This just in from the organizers of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic…
Mt Hood Cycling Classic Adds Two-Day “Tour de Hood” Recreational Ride Challenge
Are you tough enough for ‘de Hood? How about getting a head start and then trying to out-ride a field of North America’s best pro cyclists?
Hood River, OR, March 21, 2008 – The Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and Orange Cat Events have come together to create the Tour de Hood, a two day recreational ride May 17-18, 2008 benefiting the Lance Armstrong Livestrong Foundation and the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Organization.
132 miles of terrain.
14,000 vertical feet.
Spectacular views.
Mind-numbing climbing pain.
Riders will see what it’s like to conquer the some of the same courses as the pros in the Mt Hood Cycling Classic international stage race, in this ultimate blend of participant and spectator event. Riders will start Saturday morning May 17 from Cooper Spur Resort, a full three hours before the professional racers take to the road from the same start. Tour de Hood riders can either try to outrun the pro caravan over the 89 miles or pedal to a prime viewing spot on the final climb to Mt Hood Meadows Ski Resort. From there they can watch the race in person, Tour de France-style, just feet away from the racers as they fly past up the road. A barbeque courtesy of Mt Hood Meadows awaits at the top for all, and riders will transfer by bus back to the starting point or seal their toughness by riding the 14 miles back to Cooper Spur Resort and completing a century.
The ride continues Sunday morning with terrain featuring the Columbia River Gorge Historic Highway, portions of which are closed to automobile traffic. The riders will depart in the morning from Hood River for 42 miles of challenging and breathtaking terrain and return in time for the stage 6 Hood River Criterium that afternoon. Tour riders can cheer on their favorite racers, enjoy a lunch provided by Taco de Mar, Full Sail Brewing, and browse the race expo.
“The Tour de Hood is a natural add-on for the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic Riders,” said Classic organizer Chad Sperry. “We’ve been meaning to do this for several years and we finally found in Kendra Wenzel the right director who has experience in multi-format events such as the Sea Otter Classic. At the same time we can use our existing infrastructure to create this ride, we can benefit a great cause like the LAF and raise funds to ensure future editions of the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic.”
The weekend event will feature rest stations stocked with local, high-energy foods, and mechanical support on the road. “I fully expect this ride to grow like crazy,” said Wenzel. “We have a classic course in more ways than one, a great organization and we have the added excitement of the challenge of outrunning the top pro racers on the U.S. circuit.”
For additional information on the Tour de Hood, please visit http://www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com/TourdeHood/ or contact Kendra Wenzel at 541-912-9792 or TourdeHood@orangecatevents.com. This ride will be run in conjunction with the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic and is a production of Orange Cat Events, LLC. For more information on the Mt. Hood Cycling Classic, please visit www.mthoodcyclingclassic.com or contact Chad Sperry at MHCC@gorge.net.ABOUT ORANGE CAT EVENTS, LLC – Orange Cat Events, LLC is the race and ride promotion arm of coach and former racer Kendra Wenzel. Located in Portland, OR, Orange Cat Events specializes in direction of national caliber races and rides, including coordination of the USA Cycling National Race Calendar events at the Sea Otter Classic and the former Cougar Mountain Classic. Orange Cat Events also provides copy writing services for outdoor and adventure oriented companies.
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Awesome.