DE PERE, Wis. — Sunday’s 90-degree heat didn’t stop hundreds of cyclists from all over the world from competing in the “Tour De Pere.”

The Green Bay suburban setting is the fourth trek that racers got to experience so far during the 11-day Tour of America’s Dairyland.


What You Need To Know

  • Racers from 40 states and 15 countries competed in the Tour De Pere

  • All ages and skill levels were welcomed

  • Vito Carello is turning 78 years old and said he has no plans on slowing down any time soon

The Wisconsin race drew in father-and-son duo Vito and Anthony Carello. After training in Michigan, the pair was looking forward to seeing what the terrain here had to offer.

“It’s the second course I’ve been on. This is nice. I was pleasantly surprised,” Vito Carello said.

(Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

This was Vito Carello’s first time competing in Wisconsin. While he’s raced together with his son, their pace looks a lot different now from when they first started.

“Five years ago, he wasn’t riding,” said Vito Carello. “I ran with him on a couple of races and humiliated him. So we started training. Now, he lapped me about three or four times today.”

Anthony Carello loaned his dad one of his bikes for the race. He said being able to share the same track with his father makes him proud.

(Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

“It’s great. Hopefully, we have many more years ahead to be able to do this,” said Anthony Carello. “Not everybody is afforded the ability to ride with their dad in a race and finish together, so hopefully we have more ahead.”

With Vito Carello’s 78th birthday on the horizon later this summer, he said he has no plans on slowing down. Being active at his age is something he doesn’t take for granted.

“Competing against people your own age… can be competitive and biking and you can do it for a long time,” said Vito Carello. “When you can’t do anything else, you can still bike. It’s not hard on the body like a lot of other things.”

Vito Carello’s grandsons also made sure to give him the motivation to keep going.

“I used to run, but when I hit 60, I couldn’t run anymore,” said Vito Carello. “My knees couldn’t take it. But biking, I think you can do that 'til you’re 90.”

(Spectrum News 1/Geno Perez)

Cyclists will continue in De Pere on Monday. More races this week will course through Cedarburg, Oak Creek, Milwaukee and Shorewood. The overall race will cap off in Wauwatosa on June 29.