A few highlights from Stages 2, 3 and 4 of the Tour of America’s Dairyland:

• » ToAD showed women some love, and women have returned the favor, turning out in large numbers in both the P/1/2/3’s and the 3/4’s. Chicago women did very well at Saturday’s big race in Grafton, with Stacy Appelwick (Bouledogue Tout Noir), Jannette Rho (Chicago Cuttin’ Crew) and Cathy Frampton (Project 5) going 1-2-3 in the 3/4’s. Later in the women’s P/1/2/3’s, Debbie Dust (Bouledogue Tout Noir) placed 3rd in the field sprint, 5th overall.
• » Rho hit the podium again Sunday in Appleton, finishing 3rd, with Downers Grove’s Meghan Lapeta (Smart Cycling) in 5th.
• » The masters fields have also been big and very fast, but Bob Karlowe (Verdigris) is keeping up, placing 2nd at the Giro d’Grafton, and Brian Conant (Comma-Van Wagner) has two top 10’s to his name.
• » Bryan Witry (Spidermonkey Cycling) delivers our final podium, sprinting to a 3rd in the 4/5’s on Saturday.

Racing continues today with the first road race, on a closed-course motorway in Elkhart Lake, Wis. I’m curious whether the conclusion of the Nature Valley Grand Prix will send any more talent our way.

Full Friday results. Full Saturday results. Full Sunday results.

Thiensville reports
Nat Bricker (University of Florida; P/1/2): “I’m usually alright in the rain, but not today.”

Verizon u25 (P/1/2): “Rain and a short lightning delay did little to slow down the second stage.”

Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “I thought I could make a jump to the inside and help spring Bryan but I botched the turn and the rest was history.”

Giro d’Grafton reports
Nat Bricker (University of Florida; P/1/2): ” Lots of people yelling and screaming, sirens, noise, beer. Everything crit racing should have.”

Shawn Delk (Project 5; 4/5): “Felt fine the first 35 minutes and then just started to crack.”

Debbie Dust (Bouledogue Tout Noir; W-P/1/2/3): “There was a lot of horsepower in the field and a fifth place finish is a strong result.”

Luke Holtan (Velo Trocadero; P/1/2): “As you came blaring outta turn two into the incline all you could hear was the vuvuzela.”

Ginger Sides (Project 5; W-3/4): “It was so great to see our Chicago area ladies take the entire podium.”

Bryan Witry (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “I saw my lane on the far left and went.”

Appleton reports
Andrew Zens (Spidermonkey Cycling; 4/5): “I continued my attempted to tailgun each lap”