Cyclists gear up for 41st Tour de Gap, raising funds for West Texas Rehabilitation Center

BUFFALO GAP, Texas ( KTAB/KRBC ) – Buffalo Gap will once again host the Tour de Gap this Saturday to raise funds for the West Texas Rehabilitation Center.

The annual cycling event, hosted by Bike Town in Abilene, starts around the Old Settlers Reunion Grounds in Buffalo Gap and welcomes cyclists of all ages and skill levels. The event attracts a large number of competitors each year, with more than 300 riders registered so far. Participants can choose from a 50-kilometer, 100-kilometer, or 11-mile ride for those who prefer a more relaxed pace. Bike Town owner Jim MacDonald shared that the competition is open to everyone.

“There’s some very good athletes in there, but there’s also a lot of recreational riders, so you don’t have to be an experienced racer to go out there and enjoy this event. Now, the 11-mile route that we do, we have a lot of families that will do it. We have people who will pull their children with trailers. We have young kids that will do it on a bike. If they’re off a bike and they’ve got a helmet on, they’re welcome to come out and enjoy,” MacDonald shared.

Each year, the event features new routes that traverse all over southern Taylor County, and this year, competitors in the 50 and 100-kilometer runs will have quite the incline to face on their rides.

“This year’s going to be a lot different. So, the 50-kilometer and 100-kilometer are going to start with a climb up Bell Plains Road. Once they get up, it’s going to be flatter for a while. But coming back into Buffalo Gap will be another great ride. It’s going to be beautiful. We’ve got some new pavement down that TxDOT has put down just for us,” MacDonald explained.

The first race for the Tour de Gap will begin at 7:30 a.m. in Buffalo Gap this Saturday, the 27th. The event will register racers until race time for anyone interested in competing. For information on the race and to register, you can visit the Tour de Gap website or stop by Bike Town, located at 1789 Industrial Boulevard.

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