Tour de Stooges

Get ready for an exhilarating day of fun, teamwork, and adventure at The Great Bicycle Bottle Cap Challenge on June 6, 2026! This unique event will kick off at the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center in Carlyle, Illinois, bringing together bicycle enthusiasts and challenge seekers for an unforgettable experience.

Embark on a thrilling ride around town, navigating through scenic routes and charming neighborhoods. Participants will tackle a series of exciting challenges designed to test their creativity and problem-solving skills. Each completed challenge will earn a coveted bottle cap, which they will collect and bring back to the starting point.

As you pedal through Carlyle, you’ll not only enjoy the beautiful surroundings but also engage with local businesses and communities, making this event a celebration of town spirit and camaraderie. The more challenges you complete, the more bottle caps you’ll collect, increasing your chances to win fantastic prizes!

Upon returning to the Carlyle Lake Visitor Center, participants will exchange their hard-earned bottle caps for prizes and enter a drawing for an overall grand prize. This is your chance to compete for glory, test your limits, and create lasting memories.

Whether you’re a local or visiting from afar, grab your bicycle and join us for a day filled with laughter, challenges, and community spirit at the Great Bottlecap Race. Don’t miss out on the fun—mark your calendars for June 6, 2026!

Event Overview

Bicycle Illinois is proud to present our Ride Across Illinois (RAIL) event series! These fully supported ultra-distance cycling events will challenge you to push the limits of your endurance by riding from one border of Illinois to the other in one day.

• RAIL North will travel approximately 175 miles from Moline to Chicago, IL.

• RAIL South will travel approximately 165 miles from St. Louis, MO to Vincennes, IN.

Even though the RAIL events can be extremely physically challenging, you will be fully supported the whole way. The encouragement you will receive from our staff, along with your fellow riders, will be energizing while the support will be inspiring! Many of the athletes you will be riding alongside with have never attempted this long of a distance before in one day and we can guarantee that no one will be alone on this new journey.

Because of this ride's difficulty level, we have designed the supporting ride logistics to help you reach this achievement. Both events are scheduled immediately before and after June 21^st (the longest day of the year) in order to give you the maximum amount of daylight to complete the ride – 15 hours! There's no need to be concerned about keeping up as you’ll only need to maintain an average riding pace around 12 mph to stay on track with the ride schedule.

Throughout the route, our staff will have snacks, ice water, and sports drinks available at predesignated rest stop locations. By utilizing these rest stops you can take a break, refuel, and focus on staying strong. The distance between each rest stop generally decreases throughout the day giving you the opportunity to take breaks more frequently as you become more fatigued. We know you got this!

Completing a RAIL event is a remarkable accomplishment, and we would like to give you recognition! At the end of the ride, all participants will receive an official “FINISHER” sticker to commemorate your achievement.

If you are up for the challenge, come join us on a RAIL event and claim your spot among a league of the best!

(Please note that RAIL rides are not appropriate for novice or inexperienced riders. We strongly recommend having at least completed a century ride of 100 miles or more before registering.)

Registration & Prices

Check bicycleillinois.com for registration deadlines and additional price information. Partial day tours are also available.

WE DO NOT ISSUE ANY REFUNDS AT ANY TIME FOR ANY REASON. If you do not participate and would like a refund, you MUST purchase an individual travel insurance plan, which will reimburse you according to the plan coverage. Many plans are very reasonably priced. As part of your online registration you will have the option to purchase an individual travel insurance plan offered through RegShield. This plan must be purchased as part of your initial online registration - it cannot be added later. If you do not purchase the RegShield plan you can still purchase another individual travel insurance plan. Click Here or visit https://www.travelexinsurance.com/index.aspx?location=27-019927-0199&go=bp to get the details and benefits of the plan offered through Travelex Insurance, get a quote, and purchase coverage.

Additional Processing Fees Charged by RaceRoster

Please visit bicycleillinois.com for more specific information about the additional processing fees charged by RaceRoster for online registration.

Paper Registration

Please visit bicycleillinois.com to download the paper registration forms if you do not wish to pay the additional processing fees charged by RaceRoster or wish to pay by check or money order. Unfortunately we cannot accept credit cards through paper registration.

All information is subject to change. For more information about the event and the most current information please visit https://www.bicycleillinois.com/rail/rail.htm

Copyright Bicycle Illinois

In partnership with St. Louis County Parks, the beautiful City of Maryland Heights, and MoDOT - MSE Racing is proud to return the fastest, most electrifying triathlon in the Midwest area on Sunday, June 28th, 2026. Taking place at the scenic and local favorite, Creve Coeur Park, the St. Louis Triathlon is ideal for both veterans, and those new to the multi-sport experience. A race like no other, with YOUR experience as our primary focus. At the Lou Fusz Subaru St. Louis Triathlon every athlete is a champion!

For more information including course maps, schedule of events, volunteer signup, sponsorship information, race results, etc. Please visit - Lou Fusz Subaru St. Louis Triathlon | MSE Racing

One of our most popular and well-attended events, the I Scream for Ice Cream Classic draws hundreds of participants each year who come out to enjoy the scenic routes and the sweet celebration that follows.

Whether you're a seasoned cyclist or a casual rider, there's something for everyone. Choose from a variety of routes ranging from leisurely tours to longer treks, and bring the whole family along. You will roll through the beautiful Madison County Trail system, under leafy green canopies and that perfect summer sun. Along the way, you’ll hit fully stocked aid stations with cheerful volunteers keeping you fueled and hydrated.

Reward yourself at our post-ride party with a scoop of premium deliciousness. And for those who prefer a different kind of chill, we will have you sorted with a cold one from Perennial Artisan Ales! Stay, play, and shop! You won't want to miss the awesome sidewalk sale at the Cyclery and Fitness Center. From top-of-the-line bikes to must-have gear, they've got everything you need to take your ride to the next level.

Don’t miss out on one of the most anticipated rides of the season. If you know, you know — and if you don’t, now’s the time to find out.

Routes will be announced closer to the ride. The routes are being updated due to construction on the MCT trails.

This ride is supported in part by the Agency for Community Transit Community Action Grants Program

Welcome to the 3rd annual MTC Zilla Tri Sprint Triathlon WITH NEW EXPANDED YOUTH SHORT SPRINT AGE GROUPS! This triathlon is a great event for all ages, 10 and up, beginners and seasoned athletes. Event hosted by the Metro-Tri Club. Race begins in the beautiful Bolm-Schuhkraft Park in Columbia, Illinois.

The SPRINT event, open to ages 14 and up, begins with a 300 meter serpentine swim in Columbia Bath and Tennis pool. The 11.2-mile bike course has mostly flat roads with one challenging hill, and railroad crossing (time not adjusted for stoppage at train track). The bike is non-draft legal. The 5K run course will take you through a neighborhood, onto the trail, and will have plenty of shade.

The YOUTH SHORT SPRINT, open to ages 10-17 years, will begin with a 200 meter serpentine swim in Columbia Bath and Tennis pool. The 6 mile bike course has mostly flat roads with one challenging hill, and railroad crossing (time not adjusted for stoppage at train track). The bike is non-draft legal. The 2 mile run course will take you through a neighborhood with plenty of shade.

*NOTE: Athletes aged 14-17 may choose to race in either the Short Youth Sprint OR the Full Distance Sprint if they are seeking a greater challenge.

Triathlon is USAT sanctioned. USAT rules require bar ends to be plugged. Drafting rules apply. USAT officials will be on course.

Be sure to register by July 13, 2026 to guarantee a t-shirt in your size.

Online Registration ends August 1 at 12:00 pm.

Packet Pick-up:

Saturday, August 1, 8:00 am - 12:00 pm and Race Day 5:30 - 6:45 am, McDonnold Blvd, in Bolm-Schukraft Park, Columbia, IL.

All athletes must pick up their own packet, NO EXCEPTIONS. Photo ID and USAT membership card are required. If you are not a USAT member you will need to purchase an annual membership or 1-day pass during registration. If you do not have your USAT membership card, you will be required to purchase a 1-day pass.

Transition will open at 5:30 AM and close at 6:45 AM. Mandatory meeting with USAT official 6:45AM. Race begins at 7:00 AM

Sprint Course Maps:

• For bike route go to: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5919968674/ (*time will not be adjusted for stoppage at train tracks).

• For run route go to : https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/5909809144/

Youth Short Sprint Course Maps:

• For 10-17 bike route go to: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6426359836 (*time will not be adjusted for stoppage at train tracks).

• For 10-17 run route go to: https://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/6426365452 :

Awards:

In the SPRINT Race, Top Male and Female Finisher Awards will be given, as well as Top 3 age-division finishers for Male and Females: 14-15, 16-17 18-19, 20-24, 25-29, 30-34, 35-39, 40-44, 45-49, 50-54,55-59, 60-64, 65-69, 70-74, 75-79, 80-84, 85 and older.

In the YOUTH SHORT SPRINT, awards will be given to the Top 3 age-division finishers for Male and Female: 10-11, 12-13, 14-15, and 16-17.

In the case of lightening the swim will be canceled and replaced with a 1k run for the Sprint Distance, 0.5 mile run for the Youth Short Sprint. In the case of severe weather the event will be canceled, no refunds/transfers. The race director(s) reserve the right to cancel or modify the race due to adverse conditions that make the race unsafe. In the event the race is canceled, it will not be rescheduled, and there will be no refunds. Awards and swag will not be mailed.