Tour of America's Dairyland came to De Pere for Tour De Pere. Cyclists battled heat and humidity throughout the day. PC: Fox 11 Online
DE PERE, WI (WTAQ-WLUK) – The Tour of America’s Dairyland rolled into Brown County on Monday, the hottest day of the year, so far.
About 500 cyclists from across the country and more than a dozen countries are participating in the road cycling series leg in De Pere. Racers and spectators definitely battling the heat out of the course.
It was so hot and humid outside, for Tour De Pere, that even the public address announcers commented on the weather, “Little bit of cloud cover saving the day here. If that sun was out, we’d be cooking.”
The heat index was listed as red, the highest level for racers.
According to executive director and founder of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, Bill Koch, “It’s a day to be really careful, to hydrate well before your race, to hydrate while you’re racing, hydrate after you’re racing, extra ice, just make sure you stay out of the sun when you’re not on the bike racing.”
Racers trying to grab any bit of shade they can find, pre-race, knowing they’ll be battling the sun, heat and humidity – in addition to the other racers out on the course.
“Being someone who’s born and raised in the north, heat is going to be that next level barrier that some of us are going to make it past and some of us might not make it past,” said Jillian McGee of Madison.
Meyrav Levy of New York City added, “I like the heat, I like the humidity but it doesn’t mean it’s going to make it any less difficult and I know it’s definitely going to be something weighing on folks.”
Medical personnel along the course keeping an eye on racers, prepared to help if need be, but confident in the preparation of those on the bikes. “You’ll see some ice socks on the back of their jersey. What they’ll do is stuff some socks with ice and actually put on their back to keep them cool while riding,” said Jeff Cieslak with medical operations.
Spectators following some of the same guidelines as the riders, hydrating and staying cool, finding shade to sit in. Low levels of physical exertion and a nice breeze helping to keep them cool too.
“Just staying hydrated, eating cold grapes and just sitting and enjoying it, so it’s a good day for it,” added Sue Hermsen from Bellevue.
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