After rain and a 20 mph headwind the sun shines on 7000 riders at the 14th Annual Tour de Troit

By Wendell Bryant/Tell Us Detroit

DETROIT (Tell Us Det) - Michigan’s most anticipated cycling ride of the year, Tour de Troit despite the rain and heavy 20 mile per hour headwinds went off without a hitch Saturday morning, September 19. Over 7000 riders came together at Roosevelt Park, to embark on a brand new route which took cyclers on a 20, 30 or 62 mile trek. The ride began and end in the shadow of the historic Michigan Central Train Station and passed through many of Detroit’s iconic neighborhoods.

“As the Tour de Troit continues to expand each year, we’re thrilled to give riders a different view of the city with a brand new route,” said Vittoria Katanski, director, Tour de Troit. “This is Michigan’s largest cycling ride and we’re proud to bring the community together and help support biking infrastructure in the city of Detroit.”

The 14th annual ride kicked-off at 9 a.m. in Detroit’s Corktown neighborhood. The 30-mile ride passed through several Detroit landmarks including Boston Edison, the Packard Plant, Indian Village, West Village and Belle Isle. The 62-mile metric century ride for advanced riders started between 7 a.m. and 8:30 a.m.

At the conclusion of the ride, cyclists were treated with food from local restaurants, including Slows To Go and Organaman in addition to craft beer and entertainment from local bands.

Funds raised from the Tour de Troit have helped develop more than 17 miles of bike lanes as part of the Southwest Detroit Greenlink. Tour de Troit has also supported the Villages of Detroit Community Development Corporation, the Connor Creek Greenway and other non-motorized projects.

In May 2014, the Tour de Troit organization received the prestigious Community Support for Bicycling Award by the League of Michigan Bicyclists. The same organization also named the Tour de Troit ride the largest in Michigan in 2013.

Click on image below to enlarge route map



About Tour de Troit
The mission of Tour de Troit is to promote and encourage bicycling and bicycle safety through education, public events, collaboration with community and government organizations and support for non-motorized infrastructure. Since its inception in 2005, the Tour de Troit ride has raised nearly $200,000 to support greenways and non-motorized transit projects in Detroit. For more information, visit www.tour-de-troit.org.