When hometown favorite Furman Kugler out sprinted Johnny Webber of Milwaukee to win the first Tour of Somerville bike race in 1940, the event sponsor was a dairy farm, merchandise prizes were donated by town businesses and race organizer Fred “Pop” Kugler thought “maybe we’ll try this for one year and see if people show up.” 

Show up they did that first year, and a Memorial Day tradition began with 136 competitors and 10,000 people crowding downtown to watch the local kid win. 

As Monday’s 78^th edition of the nation’s oldest competitive bicycle race rolls on, the  event now boasts corporate sponsors, $10,000 in prize money each for both the top men’s and women’s race finishers and a legacy that will again draw competitors and crowds from around the world. 

Thousands of spectators will line the four-turn, one mile per lap route with the start/finish line at the corner of Main and Union Streets. The town’s numerous eateries and pubs will be serving food and drink street side,  and along the High Street back stretch lawn parties will provide front row seats for what Sports Illustrated once called the “ the best spectator bargain in sports.” There is no admission charged to attend and watch the races. 

“We’re looking forward to another successful year of good weather, high energy bike racing and enthusiastic, supportive crowds,” said race director Kacey Lloyd. “It’s a sport that combines speed, color and strategy in a way so that even a first time spectator can be quickly drawn into the competition as  it unfolds lap after lap.” 

The 50-mile elite/professional men’s race will begin at 3:30 pm and features two returning Somerville race winners as well as a number of national and international champions. Riders to watch include 2017 winner, Jerseyan Noah Granigan of Cape May Courthouse and 2019 winner Connor Sallee of Oklahoma City. 

Sallee holds the record time of 1 hr. 38 minutes for completing the 50 miles grind through town. That’s nearly a half hour faster than Furman Kugler’s first winning time of 2 hrs. 5 minutes while racing a fixed-gear, steel frame bike with rear coaster brakes back in 1940. 

Preceding the men at around 2 pm, top-flite women from around the world will start their 25=mile event. A strong contingent of teams have registered with the California -based LA Sweat bringing six of its best riders led by pre-race favorite to take top honors, 25-year-old Mariana Valadez of Mexico. 

Also returning to Somerville will be five-time women’s race winner Laura Van Gilder of Cresco, Pa. The 58=year-old Van Gilder is considered a legend in the sport and has more than 300 wins to her credit, often besting competition half her age and always destined to be  a factor in a race’s final few laps. 

Monday’s races are promoted by the local not-for- profit Arts on Division. The event’s flagship sponsor for its fifth year is Unity Bank, with added support from RWJ Barnabas Health/ Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital, Somerset, Land Rover of Princeton, Clinton Honda, GFNY, the Somerset Patriots and Verve Bistro. 

Starting at 9 am eight USA Cycling preliminary races for registered riders of different age and skill levels, as well as a Family Fun Ride, will be being held prior to the two featured events. 

The Tour of Somerville has been held continuously since 1940 with interruptions between 1942 and 1946 for World War II and 2020-2021 for the Covid pandemic.