Hell of the Marianas provides a heavenly bike ride

This Saturday, Dec. 6, 100 bike riders from Saipan, Guam, Japan, Korea, and Russia will learn that the 2nd Annual Hell of the Marianas Century Cycle comes by its name honestly—the course takes participants up the highest mountain in the world!

Mount Everest has nothing on Saipan’s Mount Tapochau, with its base starting 37,000 feet beneath sea level. The precipitous ridge, laced with numerous tortuous climbs, dominates this rugged tropical island course.

Sponsored by the Pacific Islands Club Saipan, with support from Marianas Visitors Authority and the Northern Mariana Islands Triathlon Federation, the 100-kilometer cycling course was designed by PIC’s general manager Kieran Daly to circumnavigate the island of Saipan.

The Hell of the Marianas appeals to all levels of bicyclists: novices can join a team of four, each riding 25km; intermediate level riders participate as a team of two, riding 50km each; and the avid cyclist tackles the 100km race solo.

Saipan is located in the middle of the Western Pacific Ocean—1,300 miles south of Tokyo, 1,400 miles east of Manila, 3,200 miles west of Honolulu, and 120 miles north of Guam. The Hell of the Marianas promises to deliver a spectacular, fuel-efficient tour of this tropical paradise.

Besides the challenge of the course and the stunning beauty of the island, winners can also earn valuable cash prizes and stays at Pacific Island Club in Saipan and Guam. And throughout the course contestants can sprint in pursuit of money up for grabs when a costumed “devil” unexpectedly appears, holding a placard covered with dollar signs.

The times to beat were set during the first Hell of the Marianas in 2007—the first place solo rider finished the 100-km course in three hours, 20 minutes, and 33 seconds; the two-person relay team finished in 4:13:02; and the four-person relay team finished in 4:22:31. All sponsors are eager to see if 2008’s riders can improve on these records.

Participants will gather early at the PIC parking lot for a race start time of 6:15am. The course begins at PIC and heads south into the village of Koblerville toward the Saipan International Airport. From the airport, the cyclists will ride uphill toward the eastern fringes of the island, through the residential villages of San Vicente, Papago and Kagman toward the Laolao Bay Golf Resort. From the golf course, the bikers will proceed north on Isa Drive and descend down to the Kingfisher Golf Course entrance and make the U-turn, scaling the long, windy road uphill to Capitol Hill. At the bottom of Capital Hill, the course converges on Chalan Pale Arnold Road to the next checkpoint high atop Radar Hill in As Matuis. From there riders spin by Saipan’s historical and scenic sites, including Suicide Cliff, Bird Island, Grotto, Banzai Cliff, Beach Road, and back to PIC’s finish line.

The awards banquet will be held that afternoon in Charley’s Cabaret, PIC; the cost to attend the banquet is $20. Registration for the race is $20 for NMITF members and $25 for non-members. PIC is also offering special room rates for the weekend of this event.

For more information about the race, awards banquet, or room reservation, contact Cole Pritchard at (670) 234-7976 ext: 5148 or seaexec@picsaipan.com or Kanae Quinn at (670) 2234-7976 ext: 5130 or dosm@picsaipan.com. [B][I](PR)[/I][/B]