Tour de Tahoe returns to lake

Bicycling enthusiasts from across country are set to participate in the eighth Annual Tour de Tahoe - Bike Big Blue around Lake Tahoe on Sunday.

This fun ride is not a race, but a tour, and is fully supported by a grant from the Nevada Commission on Tourism. Bicyclists will ride two different tour options based on their ability level, with all rides starting and finishing at the Horizon Casino Resort at Stateline.

For the conditioned bicyclists, the 72-mile Tour de Tahoe route around Lake Tahoe is not only one of the most scenic, it is also one of the only bi-state bike rides in the country with its route in both California and Nevada. The 72-mile route circumnavigates the highways around Lake Tahoe in a clockwise direction and offers more 2,600 vertical feet of climbing.

For the recreational bicyclists, the Lake Tahoe Boat Cruise & 35-mile Half Ride is offered, featuring a sightseeing boat cruise on Lake Tahoe Cruise's Tahoe Queen Paddle Wheeler, complete with a continental breakfast across the Lake to the North Shore where participants start their 35 mile bike ride back to the Horizon. This ride option offers challenge as well as beauty with more than 1,000 vertical feet of climbing along Lake Tahoe's east shore. This ride option is limited to 120 participants and 50 family members and guests with a non-bicycling option.

All ride options begin between 6:30 a.m. and 7:30 a.m., with staggered, 15-minute start windows. All bicyclists will receive a Lake Tahoe welcome packet, a commemorative number, event T-shirt, ride pin, custom water bottle, wrist band, food and beverage at all rest stops, a lunch stop in Kings Beach, and an after-ride pasta feed and pool party with live entertainment featuring Kool Black Kettle at the Horizon Casino Resort.

Pre-registered rider check-in and on-site registration will be noon-8 p.m. Saturday at Tahoe Sports Ltd. in South Lake Tahoe. Same-day registration will also be available at that time, or the morning of the ride, starting from 5:30 a.m. to 7:30 a.m. at the Horizon Casino back parking lot C.

The registration fee for the 72-mile Tour de Tahoe course options is $100 and The Lake Tahoe Boat Cruise & 35-mile Half Ride Fee is $115. Participants must be at least 14 years of age to ride and must be accompanied by an adult.