Mathews County rolled out the red carpet on Saturday to 775 cyclists from up and down the East Coast and beyond for the 23rd annual Tour de Chesapeake.
“This ride has become one of the premier cycling events in our state and we are happy to share our county for the day with so many nice folks,” event director Lynda Smith Greve said. “Its popularity is a testament to the amazing Mathews volunteers who make it happen.”
This year’s tour was sponsored by Bernadette La Casse of Burtons Waterfront Real Estate, Chesapeake Bank, Riverside Walter Reed Hospital and the Mathews Economic Development Authority.
Cyclists started arriving Friday, some riding the roads on their own. Some Mathews Main Street businesses, the Bay School of the Arts and the Mathews County Visitor and Information Center stayed open late for all cyclists. The restaurants were overflowing all weekend with visitors with several offering outdoor dining.
On Saturday, most cyclists started earlier than usual to avoid the expecte...