Extra-ordinary cycle races/challenges

I thought it might be a good idea to create a thread about cycle races/challenges that have special touches to them, so they are above and beyond the normal type of events.

So here's my start-

Event name: Source to Sea
Location: Buller Gorge, South Island, New Zealand
Distance: 160km, 1 day

Special touches:

The organisers have made this event in a rural area of NZ easy to participate in. They have mini vans with tailers picking competitiors up on the morning from various towns around the start place (as it is in a rural location) plus transport at the end on the day or the next day back to these towns to catch planes or ferried home.

The prizes for 1st, 2nd and 3rd men and women are specially commissioned artworks of metal and glass of the mountains and the river flowing through it. 2nd and 3rd are smaller versions of first.

The organisers get the whole community involved. As the race goes down a river gorge, cell reception isn't great. So the local civil defense volunteer radio club does a "practise" day and provides radio communication (cars parked at various points with antennas set up). The police also support this event which is great.

They hired a huge marquee that couild fit everyone participating inside at the finish so we had shelter.

So have you come across an event that you think is special?

I think the Tour de timor might fit into this? http://www.tourdetimor.com/?page_id=111

I'd love to do it as support for the nation but the :eek: mountains :eek: in East Timor keep me away :o.