Tour of the California Alps provides challenge

There are no winners. Just the personal satisfaction of completing one of the toughest tests there is in endurance cycling.

Every year for the past several years, about 3,000 cyclists have taken on the challenge of the "Tour of the California Alps," also known as the "Death Ride." Once again, about 3,000 cyclists will take on the challenge of the event to be held on Saturday in Alpine County.

The 129-mile course features 16,000 feet of lung busting climbing. Riders will again return to the infamous five pass course, which includes two treks over Monitor Pass (8,314 feet) and Ebbett's Pass (8,730) and one trek over Carson Pass (8,573).

The event is set to begin at sunrise, which will be at about 5:30 a.m. The start/finish line is at Turtle Rock Park north of Markleeville.

Riders have the option of completing from just one to all five passes.

More than 5,000 riders tried to register for this year's event. The first two-week registration period was held in January for those who have ridden in the event in the last three years.

Another two-week registration period was held in March and then a waiting list was compiled for cancellations.

"It's more of a personal challenge," said Jim DeGraffenreid about why riders do the event. "It's a big goal."

DeGraffenreid, who works for the Alpine County Chamber of Commerce, is one of the organizers for the event. The Alpine County Chamber of Commerce puts on the event along with the Alta Alpina Cycling Club.

Depending on the elements, about 60 to 75 percent of the riders are expected to finish the entire course. Ninety-plus degree temperatures are expected, so the number of riders finishing may be closer to 60 percent. The heat was a factor last year as 60 percent of the riders completed the course.

"It's just that much harder to get through all five," DeGraffenreid said.

No matter how hot it is, the riders will still almost assuredly have to deal with windy conditions as well over the highest elevations.

Despite the conditions, some of the riders will be able to complete the course as soon as 2 p.m. -- or 8 1/2 hours. That's impressive since it translates to completing a 100-mile flat course in five hours.

Riders are given 14 1/2 hours -- until 8 p.m. -- to finish the course. It could be a difficult pill to swallow when riders realize they're not going to complete the course.

"You are out there working in the heat for 14 hours and all of a sudden, it's not going to happen," DeGraffenreid said. "It's a pretty hard thing."

DeGraffenreid said while riders aren't physically removed from the course, they run the risk of not being invited back if they disregard their own safety.

"We rarely have a lot of difficulty with that," DeGraffenreid said. "Most are willing to give it a try next year."

Hundreds of volunteers are needed to put on the event. "There's just a millon little jobs that have to be done," DeGraffenreid said. "It's a pretty big endevour."

But the benefits are obvious for the surrounding area. "There's a lot of people that come in with a pretty fair amount of cash to spend," DeGraffenreid said.

Many local nonprofit organizations also use the event for fund-raising. Many organizations hold their biggest fund-raisers of the year as part of the event.

"There's a lot of organizations in the community that are involved one way or the other," DeGraffenreid said.

For more information on the event, see the Outdoors page, B3.

Charles Whisnand is the Nevada Appeal Sports Editor.