Tour of America's Dairyland cycling event stops in Milwaukee

MILWAUKEE -- Bikers filled the streets around Schlitz Park as the Tour of America's Dairyland stopped in Milwaukee for an event that promotes exercising and eating healthy food, while having fun!

"It attracts people from all across the country, and really all around the world, and puts Wisconsin on the map as a place to come and race your bike, and it's the Dairyland for sure," Tour of America's Dairyland Race Director Jack Hirt said.

The 11-day race takes riders to cities across southeastern Wisconsin. During each stop, bike races take place during the day for both professional and amateur riders.

"It's a technical course. It's got some good turns on it, tight turns, a really good climb right in the middle of it as well," amateur bike racer Andrew Braun said.

Tour of America's Dairyland also teamed up with the Wisconsin Milk Marketing Board to promote the benefits of using chocolate milk as a recovery drink after a tough work out.

"You definitely need protein, but you also need fat to help digest the protein. Chocolate milk has the perfect amount of protein and fat and sugars and it's exactly what your body needs to recover your muscles and replenish your body," Hirt said.

Along with chocolate milk, there were plenty of food vendors on site for spectators. One of them was the Gouda Girls who served up all kinds of unique grilled cheese sandwiches -- fitting in with the dairy theme.

"They tour the state doing bicycle races. We tour the state picking up cheeses and selling phenomenal grilled cheese sandwiches," Gouda Girl Tina Tonn said.

Tour of America's Dairyland will be back in Milwaukee on Downer Avenue on Saturday and will wrap-up on Sunday in Madison at the Capitol.

This is the fourth year of Tour of America's Dairyland.

This year, Schlitz Park officials also added a one-mile run to the festivities.

All of the races are free for spectators.