Tour of Somerville facts for kids

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Tour of Somerville
Race details
File:Tour of Somerville 2017.jpg
Date	Memorial Day
Region	Somerville, New Jersey
Nickname(s)	“The Kentucky Derby of Cycling"
Discipline	Road
Type	One-day
History
First edition	1940 (1940)
Editions	76 (as of 2019)
First winner	Furman Kugler (USA)
Most recent	George Jackson (NZL)

The Tour of Somerville is a yearly series of bicycle races. It takes place in and around Somerville, New Jersey. The races happen during the Memorial Day weekend. The main event on Memorial Day is the Kugler-Anderson 50-mile race. This race is for professional and top amateur cyclists. It is the oldest bike race in the United States, starting in 1940. People call it "The Belmont Stakes of Cycling." It brings in famous cyclists and Olympians from all over the world. From the 1940s to the 1980s, it was known as the most important bike race in America.

History of the Tour of Somerville
Kugler-Anderson Memorial Tour Winners
Mildred Kugler Women's Open Winners
Images for kids

History of the Tour of Somerville

Furman Kugler, the first winner, with his father, Fred "Pop" Kugler, who started the race.

People celebrating the first Tour of Somerville in 1940.

The Tour of Somerville is the oldest big bike race in the United States. It began in 1940. A bike shop owner named Fred “Pop” Kugler created the race. His son, Furman, was a national cycling champion. Furman wanted a race closer to his home. Pop Kugler once said that Furman wanted to "sleep in his own bed" before a race. So, Pop decided to create a race for people to watch.

Pop Kugler got the permits in 1939. But there was a problem with New Jersey law. The law said no contests for prizes could be held on a state highway. Somerville's Main Street is part of a state highway. The state official suggested calling it a "Tour" instead of a "race." This way, a permit could be given.

The First Races and Their Heroes

Furman Kugler won the first Tour of Somerville in 1940. About 117 riders came from far away to compete. He won again in 1941. In 1942, Furman did not race. His friend, Carl Anderson, won that year. The race stopped during World War II. Sadly, Furman was killed in Okinawa, and Carl Anderson in Belgium.

The race started again in 1947. It was renamed The Kugler-Anderson Memorial. This honored Furman Kugler and Carl Anderson. It has been held every Memorial Day since then.

In 1940, Furman Kugler won the 50-mile race in 2 hours and 8 minutes. He used an old-fashioned steel bike with wooden rims. Today, bikes are much better. Winners now finish the race in about 1 hour and 40 minutes. Furman's winning bike is on display near Somerville Borough Hall. For his first win, Furman got a new bike worth $75. He also won a trophy, a painting, and a badminton set. Today, the total prizes are $20,000. This is split equally between the top men and women riders.

How the Race Has Changed Over Time

Race organizers once called the Tour "second only to the national championships." Many famous cyclists have competed here. These include Tour de France winner Greg LeMond. Olympic gold medalist speed skater Eric Heiden also raced. Many national, Olympic, and world champions have taken part.

The Tour is more than just a sports event. It has become a big street fair. It also features music, art, and neighborhood parties. All of this happens around the fast-paced bike race. The race goes through the streets of Somerville's old downtown.

Since 1947, the race has been a yearly tradition. It helps honor American heroes on Memorial Day. Joe Saling, a race announcer, says it's very important to the town. He says people in Somerville just call it "the bike race." The race course has changed over the years. But its main idea has stayed the same. It's always been about creating a classic "criterium" race. This type of race is famous in America.

Early Champions: Kugler-Anderson Memorial

From the start, the Kugler-Anderson Memorial race featured top North American cyclists. In the 1940s and 1950s, national champions like Furman Kugler and Donald Sheldon won. Olympians such as Jack Heid also took victories. These early winners helped make the event a national classic. This trend continued into the 1960s and 1970s. More Olympians and national champions kept winning.

Harry Naismyth Junior Race (1949)

In 1949, a new race was added for younger male cyclists. This was the Harry Naismith Junior event, for ages 15–17. Harry Naismith was from Somerville. He became a Junior National Champion in 1940. Two cyclists, Jackie Simes and Roger Young, won both the Junior race and the main Kugler-Anderson race. Many winners of the Junior race also became national champions. Some even competed in the Olympics or World Championships.

Jaycee/John Chilseko Intermediate Race (1971)

In 1971, the Jaycee/John Chilseko Intermediate event was added. This was for males aged 12–14. John Chiselko was from Somerville. He won the Kugler-Anderson Memorial in 1954. He was only 17 years old, making him the youngest winner at that time. He was also a junior national champion.

Jaycee/Alan Bell Midget Race (1972)

The Jaycee/Alan Bell Midget event started in 1972. This race was for boys and girls aged 9–11. Alan Bell was also from Somerville. He was part of the U.S. Olympic Teams in 1956 and 1960. Alan Bell never won the main Somerville race. But he finished second five times.

Mildred Kugler Open for Women (1976)

Women first raced in the Tour in the early 1950s. But a special race for women started in 1976. This was the Mildred Kugler Open, a 25-mile event. Mildred was the daughter of the race founder, Fred “Pop” Kugler. She was a New Jersey state champion herself. She won the national cycling championship in her age group in 1940. She stopped racing in 1942 when she was 17. But she came back in 1952. She won the New Jersey state championship again. She also placed third at the National Championships that year.

The Tour's Popularity Over the Years

In 1980, Sports Illustrated magazine wrote a big story about the race. The article called it "The Somerville Whirl." The author said spectators could watch the world's best athletes. They could see them race by 77 times for free. She called Memorial Day in Somerville "the greatest bargain in sport."

Joe Saling, a longtime announcer for the Tour, remembers its importance. He said it was "the most prestigious race in the country to have on your record." Riders felt very proud to win in Somerville. Ron Skarin, an Olympian and national champion, won twice in the 1970s. He said winning Somerville was better than anything else he had done.

Laura van Gilder, who won five times, spoke about the race in 2021. She said it was the "Grandaddy" of all criterium races. She added that it was a race "not to miss." It is still one of America's oldest races. It remains a very important event on the racing calendar.

In the past, the Tour of Somerville attracted many people. Some estimates say up to 30,000 people came each year. One newspaper article from 1983 reported that over 40,000 people were expected. They would line the course for the main 50-mile race.

The Tour in the 21st Century

The Tour of Somerville used to be only a Memorial Day event. This changed in the 1990s. It became a three-day series of races. This gave cyclists more chances to compete. Now, the Tour of Somerville Cycling Series includes races on Saturday. These are for different skill levels in nearby Bound Brook, New Jersey. On Sunday, there are sprint races on Somerville's Main Street. The historic Tour of Somerville is still held on Monday.

Since 2019, both men's and women's races offer equal prize money. Each group competes for $10,000 in prizes. The 2020 race was canceled for the first time ever. This was due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The 2021 race was moved to Labor Day. But it was later canceled because of serious flooding. This flooding was from Hurricane Ida.

The race course has changed recently. The length of a lap is now shorter. The start and finish line moved to the main commercial street. Since 2017, organizers wanted to bring crowds to Main Street. This moved them away from the courthouse area. Jackie Simes, a former Olympian and two-time winner, likes the change. He said it makes the race "a little more technical" for riders. He also said it's a "great place to watch the race."

Other big races now happen on Memorial Day. But Somerville still attracts many top professional and amateur cyclists. Announcer Joe Saling says that even if not all pro teams are there, the race is exciting. He says spectators see "non-stop action." No single team can control the race. This means that "David really can knock off Goliath."

Kugler-Anderson Memorial Tour Winners

Who Won the Main Race?

Year	Winner	Nationality
2024	Cesar Marte	United States (NY)
2023	Danny Estevez	United States (MA)
2022	George Jackson	New Zealand
2021	Canceled due to Hurricane Ida
2020	Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey
2019	Connor Sallee	United States
2018	Shane Kline	United States
2017	Noah Granigan	United States
2016	Scott Savory	Guyana
2015	Andrew Dahlheim	United States
2014	Adam Alexander	Trinidad and Tobago
2013	Hilton Clarke	Australia
2012	Luke Keough	United States
2011	Timothy Gudsell	New Zealand
2010	Ben Kersten	Australia
2009	Lucas Sebastián Haedo	Argentina
2008	Lucas Sebastián Haedo	Argentina
2007	Hilton Clarke	Australia
2006	Juan José Haedo	Argentina
2005	Kyle Wamsley	United States
2004	Viktor Rapinski	Belarus
2003	Jonas Carney	United States
2002	Jonas Carney	United States
2001	Eric Wohlberg	Canada
2000	Jonas Carney	United States
1999	Eric Wohlberg	Canada
1998	Jonas Carney	United States
1997	Brett Aitken	Australia
1996	Julian Dean	New Zealand
1995	Jason Snow	United States
1994	Jonas Carney	United States
1993	Gary Anderson	New Zealand
1992	Jonas Carney	United States
1991	Brian Moroney	United States
1990	Matt Eaton	United States
1989	Graeme Miller	New Zealand
1988	Roberto Gaggioli	Italy
1987	Paul Pearson	United States
1986	Marc Maertens	Belgium
1985	Matt Eaton	United States
1984	Davis Phinney	United States
1983	Steve Bauer	Canada
1982	Gary Tevisiol	Canada
1981	Wayne Stetina	United States
1980	Steve Bauer	Canada
1979	William Martin	United States
1978	Jocelyn Lovell	Canada
1977	Dave Ware	United States
1976	Dave Boll	United States
1975	Rory O'Reilly	United States
1974	Ron Skarin	United States
1973	Ron Skarin	United States
1972	Roger Young	United States
1971	Eddie Parrott	United States
1970	Robert Farrell	Trinidad and Tobago
1969	Jackie Simes	United States
1968	Siegi Koch	Canada
1967	Jackie Simes	United States
1966	John Aschen	United States
1965	Eckhard Viehover	Germany
1964	Hans Wolf	United States
1963	Olaf Moetus	United States
1962	Richard Centore	United States
1961	Robert McKnown	United States
1960	Michael Hiltner	United States
1959	Rupert Waltl	United States
1958	Art Longsjo	United States
1957	Arnold Uhrlass	United States
1956	Jack Heid	United States
1955	Pat Murphy	Canada
1954	John Chiselko	United States
1953	Hugh Starrs	United States
1952	Ernest Seubert	United States
1951	Francis Mertens	United States
1950	Richard Cortright	United States
1949	Frank Brilando	United States
1948	Donald Sheldon	United States
1947	Donald Sheldon	United States
1943–1946	Canceled due to World War II
1942	Carl Anderson	United States
1941	Furman Kugler	United States
1940	Furman Kugler	United States

Who Won Multiple Times?

Riders in italic are still racing.

Wins	Rider	Editions
5	Jonas Carney (USA)	1992, 1998, 2000, 2002, 2003
2	Hilton Clarke (AUS)	2007, 2013
	Lucas Sebastian Haedo (ARG)	2008, 2009
	Eric Wohlberg (CAN)	1999, 2001
	Matt Eaton (USA)	1985, 1990
	Steve Bauer (CAN)	1980, 1983
	Ron Skarin (USA)	1973, 1974
	Jackie Simes (USA)	1967, 1969
	Donald Sheldon (USA)	1947, 1949
	Furman Kugler (USA)	1940, 1941

Which Countries Have Won the Most?

Wins	Country
49	United States
8	Canada
4	Australia New Zealand
3	Argentina
2	Trinidad and Tobago
1	Germany Belgium Guyana Belarus Italy

Mildred Kugler Women's Open Winners

Who Won the Women's Race?

Year	Winner	Nationality
2024	Coryn Labecki	United States (PA)
2023	Jessica Chong	United States (PA)
2022	Katia Martinez	Mexico
2021	Canceled due to Hurricane Ida
2020	Canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic in New Jersey
2019	Maggie Coles-Lyster	Canada
2018	Laura Van Gilder	United States
2017	Laura Van Gilder	United States
2016	Ellen Watters	Canada
2015	Lauretta Hanson	Australia
2014	Erica Allar	United States
2013	Kimberley Wells	Australia
2012	Ruth Winder	United States
2011	Theresa Cliff-Ryan	United States
2010	Theresa Cliff-Ryan	United States
2009	Tina Pic	United States
2008	Tina Pic	United States
2007	Theresa Cliff-Ryan	United States
2006	Tina Pic	United States
2005	Laura Van Gilder	United States
2004	Melissa Sanbom	United States
2003	Sarah Uhl	United States
2002	Laura Van Gilder	United States
2001	Christina Underwood	United States
2000	Tina Pic	United States
1999	Laura Van Gilder	United States
1998	Karen Bliss-Livingston	United States
1997	Karen Bliss-Livingston	United States
1996	Jessica Grieco	United States
1995	Jessica Grieco	United States
1994	Jeanne Golay	United States
1993	Marianne Berglund	Sweden
1992	Laura Charmeda	United States
1991	Karen Bliss-Livingston	United States
1990	Jan Bolland	United States
1989	Susan Elias	United States
1988	Susan Elias	United States
1987	Henny Top	Netherlands
1986	Peggy Mass	United States
1985	Sophie Eaton	United States
1984	Sue Novara-Reber	United States
1983	Sue Novara-Reber	United States
1982	Sue Novara-Reber	United States
1981	Karen Strong	Canada
1980	Karen Strong	Canada
1979	Karen Strong	Canada
1978	Sue Novara-Reber	United States
1977	Karen Strong	Canada
1976	Mary Jane Reoch	United States

Which Women Won Multiple Times?