Cyclist dies during 155-mile Climb to Kaiser bike ride

A 42-year-old San Diego County man who was participating in a difficult 155-mile bike ride north of Fresno died after he hit a tree, race organizers said.

Nicola Grossi died during the Saturday morning Climb to Kaiser ride, said ride director John Craft. The ride is in its 36th year and is considered a grueling trek up 13,500 feet in elevation to the Kaiser Pass near Huntington Lake. Bicycling magazine rated it one of the 10 toughest rides in America.

“As cyclists we recognize that there are risks on the road and these kind of things can happen, and it’s tragic when it does happen,” Craft said.

The California Highway Patrol responded to the scene of the accident, and other riders were rerouted. The Fresno Cycling Club, which organizes the ride, will review the situation to see whether any steps need to be taken to prevent future accidents, Craft said.

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-- Paloma Esquivel

Photo: Shortly after sunrise Saturday, riders head up Watts Valley Road during the annual Climb to Kaiser ride in California. Credit: John Walker / Fresno Bee