Blain’s Farm & Fleet is thrilled to return as the local title sponsor for the Tour of America’s Dairyland (ToAD) pro-am cycling series. This year marks the twelfth annual tour for ToAD, and third for the Janesville community. The Janesville races will take place on Thursday, June 17th and Friday, June 18th.
“We are so excited for the return of the Gran Prix and feel such pride in sponsoring this event,” said Jane Blain Gilbertson, Blain’s Farm & Fleet CEO, Owner & President. “In its third year in Janesville, the race brings everyone together for an experience they’ve all grown to love. As an integral part of the community, we look forward to our ongoing involvement with the Gran Prix for years to come.”
Local Businessmen Paul Murphy and John Westphal, co-chairs for the event, are long-time Janesville residents and avid cyclists who handle all aspects of the event. This includes partnering with the City, raising private funds for the event, and providing benefits to event sponsors.
The two-day event kicks off the 1st and 2nd day of the ToAD tour with the Parker Vikings Course on Thursday and Craig Cougars Course on Friday. The start/finish line will be on Parker Drive between Milwaukee Street and Court Street. Racers will head west on Court Street and go around the block near Jackson, then return on Court Street to Main Street, Milwaukee Street, and back to the start/finish line. The Friday route will be the same as Thursday, but in reverse.
ToAD, founded in Wisconsin in 1969, is the largest competitive multi-day bike racing series in the United States. The tour includes 10 communities in southeastern Wisconsin with cyclists from more than 40 states and 15 countries.
Blain’s Farm & Fleet will have a tent setup with giveaways near the ARISE Town Square. Here, attendees will see Janesville’s fascinating architecture and get a look at the downtown’s revitalization while providing a magnificent view of the events.
Janesville’s current local and county rules regarding crowd control allow for this event to take place. Given last year’s cancellation due to COVID-19, Blain’s Farm & Fleet and Janesville are eager to welcome back the highly energetic event that cyclists, spectators and the whole community can enjoy. For safety measures, Blain’s Farm & Fleet and city officials are encouraging those attending this year’s event to maintain a safe social distance from one another while watching the races.
In addition to the races, Janesville will offer a variety of entertainment such a Kids Zone playground, food trucks in the Town Square, refreshment stops around the course, and the ever-popular Kids Roll bicycle race on the course at 6:30PM on Thursday June 17th. Local merchants will also contribute to an exciting atmosphere for all attendees.
