“At Tour de Donut BICYCLE RACE in Ohio, U.S.A.., riders get five seconds taken off of their overall time for every DONUT they eat along the way.”

“NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 5,000 AWESOME FACTS, KIDS, FACT # 14 OUT OF 35 IN DECADENT INCREDIBLE DESSERTS.”

In 2007, the Tour De Donut began in Greenville, OH, organized by the Colavita Ohio Cycling Club, attracting over 100 participants. The event relocated to Downtown Arcanum, where on-site donuts were made, and by 2009, it had over 500 participants, reaching 603 finishers in 2010.

In 2017 the race included 2400 participants, where it keeps growing every year. It is an estimated

“The Tour de Donut is a unique bicycle event, where your ability to eat donuts is just as important as your ability to ride your bicycle fast. The event is a mass start timed bicycle “ride” where riders visit Donut stops. For each Donut the rider eats during the ride (and keeps down) they have 5 minutes deducted from their ride time. The ride is just like any other bike tour, except we have donuts. 1000 dozen. Donut stops are also stocked with bananas, local in season apples, other local fruit, yogurt, water, electrolyte drink and milk.” (https://www.thetourdedonut.com/Race/TourDeDonut/Page-4)

There are several races to choose from: a 9.72-mile ride with a Donut stop called the Donut Hole, a Mini 19.7-mile Donut, a full 34.4-mile Donut race, and the final 58.5-mile Double D Challenge.

Helmets are required, and headphones are considered illegal due to safety concerns.

The next Donut race is on August 25, 2025. Participants who register before August 10 will receive a commemorative shirt, a bib number, unlimited donuts, a medal, access to an aid station, and a chance to win rewards. To register, visit https://www.thetourdedonut.com/Race/TourDeDonut/Page-4. All rules are posted at the link.

Kids, 2-12 years old, will start at 8:00 where they are lined up according to age groups, and ride 1/2 block for youngest riders, and 2 blocks for older kids. Unlimited donuts and milk are available for these riders. First 120 registered riders will receive a t-shirt and a commemorative medal, and registration is free.

The first Tour De Donut race began in Staunton, Illinois in 1989, with 25 participants. The now-defunct Mid-American Bicycle club created it as a fun take on the Tour De France. Since then the St. Louis Boeing Employees Bicycle Club and the Staunton Chamber of Commerce sponsor the race.

Other Tour De Donut Races have started in other states. Greenville, Michigan, American Fork, Utah, Katy, Texas, San Luis Obispo, California and Seattle Washington all have versions of the Tour De Donut. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_Donut) Seattle Washington’s is sponsored by Mighty-O-Donuts.

There is a documentary film titled Tour De Donut, Gluttons for Punishment by Steve Kelly and and Jim Klenn that follow two elite bicyclists that try to “out pedal and out eat the rest of the competition” and gives a brief history of the race. ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tour_de_Donut)