Cycling Classic returns to East Troy
By Tracy Ouellette
SLN Staff
The largest competitive cycling event in the United States, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, will make its sixth stop in East Troy on Friday, June 16. East Troy is the second stop on the 11-day tour, which kicks off in Kenosha June 15 and wraps up in Wauwatosa on June 25.
The East Troy Cycling Classic begins at 10:15 a.m. with nearly 10 hours of high-energy professional cycling around East Troy Village Square Park and nearby streets.
The East Troy race start and finish will be on the east side of the square (2096 Church St.). The cyclists will ride laps around the half-mile course between 10:15 a.m. and 8 p.m. for timed races that range from 40 to 90 minutes.
“Spectators may watch the races anywhere on the racecourse, which will feature plenty of food, drink and entertainment (live music, farmers market, kids race, food and drink specials,” East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Vanessa Lenz said.
East Troy’s third annual Slow Ride Bike Race is back at 5:40 p.m. and the popular Tour de Square Kids Fun Races will begin at 6 p.m.
East Troy’s race is one of three venues that will mark the debut of handcycling at the Tour of America’s Dairyland. The country’s finest will battle for individual prize money and, overall, for the three-race championship, beginning at 5:10 p.m.
“Handcycling is a form of adaptive cycling that enables athletes of all abilities to ride a “bike” exclusively using the upper body,” Lenz said. “It’s been praised for providing a newfound resilience and autonomy for these cyclists.”
A beer tent will feature music by the Mt. Olive from 7:45 p.m. to 10:45 p.m.
The East Troy Cycling Classic will also feature the East Troy Farmers Market, an ESPN radio broadcast and local vendors offering a variety of food items and beer, soda and water. Many surrounding businesses get in on the action with race day specials and bike themed items.
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.
Admission is free and spectators may watch the cyclists whiz by once every three minutes from anywhere on the racecourse.
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.
The race series, produced by Midwest Cycling Series, LLC, is now in its ninth year.
In 2016, the Tour of America’s Dairyland, presented by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board, hosted roughly 1,000 racers of multiple categories from junior to pro level, from 42 states and 16 countries.
More than $175,000 in cash and primes was awarded before an estimated crowd of 175,000 dasher-board banging and cowbell-clanging fans.
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 Tour de Square Kids Fun Races has been a favorite for the past five years,” Lenz said. “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.”
The first race starts at 6 p.m. All racers must meet at the East Troy Village Municipal Parking Lot, on the corner of Church and Austin streets, by 5:45 p.m.
The first 100 entries will receive goodie bags, courtesy of Kids Race sponsors KS Energy Services and The Elegant Farmer. 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 easttroy.org or pre-register the day of the race at the Chamber information booth on the east side of East Troy Village Square Park.
“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,” Lenz said.
