The 8th Annual Great Lake Tahoe Bike Race, a classic 72-mile course and a 35-mile race or ride, kicks off fall in Lake Tahoe on Sept. 25.

The race features new electronic chip timing and larger 72-mile purse prizes, with the overall winning man and woman taking home $500 each, second place with $400, third with $300, fourth with $200 and fifth place with $100.

The 72-Mile Bike Race starts 7am in Zephyr Cove and has racers moving clockwise around the lake. There is a six-hour time limit for this race. The start is organized by riders’ anticipated speed with the fastest riders at the front.

Police will escort the pack through the first nine miles and 24 stoplights of the race. The last eight miles of the race is downhill or flat and has four lanes. There are three water stations located at Emerald Bay, Tahoe City and Incline Village.

The elevation gain for the ride is 3,900 feet. There will be a special award for any 72-mile cyclist who finishes in less than 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Neither course is closed to traffic.

The 35-Mile Bike Race starts in Tahoe City at approximately 8:45am. after the 72-Mile Bike Race participants pass. Racers must finish by 1pm (a 4-hour and 15-minute time limit). Participants drop their bikes at Commons Beach and drive to the finish at Zephyr Cove in the morning, where a bus brings them back to the start line on the North Shore.

The Great Lake Tahoe Bike Race is part of the 15th Annual Lake Tahoe Marathon Race Week, Sept. 22-26, when runners, walkers and all recreational athletes have a host of events to choose from, including the marathon, coined “a Sunday morning run you’ll never forget,” that winds down the West Shore from Tahoe City to South Lake Tahoe for a post-run bash; Tahoe Triple (three marathons in three consecutive days); Marathon Relays; Half Marathon; Three-Day Triathlon; 10K; 20-Mile Run, Jog and Walk; 5K; Kayaking events; free Kids Fun Run and Speed Golf.

For more information or to register (fees vary for events), call (530) 544.7095 or visit the Lake Tahoe Marathon website at www.laketahoemarathon.com. The website is also home to a course map and profile and event descriptions.