The Valley of Fire Stage Race will be held this weekend in Overton. The event is in its third yeara and bringing hundreds of street bicycle racers from all over the country to race through the streets of Overton.
Race organizer Dirk Cowley of RaceDay Management said that, over the past three years, the race has gained some respect and notoriety among cyclists in the region.
“Last year we had a group participate from southern California,” Cowley said. “The group puts a rating on the courses in the region. And the riders rated us one of the top events out of 150 races. We were proud of that.”
Part of that is due to the way that the event is organized and carried out, Cowley said. But part of it is because of the challenge of the race courses, the experience of the beautiful area and the open-arms of the community, he added.
Attendance at this year’s event is expected to be the biggest ever. Cowley is expecting 300-400 riders this weekend.
The event is being spread over two days with two different stages of the race taking place.
On Saturday, the Criterium race event will take place near downtown Overton. Cyclists will zip around a one mile course circling Mack Lyon Middle School. The Criterium is planned to begin at 10:00 a.m. and will continue through various categories until late afternoon.
Spectators from the community are encouraged to show up and cheer the racers on. Plans for this year will make the Criterium stage an even more spectator-friendly experience, Cowley said.
“We are adding a professional announcer this year,” he said. “He is very good at explaining what is going on. That helps the crowds to understand what is going on out there and why things are happening out there. If you don’t know bike racing well, then it can be easy to get lost in those details. A good announcer will help in that.”
Cowley said that, in any case, it is an exciting spectator experience to watch a hundred bicycle racers scream around on surface streets. “If you haven’t had the chance to see that, you’ve got to come down and check it out! he said. “It is like NASCAR with bicycles.”
On Sunday, the cyclists will participate in the final stage of the race: the grueling Valley of Fire Road Race. The first riders will begin at 7:00 a.m. with other categories following every 15 minutes after that until about 8:30.
The race course takes riders down the main street of Overton nad continues south along northshore Road to the Valley of Fire turnoff. From there the route follows Valley of Fire road all the way through the State Park to the Paiute Travel Plaza. Then the cyclists turn around and race all the way back by the same route.
With its steep and steady uphill climbs, Cowley said this race is one of the most unforgiving courses of its kind, anywhere.
“That challenge, along with the amazing scenery, is what has made it such a popular race,” Cowley said. “And it is an adrenaline rush being in the crowd watching the racers speed down the mainstreet of Overton to the finish. It is quite a sight!”
The Moapa Valley Rotary Club is helping to manage the logistics for cyclists during the races. Through organizing volunteer forces, the Rotarians will be providing a lead and follow car, as well as assistance vehicles for the racers along the way. The Club is still seeking local volunteers to help in this effort.
“One of the best ways to spectate is by being in one of those road cars,” Cowley said. “You get to watch the racers from start to finish and see just how remarkable it is to complete that race.”
The Rotary Club is also posting volunteers around both courses to guide the cyclists and to instruct traffic.
Volunteers are still being sought to help in this important annual event. To volunteer or to get additional information call Chuck Utgard at 800-875-9884.
