In what has become a Reno-Tahoe tradition, the 17th annual Tour de Nez bicycle race and festival presented by Northstar-at-Tahoe Resort will return to Reno and Tahoe from Wednesday, June 17 through Sunday, June 21.

In addition to pro racing for both men and women, the festival will also host a hand cycling Omnium and the national Hand Cycling Criterium Championship on the second stage of the race, which is in downtown Reno on Friday, June 19.

PRO’S TAKE CENTER STAGE

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For the pros a three-day Omnium will be contested, with riders earning points for each day that go toward an overall prize. Because time is not kept as it is in a stage race, each hopeful overall contender will need to finish among the top in each stage if he or she is to contend for the overall.

ABOUT THE PROS

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The Tour de Nez has always been a favorite of the pros. The race is well known for its fun and festive atmosphere. This year, the Tour de Nez offers three days of professional racing beginning June 18 in Truckee, followed by the downtown Reno Criterium on June 19, and ending at Northstar on June 20. Riders and teams such as Ouch presented by Maxis, BMC, Bissell, Team Type One and Kelly Benefits will compete for more than $35,000 in prize money.

ABOUT THE MASTERS

The Tour de Nez Master Criterium is a huge part of the festival. Expanding upon last year’s single criterium, the Tour de Nez has added two extra days of racing to the June 20 race at Northstar. This year’s Masters Criterium includes the downtown historic Truckee race on June 18 and in downtown Reno on June 19. Riders such as former world masters champ Larry Nolan and former National masters champion Bubba Melcher will be battling it out for Tour de Nez bragging rights.

ABOUT THE WOMEN

Last year marked the first year The Tour de Nez incorporated women’s racing into the professional event. Due to the overwhelming success of the women’s pro criterium, The Tour de Nez has expanded the category to include three races in Truckee, Reno and at Northstar. Teams such as Tibco, Vanderkitten, Velo Girls and Sugar Cream have already committed to the race.

ABOUT THE HAND CYCLES

This is a big year for hand cycling and the Tour de Nez. The 17-year event was recently awarded the National Hand Cycling Criterium Championships, taking place in downtown Reno on June 19. In addition, the Tour de Nez will host an omnium-style race for hand cycling participants during the additional stages of The Tour de Nez.

TOUR DE NEZ OFFERS MORE THAN RACING

For the fans, there will be an expo area featuring gear, as well as the always-entertaining and#8220;Clunker Classicand#8221; and Kids Races. The and#8220;Clunker Classicand#8221; will feature participants riding bikes weighing 25 pounds or more.

All styles of bikes are welcome, and nothing will be left to the imagination as each bike will also be judged for originality. A and#8220;Most Original Clunkerand#8221; award will be given out each day, with the winner taking home two Tour de Nez water bottles, as well as a Tour de Nez T-shirt, jersey and hat.

Other fan competitions include and#8220;Best Cycling Inspired Outfitand#8221; and and#8220;Best Hand Made Sign,and#8221; with Chrome messenger bags and other exciting gear up for grabs on June 18, 19 and 20.

Finally, each day of racing will feature a crowd prime, or a cash prize donated by the attending crowd for the first rider across the line on a given lap of a race. The crowd prime gives the audience a chance to own a piece of the race, and the top cash donator for each prime will be invited up on stage to view the end of the race action.

Wednesday, June 17 and#8212; Reno

and#8226; Park and ride to the Reno Aces afternoon baseball game.

and#8226; Ride back to Amendment 21 for and#8220;Meet and greetand#8221; pro racers

and#8226; Reno Film Festival bicycle film: and#8220;Pee Wee’s Great Adventureand#8221; at the Amendment 21

Thursday, June 18 and#8212; Truckee

and#8226; Downtown Truckee Criterium for pro men, pro women, masters and handcycles

and#8226; Downtown Truckee races for clunkers, messengers and kids

and#8226; Music and feast after races in downtown Truckee

Friday, June 19 and#8212; Reno

and#8226; Group ride with athletes in the morning with coffee stop

and#8226; Downtown Reno Circuit Race at riverside Wingfield Park, pro men, pro women and masters

and#8226; Handcycle National Criterium Championships

and#8226; Races for clunkers, messengers, and kids at Wingfield Park on the river in Reno

and#8226; Reno Film Festival bicycle film: and#8220;Breaking Awayand#8221; at Wingfield Park Amphitheater

Saturday, June 20 and#8212; Northstar-at-Tahoe

and#8226; Village circuit race at the Village at Northstar-at-Tahoe for pro men, women, handcycles, masters, and juniors

and#8226; Village races for clunkers, kids and messengers

and#8226; Green Park Expo, music, demos, food, festival and party, all in the Village-at-Northstar

Sunday, June 21

and#8226; LUX Ride with the Pros in the morning

and#8226; The great Tour de Nez Century ride along the shores of beautiful Lake Tahoe

* Note: The Nevada City Classic bicycle races are also on Sunday, June 21

Time and#8212; Event

4 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycles (30 minutes of racing)

4:30 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycles awards ceremony

4:40 pm. and#8212; Kids race (20 minutes of racing)

5 p.m. and#8212; Clunker Classic (20 minutes of racing)

5:20 p.m. and#8212; Kids and Clunker awards ceremony

5:30 p.m. and#8212; Masters Race (45 minutes of racing)

6:15 pm. and#8212; Masters awards ceremony

6:25 p.m. and#8212; Women’s Race (45 minutes of racing)

7:10 p.m. and#8212; Women’s awards ceremony

7:20 p.m. and#8212; Men’s Pro Race (90 minutes of racing)

8:50 p.m. and#8212; Races over

9 p.m. and#8212; Men’s pro awards ceremony

* Block party goes from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Time and#8212; Event

3:30 p.m. and#8212; Expo open to public

4 p.m. and#8212; Masters race (50 minutes of racing)

4:50 p.m. and#8212; Masters awards ceremony

5:05 p.m. and#8212; Kids race (20 minutes of racing)

5:25 p.m. and#8212; Clunker race (20 minutes of racing)

5:45 p.m. and#8212; Kids and Clunker awards ceremony

5:55 p.m. and#8212; Women’s race (50 minutes of racing)

6:45 p.m. and#8212; Women’s awards ceremony

7 p.m. and#8212; Messenger race (20 minutes of racing)

7 p.m. and#8212; Expo closed to public

7:20 p.m. and#8212; Messenger awards ceremony

7:30 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycles (35 minutes of racing)

8:05 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycle awards ceremony

8:15 p.m. and#8212; Men’s pro race (60 minutes of racing)

9:15 p.m. and#8212; Racing over

9:20 p.m. and#8212; Men’s pro awards ceremony

9:35 p.m. and#8212; Movie night

* Block party from 4 p.m. until the race is finished.

Time and#8212; Event

10 a.m. and#8212; Expo area open to the public

11 a.m. and#8212; Junior’s race (45 minutes of racing)

11:14 a.m. and#8212; Junior’s awards ceremony

noon and#8212; Masters race (60 minutes of racing)

1 p.m. and#8212; Masters’ awards ceremony

1:15 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycle race (60 minutes of racing)

2:15 p.m. and#8212; Kids race through the Village (30 minutes of racing)

2:45 p.m. and#8212; Hand cycles and Kids awards ceremony

3 p.m. and#8212; Women’s race (60 minutes of racing)

4 p.m. and#8212; Women’s awards ceremony

4:15 p.m. and#8212; Messenger race (30 minutes of racing)

4:45 p.m. and#8212; Clunker race through the village (30 minutes of racing)

5 p.m. and#8212; Expo area closes

5:15 p.m. and#8212; Messenger and Clunker awards ceremony

5:30 p.m. and#8212; Men’s pro race (90 minutes of racing)

7 p.m. and#8212; Racing over

7:15 p.m. and#8212; Awards ceremony (overall and stage) in Village