Starting in Lone Pine, California, this race takes riders north on US Highway 395 through the amazing scenery of the Owens Valley. 14,000 foot mountains (that's 4200 meters) line both sides, but for the first 70 km everyone can relax and enjoy the view, knowing the real race is yet to come. Arriving in the town of Big Pine, the riders turn right and begin their ascent of the White Mountains. Their destination lies 2100 meter...
Read more Starting in Lone Pine, California, this race takes riders north on US Highway 395 through the amazing scenery of the Owens Valley. 14,000 foot mountains (that's 4200 meters) line both sides, but for the first 70 km everyone can relax and enjoy the view, knowing the real race is yet to come. Arriving in the town of Big Pine, the riders turn right and begin their ascent of the White Mountains. Their destination lies 2100 meters above them, where the timeless ancients await them. The road winds it's way up desert gullies, pinching down to a single lane in places. With 30 km to the finish, they reach the ridge crest and the grade slacks off just a bit, allowing one final feedzone. Half the climb remains, as they continue to ascend the ridge towards White Mountain Peak. The desert landscape begins to fill with trees as the air gets thin. Passing several abandoned mining camps, the ancient guardians of this place begin to appear - the bristlecone pines, the oldest trees in the world. As the winner crosses the finish line at the National Park visitor center, the trees watch. For 6000 years they have been watching men come to test themselves against the mountains, and another champion has been added to the list.
