Tour de Donut continues to be a tasty race

The Tour de Donut in Darke County continues to increase in size and popularity. Since starting in 2007 in Greenville at the Darke County Fairgrounds, the event has grown from 106 riders to over 1300 riders in 2012. This year, the event is expected to draw nearly 2000 participants.

The Tour de Donut is a time raced. The faster a bicyclist rides, the better chance he or she has of winning the race. However, there is one little caveat that makes this race different from most other races and gives novice bicyclists a chance of winning. Riders can lower their time by eating donuts. Each donut is worth five-minutes off their time. If it takes longer than five minutes to eat a donut then the rider should probably rethink their strategy. The record for eating donuts is held by Steve Meinke, of Chicago, who ate 25 donuts in 2008. The female record is 12.

In its history, this tasty tour has only run out of donuts once. In 2011, the supply truck stopped to assist an injured rider and the first donut stop ran out of donuts for a short time.

Tour de Donut History

2007, Greenville, Darke County Fairgrounds. Eikenberry IGA provided 100 dozen donuts, for 106 riders.

2008, Arcanum, Brumbaugh’s Fruit Farm, Farmer’s Daughter Baker provided 200 dozen donuts for 279 riders

2009, Arcanum, Brumbaugh’s Fruit Farm, Farmer’s Daughter Bakery provided 250 dozen donuts for 511 riders.

2010, Arcanum, Brumbaugh’s Fruit Farm, Farmer’s Daughter Bakery provided 275 donuts for 634 riders.

2011, Arcanum, Brumbaugh’s Fruit Farm, Farmer’s Daughter Bakery provided 500 dozen donuts for 920 riders

2012 Arcanum, Downtown Arcanum, Sutton’s provided 650 dozen donuts for 1354 riders

Riders from 16 states and Canada took part in the 2012 Tour de Donut. The total calories for all donuts at the tour is 3,120,000. Total miles ridden was 33,600. Donuts cost $4,225 in the 2012 ride. The total number of donuts eaten since 2007 is 23,700.

Published courtesy of Blue Bag Media