Tour de Donut facts for kids

The Tour de Donut is a fun bicycle event held every year in places like Staunton, Illinois, and Troy, Ohio. It's a special kind of bike race where riders can actually get a faster time by eating doughnuts! For every donut they eat at special stops, five minutes are taken off their total race time.

History of the Donut Race

The Tour de Donut began in 1989. A group of bike riders in Southwestern Illinois came up with the idea. They wanted to create a fun race that made a playful copy of the famous Tour de France. Members of a group called the Mid-America Bicycle Club thought it would be a unique event.

The Mid-America Bicycle Club stopped operating in 1998. After that, former members looked for a new group to help run the race. Since then, the Boeing Employees Bicycle Club from St. Louis has helped sponsor the event. The Staunton Chamber of Commerce also helps make the race happen.

Tour de Donut Locations

Staunton, Illinois Race

The very first Tour de Donut race took place in 1989. About 25 riders participated in that first event. The race originally started and ended in Bethalto, Illinois. A woman actually won the first Tour de Donut!

Over the years, the race has grown a lot. The route has changed, and there are more options for riders. Many more people now join the competition. Since 2011, the race has used special chips to time the riders. This helps get very accurate results. Each year, between 800 and 1,600 cyclists take part.

After the race, riders get three different times. They get a "gun time" (when they started), a "chip time" (when they crossed the start and finish lines), and a "donut adjusted time." The donut adjusted time is their chip time with five minutes taken off for each donut they ate. There's also a shorter "Donut Hole" route. This route is not timed and is great for younger or newer riders.

Riders can win awards for their performance. Prizes are given for the fastest unadjusted times. There are also awards for the fastest donut-adjusted times. And, of course, there's a special award for the person who eats the most donuts!

Troy, Ohio Race

Another Tour de Donut started in September 2007. This one was in Greenville, Ohio. About 100 people joined the first event. In 2008, the race moved to Brumbaughs Fruit Farm in Arcanum. Donuts were made right there for the event. That year, 279 people participated. The event continued to grow, with over 500 participants in 2009. By 2010, 603 people finished the race.

The event kept getting bigger each year. In 2011, 920 people participated. By 2012, there were 1,354 participants. The race moved to Downtown Arcanum in 2012. Donuts were provided by Ulbrichs in Piqua, Ohio. In 2013, over 1,600 people joined the race. That year, a free kids' race was offered for the first time. Seventy kids raced in the special area in Downtown Arcanum.

In 2014, 1,976 participants took part. They could choose from 16, 32, or a new 64-mile course. One hundred kids also joined the free kids' races. In 2015 and 2016, the event reached its limit of 2,000 participants.

In 2017, the Tour de Donut Ohio moved to the City of Troy, Ohio. It attracted 2,400 participants and continues to grow. The event is often held with the Rock the Bike music festival. This brings thousands of people for live music, demonstrations, food, and drinks. The Extremity Sports club helps promote this event. It is part of the Rocketship Sports Management group.

This annual event has become the largest one-day bike ride in Ohio. It attracts all kinds of cyclists and people looking for fun. It is usually held on the first Saturday after Labor Day. The 12th Tour de Donut in Troy, Ohio, took place on Saturday, August 24, 2019.

Greenville, Michigan Race

A Tour de Donut event has been held west of Greenville, Michigan. It took place at the Klackle Orchards Family Fun Farm. This race started in 2009. It is a 30-mile race. In this event, three minutes are taken off your time for each donut eaten. This is different from the traditional five minutes. In 2010, 321 people finished this race. This event has not happened since 2015. It was canceled in recent years because not enough people signed up.

American Fork, Utah Race

The Rotary Club of American Fork has hosted this event. It takes place in American Fork, Utah. This race has been held since 2008. It is a 21-mile race. Like the Michigan event, three minutes are deducted for each donut eaten. In 2010, 245 people finished this race.

Katy, Texas Race

Since July 2004, Katy, Texas, has also held an annual Tour de Donut. It is known as the "Sweetest Bike Ride in Texas." This 28-mile race helps raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation of the Texas Gulf Coast. All the money earned from the event is given to this foundation. In 2010, 209 people finished this race.

San Luis Obispo, California Race

This annual event started in 2011. It is a 20-mile ride that is not timed. Riders visit three donut shops along the way. There is also a 2-mile timed section. This part of the race goes uphill about 800 feet (250 meters). Riders have 10 minutes at each donut shop to eat donuts. Each donut they eat takes 15 seconds off their time.

Documentary Film: Gluttons for Punishment

A documentary film was made about the Tour de Donut. It is called "Tour de Donut: Gluttons for Punishment." Steve Kelly and Jim Klenn created this film. The movie follows two skilled cyclists. They try to help their friend "out pedal and out eat the rest of the competition." The documentary also shares a short history of the race. It includes information about the filmmakers.

Seattle, Washington Race

An annual 16.3-mile bike ride takes place in Seattle. It is a self-propelled tour through the city. Mighty-O Donuts started this yearly pedal tour in 2017. It is fueled by donuts and coffee. This event happens during Bike to Work Month. Mighty-O Donuts also partners with Bike Works. This group helps young people and builds strong communities using bicycles. Mighty-O also works with Bicycle Benefits. This is a national program that supports cycling and local businesses.