Under beautiful sunny skies in Mathews County on Saturday, just over 350 cyclists from up and down the East Coast and beyond came to ride for the 27th annual Tour de Chesapeake.
“As a native of Mathews, I try to think of all the cool things about my hometown and include them in this event,” said event director Lynda Smith, “so that everyone will know what I know … that Mathews is a wonderful place to be, whether you live here or are visiting.”
This year’s tour was sponsored by Queens Creek Marina, Lennon Dental Center, Candace Segalini of Southern Trade Realty, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital, MCVIC, M&M Building Supply, One Man Liquor Stand, and the Mathews Economic Development Authority.
Ahead of the event, the Mathews division of VDOT had signage up and Mathews’ roadways looking beautiful for the weekend.
Cyclists from all over Virginia, as well as West Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Tennessee, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York, Ohio and Washington state, started arriving on Friday.
Some Mathews Main Street businesses and the Visitor Center stayed open late for shopping. The restaurants were overflowing all weekend with visitors with several offering outdoor dining.
Routes opened at 8 a.m. Saturday with the Middle Peninsula Amateur Radio Club providing SAG support for the day. “I can’t say enough about this amazing group of people,” Smith said. “They have 10-12 support vehicles all over each route all day long, a doctor on site just in case and are always on the spot if there is a problem on the roads. I want to give a huge shout-out also to our local sheriff, April Edwards, and her deputies for being extra vigilant during the event. The cyclists truly appreciate it.”
Each route included a rest stop with local civic and nonprofit groups benefitting from the day, including Scout Troop 1651, Gwynn’s Island Civic League, Bay School Community Arts Center and the Mathews Rotary Club. At the end of the ride, Violet Owens served her famous pound cake to all registered cyclists.
Chesapeake Deadrise Charters’ Water Taxi Captain Trey Sowers and his first mate, son Henry, were busy all day shuttling cyclists across the East River, another popular and unique feature at the Mathews event.
Many add-on events offered that weekend are not just for cyclists. Residents also enjoyed special Open House hours at the P. Buckley Moss Gallery and the Bay School Community Arts Center, as well as the Party at the Wharf Saturday evening. All events were well attended.
Stacey Powell of Mouth of the South Treats and More kept the cyclists fed at lunchtime at Williams Wharf and also offering upscale festival food for the Party at the Wharf that evening.
Some cyclists stuck around on Sunday for breakfast at local restaurants and then set out again on the roads, visiting other areas.
This event is hosted by the Mathews Outdoor Club. Over 40 local nonprofit and civic organizations, churches and tourism-related businesses provide services and benefit financially from the event, averaging $28,000-$34,000 each year, a release stated. Another estimated $62,000+ in visitor spending that weekend provides quite an economic impact in Mathews.
The majority of participants return for future visits. “The event’s popularity is a testament to the amazing Mathews volunteers and residents who make it happen,” Smith said.
“I know travel can be a bit slower for Mathews folks that Saturday, but the cyclists are very appreciative of our flat, rural roads and the peaceful feeling they get for the one day of the year when they ride here. I truly appreciate all who are kind to them and each other,” she added.
For information on the tour, visit www.tourdechesapeake.org.
