The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) will again team up with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training (TNT) program this year. The partnership will welcome hundreds of cyclists from across the US to Las Vegas on Saturday 21 September for the RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2013 Gran Fondo Pinarello.
(Interbike, the largest bicycle industry trade show in North America, has also renewed its agreement with RTC of Southern Nevada. The deal confirmed this April, building on a previous collaboration between the two organisations, will allow registered participants in the RTC Viva Bike Vegas 2013 Gran Fondo Pinarello event admission to the annual bike industry trade show on Friday 20 September 2013.)
Team In Training
In 2012, over 500 cyclists from more than 30 states participated in RTC Viva Bike Vegas through the Team In Training program, making RTC Viva Bike Vegas the second largest Team In Training cycling event in the US. The cyclists spanned the nation from Alaska to Florida, and generations, from 20-somethings to octogenarians.
In total, TNT cyclists who trained for RTC Viva Bike Vegas last year raised US$1.5 million for blood cancer research and patient services. This year, the RTC and TNT look forward to surpassing last year’s numbers.
Team In Training (TNT) riders will train over the next three months for Viva Bike Vegas. Many TNT riders are new to cycling and often ride as a tribute to loved ones with cancer or are cancer survivors themselves.
In exchange for raising funds, TNT participants receive four to five months of training by TNT-certified professional coaches. Coaches establish customized training regimens to fit participants’ fitness levels, and TNT staff provide advice on nutrition, hydration, injury prevention and more.
“Last year, TNT riders raised an amazing amount of money and awareness for blood cancer research,” said Chris Fenton, Vice President of Team in Training. “We are thrilled to be able to again partner with the RTC to offer this unique ride to our dedicated participants, many of whom have their own inspiring stories of stamina and courage to share.”
The cycling event offers routes for all skill levels, including a 104-mile Gran Fondo, a 61-mile Metric Century, and a 17-mile ride. All routes will begin on the iconic Las Vegas Strip, and the longer routes will traverse the beautiful Las Vegas valley bringing riders into the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and near Lake Mead National Recreation Area.
In June 2013, RTC Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo Pinarello was ranked among the ‘Top 10 US Gran Fondos’ by Outside Magazine, the national active-lifestyle and adventure-travel magazine.
www.vivabikevegas.com
www.teamintraining.org
