Rain dampened the day during last year's Tour de Cure event in and around Kennebunk, but it didn't keep riders out to fight diabetes off their bikes.

This year the weather forecast looks much brighter for the Sunday, June 3 ride, and a location change should help make it the largest turnout of cyclists yet for the annual event.

According to Emily Silevinac, associate director of the Kennebunks Tour de Cure, the event got too big its previous location at the Middle School of the Kennebunks. The 2012 ride will start and finish at Wells Reserve at Laudholm, a picturesque spot for an event offering five very scenic routes.

Silevinac said 737 riders had registered as of this morning and 800 are expected by Sunday. That puts the Tour de Cure 150 riders above last year's turnout.

Riders can choose between 5K, 25K, 50K, 100K and 100-mile routes. Riders can still register (click here) and the rides are staggered with the longest starting at 7 a.m. and the shortest at 11:30 a.m. The minimum fundraising amount to enter the event is $150, which is tabbed for the American Diabetes Association.

Silevinac said the location change has altered some of the routes. "We have rerouted quite a bit of our 100-mile as our riders were asking for more farmland and weren't as interested in the Cape Elizabeth route," she said.

"For the 25K, this is the first time they are getting both ocean views (Kennebunk Beach and Walker's Point) along Ocean Avenue so we are really excited about our new locations and updated routes," Silevinac said.

The organizers are currently making adjustments to the online route maps but you should be able to log on to the Tour de Cure website soon to see just where you'll be riding. And if you haven't signed up yet, it's not too late to become one of the 50,000 riders nationwide who are helping to cure diabetes.

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About the Author

Karen Beaudoin is an online editor for Maine Today Media and contributes two blogs to the company's websites.

In the City tells readers what to know if they want to know Portland. Pedal On offers info, events and advice for people who love their bikes more than, well ... almost anything.

Get in touch at kbeaudoin@mainetoday.com

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