Vinnie Tortorich in the ultracycling event Furnace creek 508 - "The Toughest 48 Hours in Sports"

By Serena Scott Thomas

Here's our video of Vinnie Tortorich in the Furnace Creek 508 ultrcycling event. In remission from Leukemia, Vinnie was determined to complete this 508 non-stop mile race across the Mojave Desert and Death Valley, covering 35000 feet of climbing and through sand storms and thunderstorms and over 100 degree weather. The race starts in Santa Clarita at 7 am on Saturday morning and Vinnie kept on pedaling all that day, through the night and into the next afternoon (approx. 34 hours). I was privileged to be one of his crew members along with David Holt, Mehran Salamati and Steve Jackson and, I can tell you, it's AMAZING to watch. A truly humbling experience. Vinnie was raising money for Maximum Hope Foundation, a non-profit organization which raises money for the families of those with life threatening illnesses who, as a result, are in financial difficulty. He became passionate about helping such people when, during his own cancer treatment, he asked a nurse "What do people do when thy don't have insurance that covers the treatment?". " Oh' she replied " They die". Huge thanks to Bill DuRonde and Chainsaw for putting this together.

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• cycling
• ultrcycling
• cyclists
• Furnace
• Creek
• 508
• endurance
• ultrasports
• weight
• loss
• fitness
• cancer
• leukemia
• survivor
• inspirational

[jlm12b]

The unmatched power of the human heart is on display in this really wonderful video. Best to you.

[Pleaver]

This is the most awesome thing I have ever seen on Youtube. Truly a fantastic video. Great music. Great camera work. And the story is that of a man on a mission. He gives Lance a run for his money. Bravo, Vinnie. You just may be the baddest man on the planet.

[muddygirl78]

By coincidence, I'm in Valencia the night before the start of the Furnace Creek 508, and a search to find out what it's all about took me here. What an amazing story!

[TheClubland2010]

This guy is an inspiration. Chapeau!

[inspectorhappy]

Complete legend, I am so proud.

Well done chap, I struggle turning over the miles, and for you to do races like this is fantastic! A true hero.

[ku22in]

beast

[CSC10000]

Incredibly inspiring !

Go Vinnie !

[ulfthegoon]

Incredible job! I am just hoping to finish within the time frame. This will be my second attempt at 508. World class crew as well.

[Helmsdini]

Awesome! You are an inspiration to us all.

[rjrosenquist]

Vinnie and Serena,

We are all engaged in a daily race against mortality. Yours has taken on an urgency and poignancy that is powerful and inspiring. Keep fighting the good fight!!

Ruth Rosenquist