Who can deny how awesome it is to have some huge names show up to a local race? The 2023 Truckee Tahoe Gravel Race returned to our home roads here in Reno-Tahoe, which are known for their high altitude and gorgeous sights.
This race was organized and hosted by Bike Monkey, a California agency who specializes in cycling events of all forms. Photos were taken event-wide for athletes of all skill and fitness levels. The full gallery can be found at our SmugMug site.
The views started early. The course made traverses through a number of resevoirs through the eastern Sierra Nevadas, including Stampede Resevoir. The racers would make their way across the man-made damn before snaking their way back into the forest. In the background, they leave a cold, blue lake and snowcapped mountains.
While they mave have been suffering, there was no shortage of athletes donning a smile after they crossed the dam. A number of athletes even confinded in me that they only came here for the summer views. Can you even blame them?
One thing that sets Lopez Photo Works apart is our determination to capture the exciting bits, even if it means hiking a few miles in the summer heat.
After negotiating Sardine Peak, the athletes descended through the forest, crossing this little stream. Being a gravel race, many of the more road-focused athletes were a bit timid of the water. But to no surprise, the mountain bikers took full advantage of the photo opportunity.
A few racers even took an unplanned bath. Thankfully for them, the Trucke Tahoe Gravel Race is held in the stunning Tahoe National Forest, which gets most of it’s water through annual snowmelt. This created for plenty of ice-cold baths to help athletes cool off after the grueling, hot climb.