The History of Tour de Corn: A Must-Ride Cycling Event in Missouri
Looking for a fun, scenic, and community-driven cycling event in the Midwest? Tour de Corn in East Prairie, Missouri, is a premier charity bike ride that has welcomed cyclists from across the country for more than two decades.
How Tour de Corn Began
Tour de Corn was born from a love of both farming and cycling. In 2001, local farmer and avid cyclist Mike Bryant saw an opportunity to combine two of Southeast Missouri’s greatest traditions—agriculture and community gatherings—into a unique cycling event.
As he rode past miles of golden cornfields, Mike envisioned a charity bike ride that would not only highlight the beauty of Missouri farm country but also bring people together for a good cause. He shared his idea with Silvey Barker, the East Prairie Tourism coordinator, and said, “I wish the Office of Tourism would sponsor a ride.” That simple idea took root, and soon after, a committee of local farmers, cyclists, and community members came together to launch the first Tour de Corn.
By 2002, 175 cyclists rolled through East Prairie’s scenic farmland for the inaugural ride. As word spread, Tour de Corn grew into a must-ride event for cyclists across the US and beyond, with as many as nearly 1,200 riders one year.
Today, Tour de Corn remains deeply tied to its agricultural roots, offering beautiful rural routes, legendary sweet corn at rest stops, and a chance to experience the heart of Missouri farm country—on two wheels! 🌽🚴‍♂️
Why Cyclists Love Tour de Corn
Tour de Corn is more than just a ride—it’s an experience! Whether you're a beginner cyclist or a seasoned rider, this event offers a unique blend of:
Join Us for Tour de Corn 2025!
The next Tour de Corn is set for June 28, 2025, and we want YOU to be part of this incredible tradition. Whether you're looking for a fun summer cycling event, a charity ride that gives back, or just a great excuse to explore Southeast Missouri by bike, Tour de Corn has something for everyone.
🚴‍♂️ Save the date and register early to secure your spot!
Tour de Corn was highly recommended by some friends in the area. I had this crazy idea that I wanted to do a century on a fat bike and everyone said this was the place to do it. I have no idea where to begin, everything about the experience was absolutely amazing! The townsfolk go the extra mile, celebrating the event with the riders. The Friday night festivities were a blast and EVERYONE is so friendly. The routes were the best marked routes I have ever seen, I didn’t use a map and there was never any doubt about which way I needed to go. The SAG stops were perfectly spaced, manned by incredibly friendly people and well stocked with everything we needed to make the ride. Please give my THANKS to the farmers that had their sprinkler systems spraying the road - what a huge boost that was, and it felt amazing! During my 100.5 miles I was passed by at least 20 sag vehicles. They were constantly patrolling and supporting riders. I thought maybe they were circling me because I was on a fat bike and they were ready to evacuate me, lol. Law enforcement was present and patrolling the routes as well. Even on the open highway commuters all waved and moved well away from the riders. You have planned and executed an amazing event. It is very clear your community rally’s around and wholeheartedly supports this event. I can’t wait to return, and I will tell everyone that I can this event needs to be on their calendar. Thank you so much for all you did - your entire community is amazing and it meant so much to me to see how they embraced this event! I finished 100.5 miles on the fat bike! Many of my friends are blown away that I did, I’m very proud of the achievement, and your incredible community and amazingly well organized event will always be part of my story.
--- Brad Hicks
If you total our 13 years times -- 33 miles for each year -- we have ridden in Mississippi County at total of 429 miles. There must be some magic in that old blacktop road(s) that keep bringing us back. Folks, this is the creme de la creme of all rides. These organizers know how to run a ride.
--- Larry McGuire
