Where do I begin! This race has been around for as long as I can remember. It’s one of the toughest races in California. The course is hilly and long and on bad days can be very windy. The course hasn’t changed a bit. I don’t think it’s ever been repaved except a small section towards the top on the first climb and that’s near the reservoir. The county just patches the holes in the road over the old patches. (pictures for proof below)

This race does have it’s own aura about it and that’s why many racers keep coming back to compete. It’s also for this same aura, that many racers stay away from it and stay as far away from it and want no part of it. This race takes no prisoners! If you are not in shape….it will spit you out the back and say next! There’s no real easy spot on this course. You have to be strong to defeat this race and your fellow racers racing along side of you. If it’s not the climbs kicking your butt, it’s the wind on the flat sections by the lake. The course does have a downhill….but I wouldn’t call that a piece of cake either! The downhill will jar you to death and keep you holding on for dear life on your handlebars as you try to descend at 40 plus miles per hour.

So, with out further ado….let’s show who tried to tame California’s version of the “Hell of the North”.

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