2009 Tour De Nez

by Larry Lagarde

Lake Tahoe is one of the most scenic places in the world and the annual Tour De Nez cycling race & fest is a great excuse to visit.

Here's an update of this year's lineup of the Tour De Nez courtesy of Constance Aguilar.

This year the TDN will feature 3 days of racing in Downtown Reno, Downtown Truckee, and wrapping up at Northstar-at-Tahoe ski resort. A pre-party and an almost Century Ride will begin and wrap up the festivities, along with live music, food and tons of other activites going on to please onlookers.

Sound interesting? Well, here's the latest press release for the event.

Cycling returns to Downtown Reno this June as the Northstar-at-Tahoe Tour De Nez gears up to bring the Reno/Tahoe area 5 days of racing action and parties galore.

The 18th annual Tour De Nez will take place over 5 days, June 17-21, in Historic Downtown Truckee, Downtown Reno and wraps up at the village at Northstar-at-Tahoe. The race will feature both pro and amateur events including men's and women's races, hand cyclists, messenger races, the infamous clunker classic and even The Biggest Little Kid's Race.

Events will kick-off in Reno on the 18th at Amendment 21 bar. For $6, participants can park their cars at the bar and bike ride over to the Reno Aces AAA baseball team stadium, have their bikes valet and enjoy the game with the coordinators and cyclists of the Tour De Nez. The evening will close with a celebration party at Amendment 21, where The Reno Film Festival will project cycling oriented movies onto the wall outside the bar.

Racing begins on the 18th in Historic Downtown Truckee, shutting down the streets for the Downtown Truckee Criterium for Pro men and Pro women, Masters 35+1,2,3 and handcycles. Attendees will also have a chance to burn some of their own rubber in the clunker classic messenger race, and kid's race through downtown. The festivities will begin late afternoon and run throughout the night. Live music, raffles and food will be just a few of the great activities going on that make the Tour De Nez so much more than just a bike race.

The return to downtown Reno will take place on the 19th, bringing the same events to Reno as in Truckee. There will be a group ride with some of the competing athletes in the morning with a coffee stop along the way. The pro and amateur races will send riders throughout the downtown area amongst cheering onlookers. The Downtown Reno Circuit Race for both men and women will start at Wingfield Park and run along the river. After sundown, the Reno Film Festival bicycle film, Breaking Away, will be shown at the Wingfield Park Amphitheater.

The final stage of the race will then move to the village at Northstar-at-Tahoe on the 20th where the cyclists will have one last chance to battle it out for the prize. The circuit race will run through the village, brings the excitement of the last leg up and close and personal. Northstar-at-Tahoe rolls out the red carpet for the Tour De Nez, devoting the entire two days to festivities that will be happening throughout the village such as live music, expos and, of course, tons of parties. This year will mark the first Junior Circuit Race, where cycling enthusiasts under 18 can compete.

Everything will commence on the 21st, where the pro cyclists and Tour De Nez staff, including the master of events himself, Tim Healion, will head the Century Ride around pristine Lake Tahoe. Anyone with a bicycle and desire to enjoy a gorgeous cruise can pay to participate and take a nice ride with some of the top cyclists in the United States.

About the Tour De Nez
Started 18 years ago to celebrate the anniversary of Reno's first coffee house, Deux Gros Nez, The Tour de Nez has grown from a Masters Twilight Criterium to a five-day festival complete with pro, amateur and enthusiast events. Revelers enjoy live music, unique food, mint juleps, bike decorating contests, face painting and the best that the cycling world has to offer. Additionally, top companies from the bike, outdoor and adventure sports industries will be on hand for an expo with booths, displays and demonstrations of the latest and greatest gear. For more information please visit www.tourdenez.com or call 775-287-3599.

Sure would be cool to combine the Tour De Nez with Burning Man.

LL