Cyclists Race 508 Miles through Death Valley and Mojave Desert in Furnace Creek 508 on Oct 6-8th
AdventureCORPS, Inc., an event production firm specializing in ultra-endurance and extreme sports events, will host the 24th anniversary, and 33rd edition, of the Furnace Creek 508 Bicycle Race on October 6-8, 2007. Held since 1983 and known as “The Toughest 48 hours in Sport,” it is the world’s premier ultramarathon bicycle race. This non-stop 508-mile bicycle race is revered the world over for its epic mountain climbs, stark desert scenery, desolate roads, and its reputation as one of the toughest but most gratifying endurance challenges available, bar none.
The course has a total elevation gain of over 35,000′, crosses ten mountain passes, and stretches from Santa Clarita (just north of Los Angeles), across the Mojave Desert, through Death Valley, to Twenty Nine Palms.
Solo, two-person relay, and four-person relay divisions are offered with over 200 racers competing, the largest field in the history of the race. Designed as an endurance challenge, no drafting or pack riding is allowed in any division. There is a 48 hour time limit for the solo division and a 46 hour time limit for the relay team division.
New for 2007, in an ongoing effort to minimize the environmental footprint of their events, as well as make them safer and less obtrusive on the highways, AdventureCORPS is initiating a “Green Team” program at Furnace Creek 508. More info:
http://www.the508.com/2007web/2007greenteams.html
AdventureCORPS offers the Death Valley Cup to recognize those athletes who complete both the Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon 135 Mile Running Race and the Furnace Creek 508 Bicycle Race in the same calendar year. This feat has only been accomplished twelve times since Marshall Ulrich became the first Death Valley Cup finisher in 1996. This year, seven veterans of the 2007 Kiehl’s Badwater Ultramarathon are competing in Furnace Creek 508 and thus hoping to become Death Valley Cup finishers. More info:
http://www.badwater.com/dvcup.html
A live webcast of the race, including time splits, results, images, and more, will be available at http://www.the508.com/2007web/
RECAP:
What: 24th Anniversary AdventureCORPS Furnace Creek 508 Bicycle Race
When: 7:00am October 6 to 7:00am October 8, 2007
Where: The start line is the Hilton Garden Inn of Santa Clarita. The halfway mark is at Furnace Creek in Death Valley National Park. Racers then pass through the Mojave National Preserve en route to the finish line at the Best Western Gardens Inn in Twenty Nine Palms, CA. Route info:
http://www.the508.com/route/index.html
Who: Over 200 bicycle racers from across the USA, Canada, Asia, and Europe. Race roster:
http://dbase.adventurecorps.com/roster.php?eid=2
Why: To challenge themselves in the world’s toughest single stage open bicycle race. To experience an unparalleled spiritual odyssey.
Special thanks to our sponsors:
Hammer Nutrition
http://www.hammernutrition.com
Sparrow Hawk Photography
http://photo.sparrow-hawk.org/
Hilton Garden Inn of Santa Clarita
http://www.hiltongardeninn.com
Furnace Creek Ranch
http://www.furnacecreekresort.com/
Best Western Gardens Inn of Twenty Nine Palms:
http://www.bestwesterncalifornia.com/
Further Info:
AdventureCORPS, Inc: http://www.adventurecorps.com
Official Race website: http://www.the508.com
To read more about the desert, go to DesertUSA.com.