Snowbird, UT – The Tour of Utah, dubbed as “America’s toughest stage race,” will conclude its fifth and final day of cycling competition this year at Snowbird Ski and Summer Resort on Sunday, Aug. 22. This is the first time in the race’s seven-year history that it will culminate at Snowbird. Scheduled for Aug. 17-22, the Tour of Utah is expected to attract 18 professional cycling teams totaling 144 cyclists competing for a cash and prize purse of $45,000.n“We’re incredibly thrilled and honored to host the finish of this year’s Tour of Utah,” said Snowbird President Bob Bonar. “This race offers spectators a rare opportunity to watch some of the most elite American cyclists compete on what will be an extremely challenging and dramatic final push up Little Cottonwood Canyon.”

The final day’s “Queen Stage” begins in Park City at 11 a.m. before winding more than 100 miles through Heber City and the Salt Lake Valley up to Snowbird. In all, competitors will climb 11,000 vertical feet, including 3,500 feet over the final six miles up Little Cottonwood Canyon, to the race’s finish line at Entry 2 of Snowbird. Spectators are advised to park at the resort by 2 p.m. to avoid the Highway 210 road closure, which is anticipated between 2 and 4:30 p.m. Food, drink and vendor booths will be open to the public at the base of the mountain throughout the day.

The Tour of Utah is also hosting “The Ultimate Challenge,” a non-competitive ride for cycling enthusiasts on Saturday, Aug. 14. The Tour of Utah will co-host the event along with Dave Zabriskie, Utah native and the third American ever to wear the yellow jersey in the Tour de France. Described as “America’s toughest one-day cycling adventure,” The Ultimate Challenge covers the same route that the world’s top professional bike racers will tackle a week later during the Tour of Utah’s final stage.

The weekend of Aug. 21-22 also marks the beginning of Oktoberfest, an annual weekend and Labor Day tradition at Snowbird. Oktoberfest runs through Oct. 10 and features festive food, beer, music, dancing, crafts, shopping and more.