The Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) has confirmed that the 2012 RTC Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo Pinarello Presented by Vector Media will see five-time Tour de France champion and two-time Giro d’Italia winner Miguel Indurain riding in this year’s event.
Pinarello, the world-renowned bicycle manufacturer, has just been announced as the official sponsor of this year’s event, which is presented by Vector Media and is held in partnership with Interbike – the largest bicycle trade event in North America. Viva Bike Vegas will occur at the conclusion of Interbike, which gathers more than 1,100 cycling-related brands and close to 24,000 total attendees annually.
Taking place on Saturday 22 September, the event will include a 102-mile century ride in addition to a 17-mile ride, 75-mile ride and the 122-mile Gran Fondo.
The addition of retired Spanish cycling legend Miguel Indurain is a major coup for the Viva Bike Vegas organisers. Indurain or ‘Big Mig’ won the Tour de France on five consecutive outings, from 1991 and 1995, becoming the first to do so, and the fourth athlete to win the event five times.
The Viva Bike Vegas event starts under the bright lights of the world-famous Las Vegas Strip and heads to the vistas of the Red Rock Canyon National Conservation Area and the scenic trails near Lake Mead National Park. Century, 75-mile and 122-mile Gran Fondo riders will have the additional opportunity to ride over the historic Hoover Dam.
The RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo Pinarello Presented by Vector Media attracts cyclists from across the country and around the world. The event’s three official hotel sponsors, Mandalay Bay Resort and Casino, Monte Carlo Resort and Casino, and Staybridge Suites Las Vegas, offer cyclists travelling to Las Vegas discounted room rates in tandem with the fifth annual event.
Registration for the RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo is US$105. Proceeds from Viva Bike Vegas will again benefit local charities: UC San Diego Nevada Cancer Institute, After-School All-Stars Las Vegas and Communities in Schools of Nevada.
Map of the four cycling routes for RTC 2012 Viva Bike Vegas Gran Fondo Pinarello Presented by Vector Media have also been released by the race organisers.
The RTC is the transit authority, transportation planning agency and regional traffic management agency for Southern Nevada. The RTC’s vision is to provide a safe, convenient and effective regional transportation system that enhances mobility and air quality for citizens and visitors. The RTC encourages residents and visitors to use alternate commute modes to help reduce traffic congestion, clean the air and improve the quality of life in Southern Nevada.
