2,000 bicyclists test their limits at 111-mile ULCER extravaganza

Few cyclists will ever be in the physical condition to complete a grueling bicycling classic like the Tour de France. That doesn't mean there is any shortage of endurance tests the two-wheel crowd can't sink its gears into.

More than 2,000 cyclists descended on Thanksgiving Point for the Bonneville Bicycle Touring Club's signature event to push their legs to the limit. The 111-mile Utah Lake Century Epic Ride — better known as ULCER — was one of the state's biggest cycling extravaganzas.

With bikes rolling out of the starting chute before the sun had really started beating down, the roads of Utah County were dotted with cyclists of all abilities. While the sturdiest completed the full 111-mile loop around the lake, options included outings of 33 or 67 miles with several rest areas and lunch stops making the journey a little bit easier.

While the ride is one of the biggies on the club's calendar, this year's event had a new twist — a team time trial for bragging rights. Teams of three to six cyclists got a few minutes of a heard start as they sped through the east side of the valley to Spanish Fork before zipping out to the lake and heading south to Goshen before a long straight ride along the west side of the lake. Though no trophies or championships were handed out, the fastest teams completed the course in five hours or less.

Though primarily a casual ride, ULCER is also used by many of the state's top cyclists as a training ride before next month's 206-mile LOTOJA race.

BIG NAMES, BIG RIDES: Professional cyclists are not technically eligible for Utah state cycling championships. That didn't stop the three biggest names in Utah cycling from lining up at the Wolf Creek Pass road race on Saturday.

Pro Tour cyclist Dave Zabriskie, back in Utah to rehab an injured knee, was joined by Jeff Louder (HealthNet) and Burke Swindlehurst (Toyota-United) for the grueling climb up to a summit of 9,485 feet after a start point of 7,080.

The pros put on a racing clinic, as expected, with Louder winning the race while Swindlehurst and Team CSC's Zabriskie were right on his tail.

Salt Lake's Mark Santurbane (Bobs-Bicycles.com) is the new state road race champion with Alex Rock (Contender Bicycles) and Jeff Sargent (FFKR/SportsbaseOnline) completing the podium.