Logan to Jackson — Cyclists eager to tackle grueling LOTOJA Classic

The decals aren't hard to notice. The cyclist above the word LOTOJA may be cryptic to some, but to those in the know, the rear window with the decal is usually the sign of a serious bike rider.

It represents having finished what is the longest single-day, United States Cycling Federation-sanctioned bicycle race in the country.

"It's kind of a pride thing," Brent Chambers, whose Epic Events company organizes the race, said. "Finishing that race and putting that sticker on your car, it means something to a lot of people."

This year it means something extra.

The LOTOJA Classic, short for Logan to Jackson, is celebrating its 25th running on Saturday and will have 1,000 cyclists hitting the road trying to complete the 206-mile journey to the base of the Teton Mountains outside Jackson, Wyo.

For many, it is the perfect cap to a long summer of training — if they can finish.

LOTOJA began as the brainchild of David Bern and Jeff Keller. The two Logan cyclists were big fans of the bicycle races in Europe and wanted to bring a little of that to the Rocky Mountains. In 1983, the pair hosted the first LOTOJA Classic with only nine cyclists covering the grueling route. Bob VanSlyke won that first race with a time of just more than nine hours.

Slowly, the race grew in reputation and size. As the event approached its 25th running, registrations were capped at 1,000 for logistical reasons.

In less than 48 hours all spots in the race had been snapped up, and several hundred cyclists had to settle for a place on the waiting list hoping someone would drop out.

A year ago, Smithfield's Kirk Eck won the Category 1 race in a time of 9:16:56. Holladay's Nate Pack, racing as an unlicensed rider and starting later in the morning, crossed the finish line with the day's fastest time — 9:15:20.

The race, undoubtedly one of the strongest tests of individual fitness, is also one of the most popular. To avoid the possibility of race slots being sold at inflated prices and to reduce insurance liabilities, registrations are nontransferable.

Though the course has changed over the years, this year's course is its traditional route. With three significant climbs, cyclists will push themselves to the limits as they hope to cross the finish line before dark — the time race officials close the course for safety reasons.