Time to gear up for another Assault on the Peak
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- Created on Wednesday, 23 February 2011 17:30
- Written by Nathan
Summit Cycling Productions, in conjunction with the city of Colorado Springs and Pikes Peak, announced today that registration is open for the second annual Assault on the Peak.
Scheduled for Sunday, Aug. 28, the Assault on the Peak will provide cycling enthusiasts with the opportunity to ascend America's most famous mountain. The 24.5-mile route is one of the more challenging organized cycling events in the world, ascending close to 8,000 vertical feet from Manitou Springs to the summit at 14,115 feet.
Participants can register online now. The all-inclusive event, which is sponsored by OutThereColorado.com, is open to men and women ages 18 and up and will be capped at the first 1,500 participants to register. Last year, riders from 18 states accepted the challenge to ride America's Mountain. Many veterans of notable hill climbs such as Mt. Evans and Mt. Washington participated in the inaugural event. Once again, the Pikes Peak Highway, normally closed to public bicycle traffic, will be completely closed to motor vehicle traffic as cyclists climb the mountain.
Check out a photo gallery from Assault on the Peak!
"The Assault on the Peak offers a unique challenge for recreational cyclists, adventure seekers and elite athletes to summit Pikes Peak on their bike," event director Pat McDonough said. "It's time to once again conquer the purple mountain majesty in all its glory."
Sanctioned by USA Cycling, the event is billed as a "fully-supported, non-competitive fun ride," meaning participants will be given an official finishing time provided by a professional chip timing company. Riders will have access to several amenities such as refreshments at rest stops along the course, technical support provided by local bicycle shops, transportation down the mountain and other services.
The Assault on the Peak is the latest in a long line of events geared toward cycling and adventure tourism in Colorado Springs and the Pikes Peak region. Colorado Springs Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) Sports and Special Events Manager Cheryl McCullough agrees, saying "Colorado Springs was named among 'America's Bike-Friendliest Cities' in 2011 by Bicycling magazine and events such as this, along with the inaugural Quiznos Pro Challenge in 2011, help solidify why. We hope leisure and avid cyclists look at these events as an open invitation to take an adventure vacation in the Pikes Peak region."
Visit the event website for more information on the 2011 Assault on the Peak.
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