Tour de Nez bringing more bike racing to Tahoe

Nevada Appeal News Service

This year's Tour de Nez bicycle race, which began in Reno 16 years ago, will be back this June with more events and a greater focus on the Truckee-Tahoe area.

After scaling back last year to just two days, one in Reno and one in Truckee, a new partnership with Northstar-at-Tahoe has expanded the race to a six-day event.

"This is going to be the biggest, coolest Tour de Nez ever," said race founder Tim Healion. "This new partnership will work well for both of us - Northstar will get the exposure of a national racing event, and for us it's great to have the venue."

Northstar will also bring significant financial backing, Healion said.

Two years ago, Healion ran into problems with the Reno-Sparks Convention & Visitors Authority.

The RSCVA gave the race $20,000 with the understanding it would air on the Outdoor Life Network on cable television, but it did not.

Healion had to repay 75 percent of the money to the RSCVA.

The new partnership means less time in Reno this year, but Healion said he feels there is more potential in the Truckee-Tahoe area.

"The Truckee event has grown in terms of spectators, significantly more than Reno," Healion said.

But as the race moves toward the Truckee-Tahoe area, he said he has no plans to abandon Reno.

"The roots are here in Reno, so we'll be absolutely including some of it in Reno," Healion said.

Northstar, meanwhile, is trying to expand its year-round destination image, Healion said, which fits perfectly with the race's approach that includes not only professional racing, but amateur events and festivities.