Offer donuts and the bicyclists will come.

Organizers of this year’s Tour de Donut are expecting up to 1,500 bicyclists to roll into town for the annual event on Saturday, Sept. 8. They plan to have at least 5,000 donuts awaiting the riders.

“It’s so different than the normal athletic-type event,” said Roger Bowersock, president of Rocketship Sports Management, the bicycle club that puts on the Tour de Donut. “It’s completely unique. There’s nothing else like us around.”

The 32-mile and 15-mile bicycle races are timed events. However, there are two donut stops on the course. For every donut that a person eats, five minutes are deducted from the bicyclist’s time. Some riders – about 500 of them last year – eat no donuts during the ride. Others eat a dozen. The average donut consumption per participant is four.

The glazed yeast donuts are made fresh by Ulrich’s IGA Supermarket in Piqua and distributed through Sutton’s Super Value in Arcanum. Bowersock said the donut-making begins Friday and goes through the night.

The bicycle ride attracts serious bicyclists, serious eaters, runners, weightlifters, families, and those just wanting to take part in an unusual bike race.

The Tour de Donut began in 2007 in Greenville, and 107 bicyclists participated that first year. It later moved to Arcanum, and the number of bicyclists grew. Last year, 920 people from 17 states and Canada took part.

Organizers set up bleachers along the start line for fans, and begin with the national anthem and a balloon launch. When the race concludes, they have an awards ceremony with a podium and champagne.

Because the donuts must be pre-ordered, the registration deadline was Friday, Aug. 31. Those who have missed registration but still want to experience the Tour de Donut are encouraged to come as spectators.

Those wanting to try an eat-and-race event are encouraged to try the inaugural the Grand Lake Donut Dash, also organized by Rocketship Sports Management. Held in Celina on Oct. 13, the 3.1-mile race will have two donut stops. For each donut the runner eats during the race, the runner has two minutes deducted from his finish time.