Tour de Bloom returns to NCW with 6 days of racing, road closures

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Cyclists in the Master 40+ 4-5, Master B Men 50+, and Master 60+ Open divisions race past the Dr. Pierce's Golden Medical Discovery building during Stage One of the Tour de Bloom Still Properties Waterville Road Race Friday, May 2, 2025.

For six days in May, roads across North Central Washington will belong to bicycles.

The 2026 Tour de Bloom returns May 14-19, bringing what organizers say could become the largest stage race in North America by racer-days. More than 500 cyclists already are registered, with organizers expecting nearly 600 riders from across the Pacific Northwest and beyond.

Ace Bollinger, the race director and longtime steward of the event, said the race has grown into one of the continent's premier cycling competitions.

"We are one of the top races in the nation in all of North America right now," Bollinger said. "There's Tour of the Gila, Tour of the Redlands, and then Tour de Bloom up here in little old Wenatchee."

The event began years ago as the Wenatchee Omnium, a smaller three-day race that shifted dates from year to year. Bollinger said the event found stability after aligning with the Washington State Apple Blossom Festival. He recalled proposing the idea of holding the downtown criterium after the Apple Blossom Grand Parade.

"From that point on," he said, "we've done nothing but grow exponentially every year."

Now the race stretches through orchards, wheat country, mountain passes and downtown streets.

"It's NASCAR on two wheels," Bollinger said. "These guys are just flying around there."

Stage 1: Fire on the mountain

The race opens Thursday evening with the Mission Ridge Twilight Hill Climb, a 4.25-mile ascent from Squilchuck State Park to Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort.

Riders will climb roughly 1,800 feet, with elite cyclists expected to finish in about 18 minutes.

"Their lungs are going to be on fire," Bollinger said. "Their legs are going to be on fire."

The final 200 meters transition to gravel before riders crest near the lodge deck, where spectators can watch the finish.

Road closures and traffic impacts

Motorists should expect closures and delays along the Squilchuck and Mission Ridge corridor Thursday evening. Spectators are encouraged to arrive early.

Stage 2: The wind waits in Waterville

Friday's Still Properties Waterville Road Race takes cyclists through the rolling wheat fields surrounding Waterville.

Bollinger said the terrain appears manageable until riders encounter the region's crosswinds.

"You're either going north, south, east or west," Bollinger said. "It doesn't matter if the wind's blowing. It's what direction."

Crosswinds can split the peloton into diagonal formations known as echelons, forcing weaker riders toward the shoulder.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office will assist with traffic control. Bollinger said local student-athletes also help support intersections and logistics, while race proceeds contribute to Waterville athletics.

"The wheat is beautiful right now," he said. "Waterville is just a great place."

Road closures and traffic impacts

Drivers in and around Waterville should expect rolling road closures and controlled intersections Friday morning and afternoon.

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Cyclists compete in the Master B Men division during the Tour de Bloom Rookard Pools Twilight Downtown Criterium Saturday, May 3, 2025, in Wenatchee.

Stage 3: Downtown at full speed

Saturday's Rookard Pools Downtown Criterium transforms downtown Wenatchee into the race's centerpiece.

The 1-kilometer rectangular course loops through the city's historic core, sending racers through tight corners and down Orondo Avenue at speeds nearing 40 mph.

This year, the criterium coincides with La Terraza on the Ave, creating what Bollinger hopes becomes a signature spring festival.

"I really want to invite all of the Wenatchee Valley down to downtown on May 16th," he said. "Just experience downtown at its finest."

Beer gardens, cider stations, tequila tastings, food vendors and live music will line the course. Timberline Brewing also created a special Tour de Bloom Mexican lager for the event.

"You give me 90-degree weather, racing and a Mexican Lager," Bollinger said, laughing, "and it's a recipe for just an absolutely fantastic night in Wenatchee."

The criterium remains the race's most spectator-friendly stage, drawing crowds as riders race inches apart through corners.

At the finish line, cash "primes" - sprint bonuses sponsored by businesses and spectators - add another layer of competition.

"There's been times we've had a thousand-dollar prime," Bollinger said. "And they're kicking those laps under a minute."

Road closures and traffic impacts

Downtown Wenatchee streets surrounding Wenatchee Avenue, First Street and Orondo Avenue will close for much of Saturday. Activities begin around 11 a.m. and continue into the evening.

Businesses along the course are expected to remain open, with several expanding outdoor seating and beverage gardens.

Stage 4: Sprinting through Plain

Sunday's Arlberg Sports Plain Road Race moves the competition toward Plain and the forests surrounding Lake Wenatchee.

In previous years, riders finished atop Beaver Hill. However, damage from heavy traffic and winter weather forced organizers to redesign the finale into a downhill sprint finish near Plain Elementary School.

Bollinger said riders could cross the finish line at nearly 45 mph.

"It should be some really good viewing opportunities," he said. "You'll see the fastest teams coming in absolutely flying."

The course still winds through forest roads and along the shoreline north of Lake Wenatchee before descending into Plain.

Road closures and traffic impacts

Travelers near Plain, Lake Wenatchee and North Shore Drive should expect intermittent closures and traffic holds Sunday.

Stage 5: Alone against the clock

Monday's Builders First Source Time Trial is reserved for elite racers.

The approximately 24-kilometer course stretches from near Withrow to Mansfield, where cyclists compete individually against the clock across rolling farmland.

"There's nowhere to hide in a time trial," Bollinger said. "If you're strong, you can put serious time into people."

Post-race podiums and gatherings will take place at the Mansfield Tavern as organizers continue efforts to bring tourism revenue to smaller communities.

Road closures and traffic impacts

Motorists near Withrow, Highway 172 and Mansfield should expect rolling delays Monday.

Stage 6: The ghost of Ed Farrar

The race ends Tuesday with the Biosports Ed Farrar Road Race, named after the late Wenatchee cyclist whose life changed after he was struck by a vehicle while riding.

The route begins near the former Alcoa site, loops around Three Lakes Golf Course and climbs Joe Miller Road through orchard country before ascending to Mission Ridge.

Bollinger said the stage carries emotional significance beyond competition.

"Here's someone that had such an impact on so many people's lives," he said. "We modeled making that race tough enough because I think when he sees that race, he looks down on us and says, ‘Good job.'"

Road closures and traffic impacts

Drivers near Malaga Highway, Joe Miller Road, Squilchuck Road and Mission Ridge should expect delays and temporary closures Tuesday throughout the day.

A race stitched into the valley

Bollinger said the event has evolved into more than a cycling race.

It is about filling downtown Wenatchee with people, supporting local breweries and restaurants, and introducing new spectators to the sport.

"You know," he said, "come down and get a slice of what Wenatchee is."

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