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Nearly 350 cyclists and volunteers will be sightseeing areas of the Big Horn Basin this week during the 23rd running of the Tour de Wyoming bicycle tour. The tour will make a stop in Powell on …
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Nearly 350 cyclists and volunteers will be sightseeing areas of the Big Horn Basin this week during the 23rd running of the Tour de Wyoming bicycle tour. The tour will make a stop in Powell on Wednesday, camping out on the grounds of Powell High School with a free community concert.
The six day event, which attracts cyclists from across the nation as well as international riders this year from Norway, Australia and Canada, kicked off on Sunday in Thermopolis.
This year’s route circles the basin and takes a brief foray into Montana for one night in Red Lodge.
“We are cycling where dinosaurs once roamed,” said tour director Amber Travsky. “That is our theme, as depicted in our commemorative jerseys and shirts.”
The cyclists and volunteers gathered on Saturday in Thermopolis before beginning pedaling the next day. The route covers 365 miles with overnight stays in Basin, Cowley, Red Lodge, Powell and Meeteese. The cyclists return to Thermopolis on Friday.
“We strive each year to show off the state to our riders who come from across the country, although about half are from Wyoming,” Travsky said. “We also add some Wyoming-based live music entertainment most evenings to enhance the tour experience for everyone.”
Jalan Crossland was set to perform on Monday in Cowley, while Aaron Davis & the Mystery Machine will perform on Wednesday evening at Powell High School from 6:30-8 p.m. The community is welcome to attend the free show, which, if the weather cooperates, will be held outside. (Davis will also be performing at Cody City Park at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.)
According to Travsky, the overnight communities are the backbone of the Tour de Wyoming. Community groups step forward to provide meals, which they use as fundraisers, and allow riders to camp at community facilities — although many cyclists prefer heading to local motels.
This year’s riders come from 35 states and three foreign countries. Nearly half of the riders are from Wyoming, with 16 communities represented. There are more than 52 riders and volunteers from Laramie. The mean age of the riders is 57 years old, with a range from 11 to 80. There are 38 riders age 70 and over.
With the number of riders capped at 350, Tour de Wyoming participants are chosen by a drawing from registrations made in February.
The Tour de Wyoming is put on as a fundraiser for Cycle Wyoming, a non-profit corporation based in Laramie. The organization promotes safe cycling across the state.
“We are 100 percent volunteer-driven,” Travsky said. “From the 20-member planning committee to all the people helping at the rest stops, everyone donates their time and energy to put on this event.”
More information on this year’s tour can be found at www.tourdewyoming.org.
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