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Cycling event races into East Troy

A criterium bike race will take over the East Troy Square on Friday. Spectators are welcome to attend and watch. Children are invited to take part in a Kids Fun Race at 5:30 p.m. on race day. File photo.

EAST TROY--East Troy’s historic village square and the neighboring streets will transform into a professional bicycle racing venue on Friday, when the community welcomes more than 500 men and women racers to the East Troy Cycling Classic.

(Read all of this week's stories from Walworth County Sunday HERE. )

The local event is the second day of the 11-day Tour of America’s Dairyland, the largest competitive cycling event in the United States, which starts in Shorewood on June 21 and ends in Madison on July 1. See the complete series schedule online at www.tourofamericasdairy-land. com.

In East Troy, the start/finish line for the races will utilize the stop sign line on Church Street at the southeast corner of the village square, where race organizers also will erect a stage and announcer stand. Spectators will hear constant updates from the professional announcer, who also will promote racer prizes for intermediate laps known as primes (pronounced preems). The event will be broadcast by ESPN Radio (540 AM), thanks to a donation by KS Energy Services, LLC.

The half-mile criterium (short course bike race) will start at the stop sign, head north on Church Street, around the square, south on Division Street, west on Austin Street, south on Clark Street, east on South Street and north on Church Street to the beginning. The cyclists ride laps around the course for timed races that range from 40 minutes to 90 minutes.

Admission is free to the event and spectators may watch the races anywhere on the race course, including on the square, where concessions will be available, including a variety of sandwiches and beverages (craft beer, soda and water) offered by local vendors.

The Tour de Square Kids Fun Races will begin at 5:30 p.m., when children will get the experience of competing like the pros as they pedal their two-, three- or four-wheel bikes fast and furiously toward the finish line. 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 (up to age 4), Training Wheels/Two Wheels (ages 4 to 7) and Two Wheels Only (ages 8 to 11). All children must wear helmets.

Entry forms are available at www.easttroywi.org or you may register during Bike Day at the East Troy Farmers Market from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Thursday on the village square.

Title sponsor for the East Troy Cycling Classic is the Dennis and Janice Klumb Family Foundation Inc., which put up half of the bid fees. 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.

For more information, contact the East Troy Area Chamber of Commerce at (262) 642-3770, info@easttroywi.org or go to www.easttroywi.org.

If you go:

-- What: East Troy Cycling Classic

-- When: 11 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. Friday

-- Where: Around the square starting at Church Street, then south on Division Street, west on Austin Street, south on Clark Street, east on South Street, north on Church Street to the beginning.

-- Registration: Register for the Kids Fun Race at (262) 642-3770 or online at www.easttroywi.org