Milwaukee is buzzing this week as the Tour of America’s Dairyland, billed as the nation’s largest road criterium series, takes over neighborhood streets and nearby towns. The 11 day festival mixes block party vibes with high speed racing, with professional riders often clocking roughly 35 miles per hour on tight, spectator friendly circuits. The run also brings the USA Cycling Masters and Junior Road National Championships, with criterium action in the city and time trial and road races staged in nearby communities.
As reported by Urban Milwaukee, the series serves up daily community hours for kids, food and beer vendors, and a professional announcer at every stop. The Centraal Bay View Classic and the Café Hollander Otto Wenz Downer Classic sit among the marquee Milwaukee events this week. All races are free to attend, and the nightly professional programs generally wrap up around 8 p.m.
Schedule Highlights
The remaining Milwaukee area stops run Tuesday through Sunday and include the Wilo USA Cedar Creek Classic on Tuesday, the Tour of Hartland on Wednesday, the Centraal Bay View Classic on Thursday, the Shorewood Criterium on Friday, the Café Hollander Otto Wenz Downer Classic on Saturday, and the Tosa Village Classic finale on Sunday. Full start times and course maps are listed on the Tour of America’s Dairyland calendar.
National Championships Schedule
Per USA Cycling, the Masters & Junior Road National Championships run June 27 through July 1 in the Greater Milwaukee area. Criterium events overlap with the end of the Tour of America’s Dairyland, then the championships shift to an individual time trial in Columbus, Wisconsin, and road races at Englewood Grass Farm in Fall River, Wisconsin. The official nationals schedule breaks down packet pick up locations, start times, and category by category distances for each day.
What To Expect
Each stop aims for a full on block party atmosphere, with announcers calling the action, food and beer vendors lining the course, cash primes for single lap sprints, and a daily community hour where children and casual riders can roll the same streets as the pros. The Tour describes crit racing as “a bike race surrounded by a block party, Wisconsin style,” and notes racers “hit speeds exceeding 35 mph” on short circuits. Tour of America’s Dairyland also posts spectator guides and racer resources for first time attendees and competitors.
Neighborhoods And Volunteers
Neighborhood hosts like Bay View and Shorewood turn their main streets into daylong party zones, and organizers lean on volunteers to marshal corners, staff hospitality tents, and help with rider housing. The Bay View Neighborhood Association highlights the Centraal Bay View Classic as a major local draw, while Shorewood’s event page lays out volunteer slots and youth race schedules tied to the criterium day.
Whether you show up for the high speed finishes, the kids’ races, or the neighborhood festivals, the week is set to deliver a heavy dose of summer energy across Milwaukee and nearby towns. Before you head out, check USA Cycling and the Tour of America’s Dairyland spectator pages for live updates and results. Plan to arrive early for the best sightlines, bring water and a chair, and follow posted course closures and volunteer directions.
