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Thousands Of Riders Fill Detroit Streets For 13th Annual 'Tour de Troit'

DETROIT (WWJ) -- Organizers said it was the biggest crowd yet as the 13th annual Tour de Troit circled the streets of Detroit from it's starting point at Roosevelt Park in Corktown on Saturday.

Officials said that 7,500 riders took off onto the 30 and 62 mile routes and helped raise $200,000 for bike paths and other projects in Detroit.

Annalee Marlette of Walled Lake is one of many riders who returned to the city this year.

"You get to see all of the different parts of Detroit," Marlette said. "We get to go through places like the Coal Town Plant, the Packard Plant, Indian Village and circumnavigate Belle Isle. You come up Larned, you go through Downtown Detroit -- it's very cool."

Donning his red Pavel Datsyuk jersey, Chris Zadorozny came all the way from Ionia, a two-hour drive to Detroit, for his fourth ride and said that he love the camaraderie of everyone coming together in the city.

"The people come to Detroit, give it some energy and people enjoy this bike ride," Zadorozny said. "It tours different parts of the city and you really see a different aspect on a bike than in a car. You have to rep the Wings here, too."

Bil Lusa, the ride's Board Chair said that biking has exploded lately because it's fun and anyone can do it.

"The Tour de Troit is like the Pope -- the sun always shines on the Tour de Troit," Lusa laughed.

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