Bikers appreciate McCook’s ‘warm hospitality’

Dear Editor,

On behalf of our 350 cyclists and crew, we want to express our sincere gratitude to your entire community for the kind welcome and warm hospitality. Literally, a group of McCookies (a riding team of women from McCook) invited me to consider McCook in at Tour de Nebraska in Kearney, NE in 2021. Every year, we TRY to explore new areas and to experience all of the wonderful people and Nebraska landscape. Yes, it took us 5 years in planning to finally get to McCook region for the first time since we started in 1988, 38 years ago!

The simple invitation to come to McCook and the other overnight communities of Curtis, Elwood and Cambridge continued a pattern of civic pride and passion to show off their community spirit. Believe me, our riders noticed and we have all been so grateful and impressed. I’ve complimented the “McCookies” for their authenticity and for just being wonderful. We also compliment all of the community leadership that includes Nate Schneider with the City of McCook, Sarah Schneider with the Chamber, the business (The Station) and hospitality community and the Graff Event Center’s Jennifer Morgan. It seems this spirit carried to all of our overnight communities and rest stops over the 5 days and 250 plus miles. Everyone should be proud of anchoring arguably one of the best tour’s ever.

All of our riders and crew send you our applause and say bravo. Thank you again for the invitation. Next time, we’ll try not to take so long.

Warmest regards,

Charlie Schilling, Director

Sydney Schilling, Assistant Director

Tour de Nebraska