While most eyes Saturday were on events for the USA Pro Cycling Challenge, a group of two dozen cyclists from the United States and Australia glided to a stop in front of the new Durango Welcome Center at exactly 11 a.m.
The cyclists represent the 2012 Tour of Duty Ride from San Diego to New York. The ride honors the military and public-safety personnel, according to the organizations website.
This event aims to demonstrate the admiration and respect we hold for the military, police, firefighters and emergency-service workers who serve our (two) countries with diligence, care and selflessness, says the website.
The group arrived in Cortez Friday night.
Durango authorities were told about the Tour of Duty arrival only about a week ago.
Durango Fire & Rescue Authority Chief Dan Noonan said Durango, as usual, was up to the challenge and pulled a plan together quickly.
A fire truck and two motorcycle officers led the group to the Welcome Center.
The chief said that there were 32 department personnel plus eight managers involved in the event. Thats about double the normal on-duty staffing levels.
The Tour of Duty Ride started Aug. 12 in San Diego and will conclude Sept. 1 in New York City at the USS Intrepid aircraft carrier. The Intrepid is now a national museum that also houses the Space Shuttle Enterprise.
Along the 2,600-mile trip, riders will stop in places such as Nashville, Philadelphia, Chicago and Washington, D.C., among others.
