Amgen cycling route includes Luther, K’Grade

When the elite female cyclists return to Tahoe this May they will pedal the highest summit in race history — 7,740 feet.

Luther and Daggett passes will be part of the route for Day 2, while the inaugural leg will be riding the 72 miles around Lake Tahoe.

The Amgen Breakaway from Heart Disease women’s race is May 11-14. 

Stage 1 starts at Heavenly Mountain Resort, passing through South Lake Tahoe, Emerald Bay, Tahoe City, Incline Village, and back to Heavenly.

The stage will feature two sprints, 5,300 feet of elevation gain and two Queen of the Mountain challenges where riders vie for a separate jersey by completing the climbs in the lowest cumulative time.

The finish for both stages is Ski Run Boulevard via Needle Peak via Wildwood.

Day 2 is 67.1 miles. Racers again start at Heavenly. They will go through Meyers, over Luther Pass, into Hope Valley along the Carson River, around Washoe Reservation, then along Highway 88 before bending west onto Foothill Road, over Kingsbury Grade (an 8-mile climb that gains 2,700 feet) and ending at Heavenly.

The race is sanctioned by Union Cycliste International, denoting the highest level for a non-World Cup event.