BOCA RATON, FL (Boca Post) (Copyright © 2026) — The Florida Tour de Force made a stop in Boca Raton on Monday as riders continued the first day of a five-day, 270-mile charity bicycle ride held in honor of fallen law enforcement officers and the families they left behind.
The Boca Raton Police Department hosted the group for the final rest stop of Day 1, giving riders a chance to refuel and rehydrate before finishing the day’s route. The department said the Tour de Force took “a brief pit stop” in Boca on Monday afternoon and thanked the riders for stopping in the city.
The Boca stop was part of the 30th Anniversary Florida Tour de Force, which began April 13, 2026, in North Miami Beach and is scheduled to end April 17 in Daytona Beach Shores. Organizers describe it as a fully supported awareness ride, not a race, with participants averaging roughly 50 to 55 miles per day at a moderate pace. The route crosses eight counties and more than 40 law enforcement jurisdictions, with escorts provided by the Florida Highway Patrol, sheriff’s offices and local police agencies.
By the time the riders reached Boca Raton, Day 1 had already taken them north through Broward County, including a stretch through the Henry E. Kinney Tunnel in Fort Lauderdale, one of the recurring points highlighted by organizers during the ride. Earlier rest stops on Monday were sponsored by other supporters, including Denny’s, before the group arrived in Boca for its last break of the day.
Organizers said the riders battled steady crosswinds for much of the opening leg but stayed together and finished strong. They marked the end of Day 1 by congratulating first-time riders and those committed to the full weeklong trip, calling the first day a test of teamwork, determination and the purpose behind the ride.
That purpose has been central to the event since it began. According to organizers, the Florida Tour de Force was founded by Mike DeMarcus after he saw the pain and loss faced by families when a Florida Highway Patrol trooper was killed in the line of duty. What started as an effort to help one family grew into a long-running statewide nonprofit ride involving law enforcement officers, civilian riders, volunteers and sponsors.
The inaugural 1997 ride was dedicated to Trooper Robert Smith, who was killed in the line of duty by a drunk driver. This year’s event, organizers said, will benefit the families of Florida law enforcement officers who were killed in the line of duty during 2024.
Each year, the ride ends with participation in Florida’s law enforcement memorial observance in Tallahassee, where surviving families are presented with checks and memorabilia tied to the event. Organizers say that mission — honoring the fallen and supporting survivors in tangible ways — remains the reason the ride continues three decades later.
The Boca Raton stop underscored the local law enforcement role in the broader statewide effort. Tour organizers publicly thanked the Boca Raton Police Department for sponsoring and hosting the final Day 1 rest stop, calling the department’s support meaningful to both riders and staff. A separate message from the department focused on the practical side of the stop, noting that the visit allowed participants to recover before the next stretch of road.
The ride is designed to be accessible to both experienced cyclists and less seasoned riders. Breaks are scheduled roughly every 12 to 15 miles, and organizers say the event typically draws hundreds of participants from across Florida, the United States and other countries, with more than 100 riders completing the full route each year.
For Boca Raton residents, the local stop was a brief window into a much larger annual event moving through South Florida and up the state this week. The riders were not in the city for competition or ceremony alone. The ride carries a fundraising and memorial mission tied directly to law enforcement families across Florida.
Day 2 picks up Tuesday as the group continues north. Organizers said they will keep posting updates from the road throughout the week as the 30th anniversary ride moves toward its finish in Volusia County.
For more information or to donate, visit the official Florida Tour de Force website.
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