Markleeville, CA…The largest event in Alpine County and one of the largest cycling events in the world is going on now. 3,500 cyclists are now tackling the 2011 “Death Ride” The annual Tour of the California Alps last year had riders from all over the world and aged from 10-85 years old.

The Death Ride course covers the traditional five mountain passes and has one of the highest amount of vertical climbing of any single day event. The challenging course includes climbing both sides of Monitor Pass, both sides of Ebbetts Pass, and the final climb up the east side of Carson Pass. Cyclists will finish at Turtle Rock Park.

The field is always full and on some years just being able to ride in the Death Ride is a victory in and of itself.

2010 DEATH RIDE®:

TOTAL 2010 RIDERS: 3,500

MEN RIDERS: 2,916

WOMEN RIDERS: 584

TANDEM RIDERS: 15

FIXED GEAR RIDERS: 3

OUT OF COUNTRY RIDERS: 19 representing: Canada, Germany, Great Britain, Japan and the Netherlands

CALIFORNIA RIDERS: 2,449

OLDEST RIDER: 85 years

YOUNGEST RIDER: 10 years

RIDERS UNDER 18 YEARS: 20

RIDERS TO COMPLETE ALL 5 PASSES: 2,417 (Largest number to date)

San Francisco’s Tom and Tina Keegan…Lots of Honeymoon time in the saddle..

Photos above are from our sister site ThePineTree.net from the 2009 Death Ride at the Hermit Valley Station