Cyclists pedal to the city on a Cycle Zydeco tour

Published 6:00 am Friday, April 6, 2018

Cyclists from all over the United States and beyond made their way Thursday to New Iberia for their first stop in this year’s Cycle Zydeco tour.

Cycle Zydeco is a four-day casual cycling tour of South Louisiana. The event takes place every year after Easter and includes food, music and entertainment of all kinds for the people who register. 

Scott Schilling said last month that more than 600 cyclists were expected to attend the event along with special guest Bernard Hinault, a former professional cyclist who won the Tour de France five times. 

According to the Cycle Zydeco website, the tour averages about 40 miles per day for cyclists, with longer routes of 62 miles per day available. The routes created by organizers include points of interests in various Acadiana towns, including New Iberia. 

“We’re having a great time,” Scott Smith, an Alberta, Canada, resident said. “The weather is nice and the area is beautiful.”

With New Iberia kicking off the event, cyclists enthusiastically strolled through downtown New Iberia. At the same time as the event was New Iberia’s downtown arts and craft market, with local vendors selling their wares of merchandise on Main Street. 

There also was a variety of local musicians, thanks to KANE 1240-AM scheduling a CD signing party near their office on Main Street. Artists included Donna Angelle, Roddie Romero, Steve Wiley and several other popular Cajun and zydeco artists. 

The event culminated in a performance from Chubby Carrier and the Bayou Swamp Band, which took place during the evening and was sponsored by Clementine on Main. 

The Cycle Zydeco cyclists will continue to peddle through Acadiana, ending in Arnaudville on Sunday and flying back home at the Lafayette Regional Airport.