For the last 14 years, the Kwik Trip Tour of America's Dairyland (ToAD) has brought eleven days of community celebrations by way of criterium (crit) racing. This year it will return once again for its 15th season, bringing fast-paced bike racing and high-volume block parties to streets of Wisconsin from June 13-23.
The Kwik Trip Tour of America's Dairyland is a multi-stage crit race that sees athletes of all ages and skill levels compete across multiple laps for a chance to be the first over the line. But whether you're in the pack pushing yourself to your limits, on the sidelines banging on the boards to encourage more heart-pounding drama or at the local cafe to enjoy the spectacle with a beer, there is something for everyone.
ToAD draws racers from all over the country, and often from around the world, because it is somewhat unique amongst the North American crit scene. There are very few opportunities to race back-to-back(-to-back-to-back-to-back, etc.) for eleven days straight, as most crit events offer a day or perhaps a multi-day weekend. Even Chicago's Intelligentsia Cup offers one day fewer.
Thanks to this length and intensity, you may see appearances from high-caliber racers – such as cyclocross national champ Curtis White, Olympic track champ Jennifer Valente or international road racer Chloe Hosking – who use the Dairyland races as a sort-of training camp to enhance their form.
ToAD will also once again be a stop on the American Crit Cup (ACC), which is its own calendar of crit racing that piggybacks on events across the entire nation.
The schedule
- Thursday, June 13 - Janesville
- Friday, June 14 - West Allis
- Saturday, June 15 - Grafton
- Sunday, June 16 - Manitowoc
- Monday, June 18 - De Pere
- Tuesday, June 18 - Cedarburg
- Wednesday, June 19 -
TBDMount Pleasant - Thursday, June 20 - Bay View
- Friday, June 21 - Shorewood
- Saturday, June 22 - Downer Ave
- Sunday, June 23 - Wauwatosa
So what's new for 2024?
A few things catch my eye about the latest schedule.
First, a mainstay since the beginning, East Troy is off the schedule. As a result, the West Allis date has been shuffled up the timeline. And the first-ever ToAD race in Cedarburg is set to kick off the second half of the schedule on Tuesday, June 18.
Another change over last year: The historic Downer Avenue Classic will be the ACC stop this year, instead of Grafton. (But don't worry, both races remain on the ToAD schedule.) On top of the ACC race, Downer will also play host to the finale of the USA Juniors Cup, which could result in selections to join the USA Cycling National Team.
And lastly, there is still a spot conspicuously open on the calendar; nothing has been confirmed yet for Wednesday, June 19. [EDIT: A return to the 5-mile circuit race near Mount Pleasant (last seen in 2022) has been confirmed for Wenesday, June 19.]
(But, if you were to press me for schedule requests, I'd love to see the return of Port Washington's incredible hill-climber course, which we haven't seen since 2018. Otherwise, give me the wild and wacky energy that Brady Street brought in 2022.)
More info
Registration for the Kwik Trip Tour of America's Dairyland opens in March. You can find more information at tourofamericasdairyland.com.
Jason McDowell grew up in central Iowa and moved to Milwaukee in 2000 to attend the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design.
In 2006 he began working with OnMilwaukee as an advertising designer, but has since taken on a variety of rolls as the Creative Director, tackling all kinds of design problems, from digital to print, advertising to branding, icons to programming.
In 2016 he picked up the 414 Digital Star of the Year award.
Most other times he can be found racing bicycles, playing board games, or petting dogs.
