rockabilly hits from 3 to 7 p.m. A raffle will be held to win a Trek Verve Hybrid from Won-A-Go Biking in Mukwonago. Tickets will be sold at the Chamber information booth the day of the bike race for $5 each or three for $10.
The race event is the second day of the 11-day Tour of America’s Dairyland, which is billed as the largest competitive cycling event in the United States. This year’s tour kicks off in Shorewood on Thursday and ends on the east side of Wauwatosa on Sunday, June 30.
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.
“We again partnered with the Chamber to bring this event to East Troy because we want to showcase our hometown and provide an exciting venue for the race utilizing our historic village square,” Janice Klumb said.
The race series, produced by Midwest Cycling Series, LLC, is now in its fifth year. The Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board has been the presenting sponsor of the Tour of America’s Dairyland since the pro-am cycling event’s beginning in 2009.
Kids Fun Races
The Tour de Square Kids Fun Races will give 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.
The first race starts at 5:30 p.m. All racers must meet at the East Troy Village Municipal Parking Lot, on the corner of Church and Austin streets, by 5:15 p.m.
The first 100 entries will receive goodie bags and a carton of chocolate milk. There is no entry fee, but registration is required. Medals will be awarded to the top three places in three age categories, tricycles/big wheels (age 4 and younger), training wheels/two wheels (ages 4-7) and two wheels only (ages 8-11). All children must wear helmets.
Entry forms are available at www.easttroywi.org or pre-register the day of the race at the Chamber information booth.
For more information, contact the Chamber at (262) 642-3770 or visit www.easttroywi.org.
