18th Tour de Cape to attract hundreds of bicyclists, runners
If the Cape Coral Festival of the Arts is not enough entertainment and action for the city this weekend, then the 18th Annual Tour de Cape will make sure to push that action quotient over the limit.
A long-standing tradition, the Tour de Cape always runs concurrently with the Festival of Arts. The event is spread out over two days with a 5K run/walk Saturday and the tour Sunday.
The tour offers several difficulty levels to challenge even the most advanced riders, drawing anywhere from 600-700 people. Courses of 15, 30, 60 and 100 miles will be featured in the west and north sections of the Cape.
“The ride is the big draw,” said Todd King, special events director for the city. “It really is a unique thing. (With the longer courses) it definitely caters to a niche group, but mom, dad and the kids can ride the 15-mile course, too.”
Pre-registration for the 5K is $15, and $20 the day of the run. The tour’s price is $35 to register day of; pre-registration passed Monday.
A Ride and Run combo price also is available at $45 on the day of the event.
The registration prices includes a continental breakfast, rest stations every mile with refreshments, support vehicles and a well mapped and marked route.
Though the 5K run/walk attracts 200-300 people, King said the tour will draw people from all over the region, even as far away as Hillsborough County.
No road closings are planned for the event, although the logistics for pulling something off of this size are not without their difficulties, according to King.
King also praised the Cape Rotary Club’s effort of planning and executing the Festival of the Arts.
“We just make sure they have the city services they need to go make sure the festival goes off effectively,” King said. “We dot all our i’s and cross our t’s. The Rotary is very good at the fest. We have no worries relative to the event.”
For more information, visit the Special Events Division of the city’s Web site at: capecoral.net.