If climbing hills on two wheels is your passion, then this year’s le Tour de Menlo on Sunday, September 24, is for you. With five climbs, adding up to 5,000 feet, this half-century (50 miles) will challenge the best bike riders over an urban course that also has an alternate route with fewer climbs.
The ride will start at 7 a.m. at Menlo-Atherton High School in Atherton, moving north to Redwood City, San Carlos, Belmont and Hillsborough in a series of hills that will include two timed climbs, with the best finishers qualifying for King and Queen of the Mountain. Prizes will be awarded to the two top finishers in this contest. Results will be posted on the ride’s Web site.
The ride will be fully supported, with a major rest stop at the halfway point in Belmont. Drinks and snacks will be available all morning, as well as SAG services. Route maps and instructions on how the climbs will be timed will be available at the start at Menlo-Atherton, 555 Middlefield Road in Atherton.
This year’s Tour will benefit the scholarship and community service programs of the Rotary Club of Menlo Park, cosponsor of the ride, along with the Almanac, the community newspaper that serves Menlo Park, Atherton, Portola Valley and Woodside.
The ride’s $30 entry fee includes a T-shirt. The deadline for advanced entries is Friday, September 15, although late registration will be available for $35 on the day of the event. For a slightly higher fee, riders can register online at TourdeMenlo.com, or download registration forms at the site and mail it directly to le Tour de Menlo, 3525 Alameda de las Pulgas, Menlo Park, CA 94025.
Call Tom at 854-2626, ext. 222, for more information.
