2017 marks the ninth year of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, a 10-day racing series that takes place in southeastern Wisconsin June 15 to 25. It’s the largest competitive road cycling event in the U.S., drawing more than 1,000 riders last year from 42 states and 16 countries.
ToAD also draws 130,000 to 150,000 spectators who take part in festivities – kids’ races, music, food and fun – in communities hosting the races.
“Our tag line is ‘bike race in a box,’” said ToAD organizer Bill Koch. “We bring the race, the riders, we register the riders, we do the prize purses, we bring series sponsors, and the community puts on a local event.”
Though the criterium races are open to riders of all levels, Koch suggested, “You might have to have some experience riding in a group. These fields have anywhere from 40 to 140 riders, and you are riding in very close proximity to each other. Riding elbow-to-elbow with someone at 20 to 30 miles an hour is a pretty cool experience. It is the absolute thrill of a lifetime.”
