If You Want To Eat Donuts AND Ride A Bicycle

Then Southern Illinois and the Tour de Donut is the place to be.

“It is a great thing, and the people really seem to have a good time,” Vers said. “It’s a healthy activity, even with the doughnuts, because the biking burns off those calories anyway.”

Steve Striker of Edwardsville planned to eat at least 24 doughnuts. He was working on 20 doughnuts when he reached the Worden pit stop.

“I don’t think I’ll make my goal. It’s tough to hold it back now,” Striker said as he was shoving five doughnuts into his mouth.

First-time participant Blake Stevens of Edwardsville said the ride was fun.

“I got to see some guy puke after eating 25 doughnuts, so that was interesting,” Stevens said.

Bill Schmaltz of St. Louis joked about the cyclists from Illinois lagging behind the rest. He said his goal is to eat seven doughnuts and finish the race under one hour and 35 minutes.

“This is fun, in a gluttonous kind of way,” Schmaltz said.

At noon, the cyclists were invited to join Staunton residents at their third annual Rib Cook-Off and Block Party in the park.