By Jim Krajewski, Reno Gazette-Journal

The Tour de Nez cycling race is returning to its roots this year, but at the same moving up in the cycling world.

The 19th annual local cycling race will be just a one-day affair this year, July 31. In recent years it has been held over three days.

The race has always been held in mid-June, to coincide with the anniversary of its namesake, the Deux Gros Nez coffee shop. But Deux Gros Nez closed five years ago, and owner Tim Healion, who produces the Tour de Nez, said there were too many other cycling races in June.

So when he found an open date in late July, he snapped it up.

“There are too many conflicts in June every year. Last year there were six other significant races in North America on our weekend,” Healion said. “This should be the biggest and strongest pro field ever for us.”

This year, the Cascade Classic in Bend, Ore., is the week before the Tour de Nez and a major race in Elk Grove, Ill., is the week after.

Healion said the July 31 date should attract a strong field of riders, especially as teams wrestle with budget concerns.

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