More than 1,000 cyclists are expected to traverse the hills and valleys of the Texas Hill Country during Saturday’s sixth annual Tour de Boerne bicycle event.
Event Director Greg Pratt detailed the specifics of the three-course challenge, known for its steep hills, epic views and continual curves, not to mention Texas-sized hospitality.
The event starts at the Don Strange Ranch, where the 1,003 cyclists who submitted entries will begin gathering at 5 a.m. Saturday for the 7 a.m. start.
Pratt said more than 60 percent of the riders opt for the challenge of the longest of the three courses, the 63-mile “Center Point” course.
The tour’s website — tourdeboerne. com — states the 63- mile course takes you through the heart of the Hill Country and some of its most challenging elevations.
“You’ll reach the highest altitude of 1,820 feet just past the 32-mile point, with lots of peaks and descents throughout the course,” the site adds.
“It’s a long, hilly ride, with close to a 4,000-foot climb,” Pratt said. “These folks like to have a challenge, that’s what they come here for.”
The event is not a race — no times are kept, no winners purse or trophies are handed out.
“It’s a recreational ride. We don’t time it or offer prizes,” he said. “We just want it to be a laid-back, enjoyable ride. They can enjoy the scenic beauty of the Hill Country, then they get back to the ranch.”
Another ride option is the 45- mile Comfort course, described as “full of climbs and descents.” Cyclists will pass Joshua Creek, Cypress Creek and the Guadalupe River. The course takes riders right through Comfort for a first-hand glimpse of small-town Texas charm.
Pratt said this ride offers Kendall County residents the best chance of seeing cyclists race by.
“Spectators who want a great view of the cyclists should be at Comfort City Park around 8, 8:30 a.m.,” he said. “We’re going to have about 500 riders going past there.”
The smaller of the three rides, the 28-mile Sisterdale route, “gives you a taste of Tour de Boerne without the extreme distance. Reach the highest altitude of 1,891 feet around the halfway mark but expect sprints and downhill coasts throughout the ride,” the website boasts.
Sponsors for the event include Knights of Columbus Council 10940, Catholic Daughters of the Americas Court 2690, Broadway Bank, the Perry Homes Foundation, Free Roam Brewing Company, Visit Boerne Texas, North Park Subaru at the Dominion, Honda of Tomball, GVTC, Turf Masters, DroneStar and Hudson I.T.
Pratt said the Tour de Boerne directors, led by board President Mark Deans and vice presidents Paul Lampe, Greg Jaeger and David beck, selected 10 area charities to be the benefactors of the cyclists’ efforts.
The charities include Open Trail Ranch, a therapeutic horsemanship center; Hill Country Family Services; Hill Country Daily Bread Ministries; Blessings in a Backpack; the Boys and Girls Club of America; 100 Club of Kendall County; Hill Country Pregnancy Care Center; Boerne VFW Post 688; the Knight of Columbus; and three Kendall County volunteer fire departments, Waring, Comfort and Sisterdale.
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