by Curtis Fong, “The Guy From Tahoe”
Holly Molly! Did you see how fast that Peloton was moving through Carson Valley?
Amazing Race!
Women’s Stage 2
The 13th Annual Tour of California, Men’s Stage 6 and Women’s Stage 2, provided excitement and drama as both races came through the Carson Valley and climbed up and over Kingsbury Grade before descending to South Lake Tahoe to finish at Heavenly Mountain Resort’s California Base.
With the threat of rain and thunder storms, hundreds of race fans lined the start area of the Amgen Tour of California Women’s Stage 2 race at Heavenly’s California Base Lodge. Fifteen International Women’s Pro Teams, including 7 teams from USA, competed on May 18 and headed out on the 67.1 mile road course at 11 am.
The course led them in a counterclockwise direction over Luther Pass followed by a descent down Highway 88/89-Woodfords Canyon, around Diamond Valley and along Foothill Road before making the climb up Kingsbury.
The descent from Daggett Pass down to Stateline was fast and the climb up Ski Run Blvd. separated the leader: Crossing the finish line to win the stage was Katie Hall with the United Health Care team.
The Men’s Stage 6 Race
The Men’s Stage 6 Race started the same morning in Folsom, California at 9:30 am and headed out on a 122.1 mile course through Placerville, up Mormon Emigrant Trail to Highway 88, past Kirkwood and over Carson Pass, descending through Hope Valley and then following the same route of the women’s race.
Team Sky’s Egan Bernal, a young and upcoming Colombian rider, created drama as he broke way from the peloton and defending yellow jersey race leader, Tejay Van Garderen, near the top of Kingsbury Grade – Daggett Pass and descended fearlessly down to South Lake Tahoe and held off all attackers to take the stage win.
The weather held and both races finished with the thunder sounding pounding of the Finish Line Barricades by the hundreds of race fans that showed up at Heavenly.
A Great event with live television coverage and replay on NBCSN, not only in the U.S. and Canada, but distributed to more than 150 countries around the world.
Lake Tahoe and the Carson Valley are becoming a world class cycling destination. Info: amgentourofcalifornia.com, tahoesouth.com, www.visitcarsonvalley.com
Another bicycling event that has gained national recognition and is bringing thousands of bicyclists from all over the U.S. is the 27th Annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride – Lake Tahoe, coming up on June 3. This event has partnered with the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s successful Team in Training Fundraising program and this year they have over 1100 Team members from 47 different cities across the U.S. bicycling around Lake Tahoe and raising $3.6 Million.
In its 22-year partnership with America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, LLS will have trained and brought to Lake Tahoe over 30,000 athletes and will break the $100 Million mark in total fundraising. One out of 6 registered riders for this event is coming from out of state; not counting California, but all other states across the U.S.
This event is my baby, and Bike the West is thankful to the Reno Tahoe Territory of the Nevada Commission on Tourism in helping to attain match grant marketing funds to develop this event many years ago, as well as with the 16th Annual Tour de Tahoe – Bike Big Blue event on September 9 and the 27th Annual Oatbran Ride Across Nevada, September 23-29, 2018. For more information visit: www.bikethewest.com
June 1 is the kick off of the Lake Tahoe Bicycle Coalition’s annual Tahoe Bike Challenge, inviting individuals, students and businesses to ride their bikes to work, school and play. 
And, to log their bicycling miles onto a collaborative website with the Tahoe Regional Planning Agency. Bike to School Week, Community Bike Path Clean Up Day, And many other activities are scheduled through June 14.
Join in the activities with the Tahoe Bike Challenge Kick Off Event on June 1 from 3 to 7 pm at Blue Zone Sports, 2011 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe. There will be lots of cool and fun activities for everyone including free food and refreshments and chance to win cool prizes including a new bike.
One June event you don’t want to miss — and is on the rise for national recognition — is the Epic Rides – Carson City Off Road, June 15-17 in Carson City. Three fun-filled days of amateur and professional mountain bike racing and activities in the shadow of the Capitol Building.
There are 15, 35 & 50 Mile courses starting in town and racing up and into the Carson Range through Ash Canyon, Kings Canyon and along the infamous Marlette Flume Trail.
Plus, Vendor Expo, Kids Race and Pro Fat Tire Crit & Backcountry Race — and the Four Peaks Brewing Company Concert Series.
This event is bigger and better with more competitors and activities for the entire family. Plan to be in Carson City for this mountain bike experience and celebration.
On June 30, 2018, the Alta Alpina Cycling Club will host its annual Alta Alpina Challenge – Riding the Wild Sierra event. 
This takes place on roadways in Alpine County, starting and finishing at Turtle Rock Park. This ride is truly a challenge. There are a variety of ride options offered, starting with a 64 mile Metric Century with 5,000 feet 
of climbing; a 110 mile, 3 Pass Century with 11,000 feet of climbing; a 134 mile – 5 Pass Challenge with 16,000 feet of climbing; and last but not least. a 198 mile (Double Century) with 20,300 feet of climbing. Are your legs & butt hurting just reading this?
Alta Alpina offers opportunities for bicyclists, members and non members to gather and ride socially with weekend rides and posted rides on their ride board. They also host a Thursday evening road racing series, juniors race team and more. For more information and to register for a ride option, click here.
June Mountain Bike action continues with the 6th Annual Tahoe Mountain Bike Festival, June 30 and July 1 in Meyers California. 
Saturday, June 30, kicks off with the Triple Crown Ride, the festivals signature ride covering 30+ miles with 5,200 feet of elevation gain. This ride is followed up with an After Party featuring a Barbecue, Beer Garden, Vendors and Kids Zone, plus live Music till 6 pm.
The following day is a fun day to test new mountain bikes with free bike demos and shuttles up the Corral Trail, featuring most of the top brands in state of the art mountain bikes to include bikes from Specialized, IBIS, Norco, Pivot Cycles, Intense, Rocky Mountain and more. This demo day has two sessions that one can sign up for and each session has a limit, so if you want to demo the newest mountain bikes around, you must sign up for a session.
Whether you ride a road bike or mountain bike, June is the time to get outside and explore the freedom of riding. Whether you ride to commute, ride for health & recreation, ride for fun on multi-use bike paths, single track, fire roads. ride with friends, family, buddies, ride events or on your own — Just Get Out and Ride!
