Tour the Trace is a four day cycling event that will come through Ridgeland this weekend bringing cyclists and spectators with it.
The race began in Nashville on Nov. 19 and finishes in Natchez Nov. 22, but stops in Ridgeland as the third overnight destination (November 21) along the Natchez Trace Parkway. Each segment of the race is made up of different distances: 145 miles the first day, 139 the second, 60 on the third, and 100 miles to finish out the event. Ridgeland will host the cyclists for the longest period of time as it is the destination of the shortest mileage day.
“Ridgeland offers a very unique opportunity for our cyclists to come in and enjoy the evening off there,” Race Director Thomas Wall said. “Ridgeland is unique for our riders because the first two days are a little brutal on both climbing and distance so day three is nice because — not only do we start from Kosciusko an hour later — but it is only a 60 mile bike ride into Ridgeland. It is their first real afternoon and evening off, and they can finally get some food and rest.”
Wall said Ridgeland offers a lot of opportunities to get out and have fun for the cyclists. He said some will take advantage of the events going on around town while others will head to the Reservoir.
If you are looking to cheer the cyclists into Ridgeland or wish them well as they leave for the last leg of the journey, they will arrive and leave from Choctaw Agency off the Natchez Trace.
“We would certainly encourage people to come out and catch the riders right there if they want to come out and welcome the riders then,” Wall said. “The next day, they leave Monday morning at 9 a.m. from that same location.”
There are 27 registered participants and Wall said about 14 cyclists will complete all four days. Wall said they do offer the ride to locals to just complete one stage instead of all four, and, although registration is now technically closed, he said to reach out to him or his team and they will get you signed up. He can be contacted at twalls@rockstarallaccess.com.
“We do understand that a lot of guys won’t be able to do all four days but, if there is anybody out there who wants to come join us, by all means grab your bikes and come out,” Wall said. “We would love to have you. I got a lot of shirts to get rid of.”
Wall, an athlete himself, said the Natchez Trace is his “backyard”, and he has used it to train for all of his IronMan races. He started Tour the Trace to share the opportunity of riding the trace with other athletes and to bring awareness to the trail. This is the second year of the event.
“So far, we are off to a slow start, but we are off to a good start,” Wall said.
He said it not only brings awareness to the trace but also the communities along it.
“I think a lot of people tend to get on the parkway and go north to south and don’t think about some of these communities that they pass through,” Wall said. “Our event is unique in that not only does it bring awareness to the parkway itself, but it also brings awareness to these smaller communities that actually support that parkway.”
It also gives people the opportunity to stay the night in the communities and to get to know where they can return to along the Natchez Trace, according to the Mayor.
“It gives them a chance to know where they can come back to by the trace, and Ridgeland is a great place to kick off onto the trace.”
Ridgeland’s Mayor Gene McGee said he would encourage people to participate, and he is excited about the “outstanding riders” that have chosen to come into the city.
“It is always good when we can expose people to our city to the great place it is to visit,” McGee said.
An avid cyclist himself, McGee isn’t participating in Tour the Trace this year, but Wall said they are hoping the mayor will make an appearance and bring his bike with him.
