The route starts at Lake Davis , located 15 minutes north of Portola .
The route takes racers on a rolling tour around the lake , up into the surrounding mountains and then sends them through some of the most beautiful and empty alpine valleys California has to offer .
The route starts at Lake Davis , located 15 minutes north of Portola , and takes racers on a rolling tour around the lake , up into the surrounding mountains and then sends them through some of the most beautiful and empty alpine valleys California has to offer .