Hitting the highway with Tour de Wyoming

On Sunday, July 17, the 355-mile 20th Anniversary Tour de Wyoming began. Participants will travel the total mileage in only six days via bicycle.

Tour de Wyoming began in 1997 with only 45 riders, and has since expanded to 300 riders and 50 volunteers.

Participants Ron Philips and Kevin Mahoney are the only cyclists from Thermopolis to bike around the state this year.

Philips explained that registration opened in March and was not only full in 20 minutes but had so many registered that participants were chosen by a random lottery. He went on to say this has been the case for several years. Thousands register, Philips said, but only 300 are chosen from the lottery to participate due to Tour de Wyoming being a small tour.

Tour de Wyoming has participants from across the United States, as well as across the globe. This year, there are participants from Australia, Canada and Great Britain.

Philips said this year the tour is starting in Sheridan and heading to Buffalo. From Buffalo, the tour will continue over Powder River Pass to Ten Sleep, then Ten Sleep to Meeteetse, Meeteetse to Basin, Basin to Granite Pass and on to Burgess Junction. The last day will be from Burgess Junction back to Sheridan.

Philips was on the planning committee for Tour de Wyoming for 10 years, he said. Because he was a committee member, he was guaranteed a spot on the tour. He has ridden in all but three tours of the 20 years of Tour de Wyoming.

This year's shortest day is Day 6 from Burgess Junction to Sheridan, clocking in at 50 miles. The longest day is Ten Sleep to Meeteetse at 86 miles.

In past tours, there would be century days, wherein participants would travel 100 miles in a day.

"The longest I've ever done on a century day was up in Star Valley," he said. "When I was done at the end of the day, my odometer clocked 107 miles."

Participants get to see Wyoming in a way they would never see it, Philips said.

"Just imagine being on a bicycle at the top of the Bighorn Mountains, just coasting down and looking off," he said. "It's so gorgeous."

Philips said he trains all year for the tour.

"I'm on a trainer all year long," he said. "Then as soon as weather permits, I'm out on the bike."

Before the tour, Philips said he would cycle to and from Worland, which is about 75 miles. He would also hit hills. He also said he hit the gym three days a week to train on a stationary bike.

For more information on the tour, visit tourdewyoming.org.