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Ain’t no mountain high enough: Truckee biker, 7, ascends highest road in America

Special to the Sun
Submitted to kmacmillan@sierrasun.com From left, Tony Valosek, TT Valosek and Tom Angstadt during their ride up Mt. Evans.
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TRUCKEE, Calif. and#8212; It’s early evening in downtown Idaho Springs, Colo., and a waitress at Beau Jo’s carries a scoop of strawberry ice cream balanced on top of another scoop of vanilla in a glass dish. She sets it down in front of young boy who’s just finished eating his dinner and says, and#8220;We heard what you did today. Congratulations!and#8221;

Earlier that afternoon, TT Valosek, 7, of Truckee, became the youngest known bicyclist to ride from Echo Lake, Colo. (10,400 feet), to the summit of Mt. Evans, Colo. (14,265 feet). He was accompanied by his father, Tony Valosek, and family friend Tom Angstadt. The small group cycled past other bikers screaming encouragement, all of them decades older than the young Valosek.

The trio of bicyclists pulled into the parking lot of the Mt. Evans summit 2 and a half hours after starting and just as a thick gray storm encircled the peak with snow and lightning. To the best of everyone’s knowledge, TT is the youngest person to accomplish this impressive ride. The annual Bob Cook’s hill climb has seen 9-year-old participants in the past.



Shortly after the ride, TT said he wouldn’t mind living in Idaho Springs and cycling to the top of Mt. Evans every day. and#8220;But,and#8221; he added, and#8220;maybe not for another six years.and#8221;

Currently, TT trains in the Truckee Donner area, regularly biking Donner summit and Skislope. Other climbs he has done this season are Tioga Pass, Yosemite; Mt. Tam, Marin; and Mt. Rose, Incline.


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