A new book, "The World's Toughest Endurance Challenges," profiles 50 of the most extreme bike races, marathons, triathlons, adventure races, climbs, open-water swims and other iconic endurance events from around the world. Full-color photographs and insider commentary from top athletes bring each of the events to life.
From the Badwater Ultramarathon in the unforgiving heat of Death Valley to the South Pole Race in the frozen expanse of Antarctica, the one common theme is the tenacity of the competitors.
Of the 50 events profiles, there are 10 bike races, including the Race Across America, Furnace Creek 508, La Ruta de Los Conquistadores, La Haute Route, Race Around Ireland, Iron Bike, Cape Epic, Tour d'Afrique, Crocodile Trophy and the Yak Attack.
La Haute Route, which BikeRadar's John Whitney rode this year, ranks among the toughest endurance events
Many more of the events, like the Norseman Extreme Triathlon and the Patagonia Expedition Race, involve bike racing.
The 208-page hardcover book by Richard Hoad and Paul Moore sells for $29 in bookstores and online.
The full list of events in the book is as follows.
Arrowhead 135 | Leadville 100 | Western States 100 | Catalina Channel Swim | Race Across America | Manhattan Island Marathon Swim | Tevis Cup Ride | 24-Hour Track Race | Iditarod | Yukon Arctic Ultra | Yukon Quest | Badwater Ultramarathon | Furnace Creek 508 | 6633 Extreme Winter Ultra Marathon | Ultraman World Championships | Self Transcendence 3100 Mile Race | Patagonia Expedition Race | Jungle Marathon | La Ruta de Los Conquistadores | Norseman | Red Bull X-Alps | Trans Europe Footrace | Al Andalus Ultimate Trail Race | Ö Till Ö | La Haute Route | Enduroman Arch to Arc | Devizes to Westminster International Canoe Race | English Channel Swim | Race Around Ireland | Iron Bike | The Mountainman | Spartathlon | Kalahari Augrabies Extreme Marathon | Cadiz Freedom Swim | Cape Epic | Tour d'Afrique | Comrades Marathon | Dusi Cano Marathon | Marathon Des Sables | Great Wall Marathon | Yak Attack | Crocodile Trophy | Coast to Coast New Zealand | The Extreme World Races South Pole Race | Woodvale Challenge | 4 Deserts | Volvo Ocean Race | Adventure Racing World Series | Freediving | Vendée Globe
