Gatesville Fire Ant bike race draws 219 riders, marks 30 years

More than 219 registered riders rolled out of the Gatesville Civic Center parking lot and into Coryell County roads for the 30th annual Fire Ant bike race, turning the longtime fundraiser into a weekend draw for Gatesville businesses and lodging. Some cyclists stayed in local hotels and RV parks, and at least one rider came from Oklahoma, underscoring how the event has outgrown a purely local start line.

The race began at 7:15 a.m. on June 13 and offered routes of about 11 miles, 32 miles, 50 miles and 100 kilometers on paved county roads. That range kept the field mixed, from recreational riders looking for a shorter loop to endurance cyclists willing to push farther. Thirty riders reached the 50-mile turnaround point and headed back, a sign that the Fire Ant Tour still attracts serious distance riders as well as weekend participants.

Behind the scenes, the race depended on a full volunteer network to keep riders moving safely through rural territory. Four rest stops were spaced every 10 to 13 miles, each stocked with drinks and snacks. SAG wagons patrolled the routes for riders who needed help, while HAM radio operators led by Bobby Sanders kept communication moving between the rest points and the course. Monty Van Horn served as the overall organizer for the Fire Ant Tour, and JoAnn Sugg led the food crew.

For Gatesville Exchange Club, the race remains one of the group’s biggest fundraisers alongside Taste of Gatesville in the winter and a fall golf tournament. The club says it was formed May 20, 1983, now has more than 50 members, and uses fundraiser revenue to support its programs of service. That service work connects the bike race to a larger civic role that stretches beyond one Saturday morning.

The event has also shown staying power. The 28th annual ride in 2024 drew 213 pre-registered cyclists and 19 on-site registrations, while the 29th annual ride in 2025 totaled 232 registrations with riders from Dallas, Fort Worth, Longview, Houston and San Antonio. Club materials said last year’s ride drew nearly 250 riders and expected even more cyclists this year, suggesting the Fire Ant Tour has become a steady regional pull for Coryell County as much as a local fundraiser.

The Exchange Club organization dates to Detroit in 1911, and the Gatesville chapter has turned that service model into a visible annual event on the county calendar. Three decades in, the Fire Ant Tour continues to bring riders, volunteers and out-of-town spending into Gatesville, while giving local organizers a measure of how far the race has grown.