Everest Challenge Stage Race


OVERVIEW
The race that every cyclist dreams of riding in is the Tour de France. Usually, the deciding stages in the Tour are those in the Alps and the Pyrenees that feature long, hard climbs. Well, the Everest Challenge is every cyclist's chance to experience the same kind of climbing that "Le Tour" is famous for. Except that our Eastern Sierra climbs are longer, and our two stages are tougher, than any back-to-back stages in the Tour de France. Our three highest summits are much higher than the Tour de France has ever gone! The Everest Challenge offers a truly world class cycling experience with climbing that is unsurpassed. The scenic beauty of the Eastern Sierras is the setting for a unique and challenging race and ride for the US race calendar.
 
PURPOSE
The Everest Challenge is not organized for profit, but for the passion of cycling and the challenge of conquering some very tough climbs. We are not a fundraiser, but many of the volunteers staffing the aid stations represent local charities. Each year, we donate generously to those local groups to support their causes. We have also accepted donations and return of prize money from several past riders. These contributions are reinvested in the race for equipment, permit fees, administrative expenses, and to allow each edition of the Everest Challenge to be better than the last. More information and links to the charitable organizations we support can be found here.
 
THE RACE IN BRIEF
The Everest Challenge is the hardest two day stage race on the USA Cycling calendar. Each day features three monumental climbs, with a total elevation gain of 29,035 feet in 206 miles. Cumulative time over the two days determines overall placing. But you do not have to be a USAC racer come to the Everest Challenge to test yourself against these amazing mountains. Cyclists love to rate and compare difficult climbs. Climbs are rated the same way as they are at the Tour de France, using a system of numerical ratings. "Category 4" is the easiest rated climb, with Cat.3, Cat.2, and Cat.1 progressively harder. The very hardest climbs are rated "HC", or beyond category. Five of our six climbs are rated "HC" in The Complete Guide to Climbing (By Bike), complied by John Summerson, which is the definitive guide to the most spectacular climbing in the USA. Only the climb up Waucoba Canyon is "merely" Cat.1. No other ride in the United States packs so much climbing into two days. You will be climbing or descending nearly the whole race. Read more about the Everest Challenge climbs in the Course Description.
 
Stage 1: Saturday the Start / Finish line is at the entrance to the Millpond Recreation Area, about six miles northwest of Bishop, CA. Bishop is located in the Eastern Sierra on US Highway 395, about 200 miles south of Reno and 200 miles north of Lancaster.
 
Stage 2: Sunday the Start / Finish is at the intersection of Death Valley Road and CA 168, two miles east of Big Pine, CA. Big Pine is 15 miles south of Bishop on US395.
 
A map of the whole Bishop area can be found here.
 
REGISTRATION AND CANCELLATION POLICY
Note: registration fees increase after August 1, 2009, so register early!
 
Online registration is available through BikeReg.com. Online registration closes at 3:00 a.m. (ET), Thursday, September 23, 2010.
 
Or simply print and complete the registration form, and mail it in.
 
Your registration needs to arrive in our office by Friday, September 17, 2009, one week before the event. Late registrants will have to register in person on Friday, September 24, 2010 from 12:00 noon - 6:00 pm, at the pre-race check-in. In person registrants must pay the late registration fee of $160, payable in cash only.
 
Get your registration in early!
 
Cancellations received prior to August 1, 2010 will be refunded, but not the BikeReg.com processing fee. No refunds after August 1, 2009. Late cancellations can apply their registration fee to the Everest Challenge 2011 entry.
 
VOLUNTEER INFORMATION
We have lots of interesting and important jobs that need to be done on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. If you are not riding but would like to help us out on either race day, we can put you to work! We have a job that suits your availability, skills and experience, and would love to make you a part of the Everest Challenge! The link for volunteer registration is here.
 
WHAT YOU GET AT THE EVEREST CHALLENGE
  • We will do everything we can to make your ride successful and enjoyable!
  • We have a prerace meeting where you can meet the other racers and ask the race staff questions.
  • We have FIFTEEN very well-stocked aid stations. You will have lots to eat and drink courtesy of our generous sponsors, Hammer Nutrition and ClifBar.
  • Once you get to the Timing Finish of each stage, we have the best finish line food anywhere. We will feed you, get you warm, fill your bottles for the descent, and have your warm Coat Box clothes ready when you finish.
  • We have SAG vehicles with tools and spares to keep you on the course.
  • Our goodie bag is pretty cool, too. It contains product samples and literature from Hammer Nutrition and ClifBar, a souvenir Everest Challenge t-shirt and dry transfer decal, and more!
  • We will have a photographer out on the course both days, shooting all of the racers. We will have the best photo of each racer printed up as a 4 x 6 souvenir of your weekend at the Everest Challenge. This photo is free with your entry and will be available at the finish on Sunday! When you check out at the Start / Finish line at the intersection of Death Valley Road and CA 168, we will have your photo ready. Reprints will also be available, and can be mailed to you after the race. We think you will like how you look climbing in the Sierras!
     
    WEATHER
  • Be prepared for extreme weather conditions. The bottoms of the two later climbs may be warm or even hot, but the final summit each day will be quite cool, if not freezing. Mornings may be very cool --- average low is 49F (record low is 32F). In the afternoons the valley may be hot --- average high is 89F (record high is 103F). Wind is not usually an issue in the narrow canyons, but be prepared.
  • Get the latest weather information Bishop, AccuWeather and Bishop, NOAA.
     
    LITTER / TRASH
  • Due to trash problems at other events, all Inyo County event permits now require a rather large cash deposit.
  • There is no need to discard trash along the roadside, as we provide trash cans at aid stations. Please use them.
  • The future of the Everest Challenge depends on keeping our good reputation, and we are truly only as good as our last event.
  • Help us keep this race going by leaving the roads spotless!OVERVIEW
    The race that every cyclist dreams of riding in is the Tour de France. Usually, the deciding stages in the Tour are those in the Alps and the Pyrenees that feature long, hard climbs. Well, the Everest Challenge is every cyclist

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