America's Most Beautiful Bike Ride and Tour de Tahoe postponed

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The organizer of the 29th annual America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride and the 18th Tour De Tahoe has announced the 2020 events will not happen. Bike the West tried to merge the two popular rides after the America's Most Beautiful was postponed earlier this year. They were to take place on September 13 but current COVID-19 restrictions and setbacks with reopening phases governed by local, county and state health agencies have led them to postpone and move to 2021.

It looks like mass participation sports events or gatherings of 50 or more persons will be the last in Phase 4 and in the order of reopening by state, county and local health agencies. The date of that phase is unknown at this time.

“After nearly 30 years of producing our Lake Tahoe bicycling events, it is disappointing for Bike the West as well as for the thousands of loyal participants that traditionally attend,” stated Curtis Fong, event director. “This includes both The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) Team In Training and the National Psoriasis Foundation’s National Fundraising Team, that depend on raising funds for their organization."

“We feel this is the responsible and right decision to make for the health, safety and welfare of all participants, our volunteers and the local community’s surrounding Lake Tahoe,” added Fong.

“As a health based organization that serves a community of immunocompromised patients, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society supports Bike the West’s postponement decision and taking proactive action to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” said Amy Moore, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s national director of event strategy. “We are thankful for more than two decades of valued partnership with Curtis Fong and Bike the West. LLS and our Team In Training teammates look forward to returning to America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride in 2021, and adding to the more than $105 million raised to support LLS’s investment in groundbreaking research to advance blood cancer cures, and its first-in-class patient education and services, including financial support and clinical trial navigation.”

“The National Psoriasis Foundation understands the difficult decision that Bike the West has had to make to postpone Tour de Tahoe, but the safety of their employees, volunteers and the participants has to be a priority. We look forward to bringing a team back to the event in 2021,” said Kris Brockmier, director of field operations for the National Psoriasis Foundation.

“The health and safety of our guests remains top priority, and while we are saddened that this year’s events have been postponed, we look forward to hosting participants in 2021,” said Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Lake Tahoe General Manager Joelle Shearin. “Whether participating in a group ride, or visiting as an individual, Tahoe is lovely year round and we look forward to continuing to welcome the cycling community.”

Individuals who still plan to head to Tahoe in absence of this year’s event are welcome to keep their booking at Hard Rock Hotel & Casino. The resort will honor the special room rates offered to Tour de Tahoe guests. The resort will also assist those who prefer to cancel or rebook their rooms for 2021. For any questions or changes to current reservations, please email sales@hrhctahoe.com or call 775-589-7666.

The 29th America’s Most Beautiful Bike Ride is scheduled Sunday, June 6, 2021 and the 18th Tour de Tahoe is scheduled for Sunday, September 12, 2021. Both events traditionally provide over $5 million in economic benefits to Lake Tahoe communities and over $35,000 in donations to many local non-profit organizations.

All preregistered participant registration fees will be transferred to ride both events next year, offering a two for one value as refunds are not possible.

“We hope that our loyal riders will understand that we will not be able to refund registration fees and encourage all registered riders to take advantage of riding both events for their one event registration fee," said Fong.