While downtown Marquette felt the lack of a major bike race last year, a new biking event is unfolding in its place this summer.
The
Marquette Bike Jam is sponsored by River Valley Bank with the support of the Marquette County Convention and Visitors Bureau and the Marquette Downtown Development Authority.
It's planned for three days: June 29 and 30 and July 1, and will include a return of the downtown criterium races, a road tour with varying distances called the Gran Fondo, and gravity events like Super-D and dual slalom. A kids' bike rodeo and a cross-country mountain bike race on Marquette's South Trails also are planned for the weekend.
Music, food, activities, vendors and other things bicycle are being organized for the Bike Jam too. Much of it is being made possible by River Valley, which is the event's title sponsor.
"One of River Valley Bank's core values is building communities through banking, and we are committed to this value by sponsoring the Marquette Bike Jam," says bank manager Christian Palomaki. "The absence of an event like this was sorely missed last summer and we are excited to support the Marquette Bike Jam. It will provide a positive economic impact on our community and give people the opportunity to participate in a great event that showcases why Marquette is a great place to live and ride."
Other sponsors helping the new event happen are Border Grill, Marquette Country Convention and Visitor's Bureau, Classic Auto Collision and Lakeshore Bike.
Writer: Sam Eggleston
Source: Christian Palomaki, River Valley State Bank
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