NEWPORT — About 50 road cyclists from all over New England, New York, Ontario, Quebec, and as far away as Florida and California, are starting to pack their bags and make their way to join this year’s Eighth Annual Tour de Kingdom.
The event offers one to five days of cycling in the Northeast Kingdom of Vermont and The Eastern Townships of Quebec. It will run from Wednesday, June 4th, through Sunday, June 8th.
This year’s Tour will raise money for North Country Hospital’s Patient Care Initiative Fund, which helps low-income Vermonters with unreimbursed expenses related to medical care, such as gas cards to help with travel expenses related to treatments for cancer patients.
Twenty percent of all U.S. registration fees go to the fund. Twenty percent of Canadian registration fees are donated to the Christian Vachon Foundation in Magog.
The Tour has evolved from a one day event when it started in 2007, to five days of guided and supported rides through some of the most beautiful countryside in North America. Each evening riders gather at what they call “The Long Tables of Newport, Coventry, and Derby,” with a different restaurant picked each night for a group dinner.
They will also have a “Shop Till You Drop” party at the all new Louis Garneau Factory Outlet. There is even an award for the most unique or fun thing purchased at Pick & Shovel.
Registration remains open on line at www.tourdekingdom.org.
