MARQUETTE — Cycling enthusiasts set out from St. Ignace on Friday morning as part of the annual “Tour da Yoop, Eh” ride across the Upper Peninsula.

The tour consists of 10 sections, averaging 120 miles per section, and covers all 15 U.P. counties and the three Great Lakes that surround them.

Each section covers an average of 120 miles, with cyclists staying in each city for one night and moving onto the next the following morning. The 10-day tour ends back in St. Ignace on Aug. 15.

Tour da Yoop, Eh was founded by James Studinger to “help people reconnect with nature,” according to a news release. A native of Manistique, he now resides in downstate Bloomfield Hills.

Studinger started Tour da Yoop, Eh in 2018 when he set out to showcase the U.P.’s “forgotten pavement,” noting that the U.P. has only 1% of the amount of bike travel accidents that are reported in lower Michigan. When Studinger noticed that not many cars travel the secluded back roads of the U.P., he outlined thousands of miles of safe biking routes across the peninsula and brought those routes to the attention of many by establishing the annual 10-day ride.

It’s now become an annual event. In 2020, 38 riders combined to ride 18,064 miles. Riders hailed anywhere from Marquette to Florida. This year, roughly 80 riders are expected, organizers said.

Those who signed up for the ride can go as the please: fast or slow, solo or group. The riders stay on a set route with directions and directional signs placed at intersections so they know where they’re heading next. Tour da Yoop, Eh provides support along the route by operating hydration and aid stations which allow the riders to stretch, fuel and relax. A support vehicle also stays with the last rider until a section is complete.

This year, Tour da Yoop, Eh has partnered with the U.P. Lions Clubs’ “I Trekked the U.P.” initiative, which was launched earlier this year and encouraged the community to get outside and walk, ride, ski or snowshoe and make a donation to the Lions’ U.P. Childhood Cancer Program based on mileage logged. A portion of fees from this year’s Tour da Yoop, Eh ride will be donated to the Childhood Cancer Program, which has raised over $25,000 to date through various initiatives to help U.P. children’s cancer patients. To date, 43 U.P. families are benefiting from assistance and resources through the program.

Sections for the 10-day ride are as follows:

≤ Friday, Aug. 6, Section 1, St. Ignace to Manistique, 120 miles

≤ Saturday, Aug. 7, Section 2, Manistique to Escanaba, 90.75 miles

≤ Sunday, Aug. 8, Section 3, Escanaba to Iron Mountain, 122 miles

≤ Monday, Aug. 9, Section 4, Iron Mountain to Ironwood, 132.47 miles

≤ Tuesday, Aug. 10, Section 5, Ironwood to Houghton/Hancock, 137.08 miles

≤ Wednesday, Aug. 11, Section 6, Copper Harbor Loop, 116.45 miles

≤ Thursday, Aug. 12, Section 7, Houghton to Marquette, 114 miles

≤ Friday, Aug. 13, Section 8, Marquette to Grand Marais, 105.42 miles

≤ Saturday, Aug. 14, Section 9, Grand Marais to Sault Ste. Marie, 114 miles

≤ Sunday, Aug. 15, Section 10, Sault Ste. Marie to St. Ignace, 122.56 miles

Tour da Yoop, Eh encourages each community to come along the route and cheer on the riders. Volunteers such as local Lions Clubs, Boy Scout troops and more can raise money for their organizations by volunteering at aid stations, driving a support vehicle or placing directional signage.

For more information or to view specific route details to find out where you can cheer on the riders, visit www.tourdayoopeh.com.

For more information on the U.P. Lions Clubs, visit www.uplionsserve.org.