Tour of Somerville

The Tour of Somerville (2008)

The Tour of Somerville (TOS) is a cycling criterion that is held annually on Memorial Day in Bridgewater , New Jersey . The TOS is the oldest still existing cycling race in the USA.

The race was held for the first time in 1940, in the first few decades only for amateurs . It was originally supposed to take place in Somerville, a few kilometers away, which turned out to be impossible because it is crossed by a state highway and it is forbidden to hold bike races on such a road. The initiator was the former cyclist and bicycle dealer Fred Kugler from Somerville, whose son Furman Kugler won the first two events and his friend Carl Anderson the third. Both cyclists fell in World War II ; in memory of them, the race bears the addition of the Kugler-Anderson Memorial Tour .

Today the race has the character of a fair and is called The Kentucky Derby of Cycling ; it leads in a 1.3 mile loop through the center of Bridgewater for a total of around 50 miles. The festivities last the entire weekend up to the elite men's race on Monday. Since 1976, the race has also been held for women under the name Mildred Kugler Women's Open .

In 1993 the Tour of Somerville was honored with the special honor of the United States Bicycling Hall of Fame .

Trivia

In 1955, 21-year-old husband Patrick Murphy interrupted his honeymoon to compete in the race. He won in a new record time of two hours and two minutes.

In 1956 the sprint world champion from 1912, Frank Kramer , held the award ceremony.

Winners list

Men

2015 Andrew Dahlheim 2014 Adam Alexander 2013 Hilton Clarke 2012 Luke Keough 2011 Timothy Gudsell 2010 Ben Kersten 2009 Lucas Sebastián Haedo 2008 Lucas Sebastián Haedo 2007 Hilton Clarke 2006 Juan José Haedo 2005 Kyle Wamsley 2004 Wiktar Rapinski 2003 Jonas Carney 2002 Jonas Carney 2001 Eric Wohlberg 2000 Jonas Carney 1999 Eric Wohlberg 1998 Jonas Carney 1997 Brett Aitken 1996 Julian Dean 1995 Jason Snow 1994 James Carney 1993 Gary Anderson 1992 Jonas Carney 1991 Brian Moroney

1990 Matt Eaton 1989 Graeme Miller 1988 Roberto Gaggioli 1987 Paul Pearson 1986 Marc Maertens 1985 Matt Eaton 1984 Davis Phinney 1983 Steve Bauer 1982 Gary Tevisiol 1981 Wayne Stetina 1980 Steve Bauer 1979 William Martin 1978 Jocelyn Lovell 1977 Dave Ware 1976 Dave Boll 1975 Rory O'Reilly 1974 Ron Skarin 1973 Ron Skarin 1972 Roger Young 1971 Edward Parrott 1970 Robert Farrell 1969 Jack Simes 1968 Siegfried Koch 1967 Jack Simes

1966 John Aschen 1965 Eckhard Viehöver 1964 Hans Wolf 1963 Olaf Moetus 1962 Richard Centore 1961 Hans Wolfe 1960 Michael Hiltner 1959 Rupert Waltl 1958 Art Longsjo 1957 Arnie Uhrlass 1956 Jack Heid 1955 Patrick Murphy 1954 John Chiselko 1953 Hugh Starrs 1952 Ernest Seubert 1951 Francis Mertens 1950 Richard Cortright 1949 Frank Brilando 1948 Donald Sheldon 1947 Donald Sheldon 1943–1946 not held 1942 Carl Anderson 1941 Furman Kugler 1940 Furman Kugler

Women

2015 Lauretta Hanson 2014 Erica Allar 2013 Kimberley Wells 2012 Ruth Winder 2011 Theresa Cliff-Ryan 2010 Theresa Cliff-Ryan 2009 Tina Pic 2008 Tina Pic 2007 Theresa Cliff-Ryan 2006 Tina Pic 2005 Laura Van Gilder 2004 Melissa Sanbom 2003 Sarah Uhl 2002 Laura Van Gilder 2001 Kerry Underwood 2000 Tina Mayolo 1999 Laura Van Gilder 1998 Karen Bliss 1997 Karen Bliss 1996 Jessica Grieco

1995 Jessica Grieco 1994 Jeanne Golay 1993 Marianne Berglund 1992 Laura Charmeda 1991 Karen Bliss 1990 Janice Bolland 1989 Susan Elias 1988 Susan Elias 1987 Hennie Top 1986 Peggy Mass 1985 Sophie Eaton 1984 Sue Novara 1983 Sue Novara 1982 Sue Novara 1981 Karen Strong 1980 Karen Strong 1979 Karen Strong 1978 Sue Novara 1977 Karen Strong 1976 Mary Jane Reoch

Notes and individual references

1. ↑ The Memorial Day is the last Monday in May.
2. ↑ More than 500 cyclists race in annual Tour of Somerville on nj.com, May 31, 2010
3. ↑ oldnewark.com

Web links

• tourofsomerville.org
• Tour of Somerville on usbhof.org