Tour of America’s Dairyland – Stage 1 Report

Overcast skies didn’t prevent nearly 300 racers from participating in Stage 1 of the 10-day Tour of America’s Dairyland sponsored by Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board. The Blue Mounds Race of the Future presented Trek kicked off the inaugural Tour of America’s Dairyland on a proposed course for the 2016 Olympics featuring a 22-mile loop throughout Blue Mounds State Park with considerable climbs. Riders across all cats commented on the challenging yet exhilarating nature of the course.

Matthew Busche (Nova ISCorp) was the first of a 79-Pro Men starting field to cross the line on Thursday after surging ahead from a small pack near the 88-mile race finish.

“I felt good until the top of pinnacle but after that felt my legs start to cramp at the base of Blue Mounds but I just put my head down and prayed for no cramps,” said Busche. “Blue Mounds was a race that I wanted to do well at , and with good preparation, my strategy was to just go out and ride hard.”

Amanda Miller (Team Lipsmacker) climbed atop the Women’s Pro podium, perhaps her first appearance of many as the Tour features a Women’s Pro Race at all ten stages.

Said Miller, “It’s a great course if you like hills, and that’s kind of my thing.”

Both Busche and Miller took home the black and white cow print winners jersey as well as the yellow and white cow print leader’s jersey. The top slot in all categories, in addition to a cash prize and jersey, also gets the coveted milk bottle filled with chocolate milk, courtesy of title sponsor Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board.

Taking top honors in Cat 3, Cat 4/5 and Masters Thursday were David Pacquette (Team Wheaton Franciscan), Jeff Curtes (Fuel Café) and Dan Holsen (Lake Area Physical Therapy), respectively.

“Definitely a challenging course but nice for the first day of the 10-day series,” said Holsen of Manitowoc, Wis., who will race again before a hometown crowd when the Tour heads to Manitowoc this Sunday, June 21, for the Maritime Bay Classic.

The Tour continues Friday with the Trek Waterloo Classic in Downtown Waterloo, Wis, home of Trek Bicycle.

Also included in the Tour are the Wisconsin cities of Grafton, Manitowoc, Fond du Lac, Sheboygan, Greenbush, Waukesha and Milwaukee. The Downer Classic on Milwaukee’s Eastside will feature the Ben’s Cycle “Ultra Prime Party”. In addition to high energy cycling, the cities will also feature a variety of live entertainment, family activities, food, and a sports expo produced by Racers Against Childhood Cancer (RACC).

Schedule Overview:

Stage 1 completed: Blue Mounds Race of the Future (Blue Mounds, WI)

Stage 2: June 19, noon-7:30p: Trek Waterloo Classic (Waterloo, WI)

Stage 3: June 20, 1:00p-8:30p: Giro d’ Grafton (Grafton, WI)

Stage 4: June 21, Noon-7:30p: Maritime Bay Classic (Manitowoc, WI)

June 22: Rest Day

Stage 5: June 23, 9:00a-4:30p: Attitude Sports Fond du Lac Road Race (Fond du Lac, WI)

Stage 6: June 24, noon-7:30p: Fond du Lac Bicycling Grand Prix (Fond du Lac, WI)

Stage 7: June 25, noon-7:30p: Harbor Centre Family Day & Bike Race (Sheboygan, WI)

Stage 8: June 26, 9:00a-4:30p: Greenbush Road Race (Greenbush, WI)

Stage 9: June 27, 1:00p-8:30p: The Downer Classic (Milwaukee, WI)

Stage 10: June 28, 11:00a-7:30p: Carl Zach Cycling Classic (Waukesha, WI)

Tags: Bicycling, Sheboygan, Tour of America's Dairyland, wisconsin milk marketing board