Kristen Arnold

Kristen Arnold

The 10-day Tour of America’s Dairyland kicks off Friday with the East Troy Cycling Classic. The annual competitive cycling tour features 11 straight days of racing across the eastern part of the state from Port Washington on the north to East Troy on the south, with many stops in and around Milwaukee. With riders often hitting speeds upwards of 35 miles-per-hour, riders fly around the short courses.

Races will run throughout the day at each course and are free to the public to attend. Each race includes a party, announcer, video screen and a whole lot of cowbell. The races are set up so that cycling aficionados and first time race attendees alike can both have a good time.

As part of our coverage of the tour, we’ll be interviewing a number of riders.

First up is Kristen Arnold, a recent college graduate who is competing in ToAD for the first time. Arnold, also visiting Milwaukee for the first time, is racing on the Velo Classic Cycling presented by Stan’s NoTubes team in the professional women’s circuit.

How long have you been involved with the Tour of America’s Dairyland?

I have never raced at TOAD before. This will be my first time!

Is bike racing your profession? If not, what is?

I am a Registered Dietitian with a private practice nutrition counseling business. I just finished my master’s degree in nutrition at the Ohio State University this past May.

What is your fondest memory of bike riding?

I promoted the first ever Women’s Midwest Road Race Championships last July. I also had the privilege of racing the P12 championship race and placing 2nd! Organizing this race was a lot of work but it was incredibly rewarding to host an event with my women’s team, lady gnar shredders, and bring together women from all over the Midwest to be a part of something bigger than ourselves and grow women’s cycling.

How do you know the members of your team?

Although my team is based out of New York, New York, I am from Ohio. This is my first year on the team. I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know the women on my team through the many races I have participated in this year and our team camp this past April.

What drew you to this event?

I am excited to participate in a race that has been happening for a long time and that the communities involved are so supportive of. I have never been to Milwaukee and am excited to see and meet people from all of the towns. Racing with some of the best crit racers in the country will be pretty fun too :).

Race List

• June 17th – East Troy Cycling Classic
• June 18th – Giro d’ Grafton
• June 19th – Waukesha Carl Zach Cycling Classic
• June 20th – Downtown West Bend Concourse
• June 21st – Schlitz Park Criterium
• June 22nd – Race the Harbor Criterium 
• June 23rd – Shorewood Criterium Cycling Classic
• June 24th – Cafe Centraal Bay View Classic
• June 25th – ISCorp Downer Classic
• June 26th – East Tosa Gran Prix

Race Videos

2014 Downer Classic – Fan’s Perspective

2015 Downer Classic – Racer’s Perspective

2015 ToAD Recap