A summer wheelchair race that has historically come through Talkeetna is by-passing the Parks Highway entirely this year.
Sadlers Alaska Challenge racers will see parts of Alaska not seen previously. The wheelchair and handcycle racers arrive in Seward on July 19th. The first stages take them near Exit Glacier, Hope and Portage and to Girdwood. Racers hop on a ferry to Cordova and do the Tour of Cordova. Then they jump on the short ferry to Valdez where the next stage takes them up and over Thompson Pass… And on to Wrangell St. Elias Park. The last stage of the race is Hatcher Pass and Palmer, with the race ending on July 26.
In its 25th anniversary year, race organizers chose to change the stages of the race and relocate to areas of Alaska that race challengers have not visited. This years race is much shorter in miles, but much tougher in elevation gain. Organizers expanded the field limit from 25 racers to 39, and the summer race is already full.
The race is known as the toughest and longest wheelchair and handcycle race in the world.
