Thousands of Cyclists to Gather for Charity Event on Lake Tahoe Roadways this Weekend

This weekend, Lake Tahoe’s highways will teem with thousands of cyclists for the 30th edition of America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride. Organized by the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, the event, slated for Sunday, June 4, anticipates over 1,600 riders from across the country. The mass participation will have significant impacts on traffic in the Truckee-Tahoe region.

The cyclists will complete a 72-mile clockwise circuit around the lake, and an extended route from Tahoe City to Truckee and back. Starting from the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino at Stateline between 6 and 7:30 a.m., traffic on northbound State Route 89/Emerald Bay Road will experience delays from 6:30 to 8:30 a.m. at Baldwin Beach Road. Southbound SR-89, however, will remain open. Drivers are advised to account for extra time to reach their destinations, as cyclists will be present on various roadways throughout the day.

On Sunday, these roads will see shared usage with cyclists at the following times:

• U.S. Highway 50, westbound, Stateline – South Lake Tahoe, 6-8:30 a.m.
• SR-89, northbound, South Y – Camp Rich – Emerald Bay, 6-10 a.m.
• SR-89, northbound, Emerald Bay -West Shore – Homewood, 7-11 a.m.
• SR-89, Tahoe City – Truckee – Tahoe City, 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
• SR-28, eastbound, Tahoe City – Kings Beach – Incline Village, 8:30 a.m. – 2:30 p.m.
• SR-28, southbound, Incline Village – Spooner Junction, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.
• US-50, westbound, Spooner Junction – Stateline, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• US-50, westbound, Cave Rock Tunnel, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• US-50/Lake Parkway: Stateline / Expect Delays, Noon – 5:30 p.m.

Beyond being an enjoyable bike tour, the event promotes the Lake Tahoe Bikeway project, aiming to interconnect all bike lanes around Lake Tahoe. It also aids the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society in fundraising for blood cancer research. Participants will enjoy breath-taking vistas, fresh mountain air, and several rest stops loaded with food and drinks, managed by local volunteers and professional ride organizers well-acquainted with the Lake Tahoe area.

This ride signifies the climax of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s national fundraising program, Team In Training (TNT), with around 500 participants from across the U.S. aiming to raise over $4 million. Over the last 25 years, TNT has rallied over 24,000 participants to Lake Tahoe and America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride, cumulatively raising $110 million. Since its inception in 1988, TNT’s work has seen over 650,000 participants raise more than $1.5 billion for blood-cancer research and patient services.

The cycling event offers two route options to accommodate various skill levels, both commencing and ending at the Hard Rock Hotel & Casino on U.S. Highway 50 at Stateline. The 72-mile route offers experienced riders a scenic tour around Lake Tahoe, traversing both California and Nevada. It boasts over 4,000 vertical feet of ascent. The “Century Rider” cyclists can opt for a more challenging 100-mile course, extending from Tahoe City to historic Truckee and back, boasting over 4,900 vertical feet of climbing.