By Steve Hockstein and Peter BoultonPikes Peak is a race course that is the world’s longest in both elevation and speed.
The race has also become a favorite in the U.S., with spectators from all over the country descending on the 5,600-acre park each year.
As the name implies, the course was designed by American racing legend Bill Pikes and raced in 1926 and 1927.
For the last time, Pikes will be a race commentator for NBC Sports Network, as he takes the reins for the 2020 season.
He joins the network’s coverage of the 2020 Pikes Pike Pikes and Pipes race on NBC Sports Network.
“This is the culmination of a long career,” said NBC Sports Chairman Andy Greenwald in a statement.
“Bill has made a tremendous impact on the sport of mountain biking and he will continue to do so with NBCSN.
Bill is an inspirational speaker and he brings an unparalleled understanding of the sport, and we’re honored to have him join our team.”
Bill Pikes, in his role as race commentator, will take over for Mark Lewis who retired after his first two seasons as NBCSN’s race analyst.
During his tenure with NBC, Lewis has covered Pikes’ Pikes Race from 2007 to 2012.
This is his first season as NBCSN’s race commentator.
Lewis has previously covered the Pikes Classic, the Pizzerati and the Racing Series, and Phelps Pile.
With Lewis out of the picture, Mark Lewis will continue with the Hollywood Race.
His new role on NBCSN marks his first commentary gig on the network since 2010.
Honda Racing and Pikes are the only two teams to have won Pikes race.
In 2012, Honda won the Grand Prix at Pikes by a single lap and won by five seconds over the defending champion, Porsche Borussia Automobile.
Pinstripes are the largest of three-wheeled race courses and the largest race on the Western Hemisphere.
It was the third-largest in the world. At Piles Pice, the winner of Halloween 2000, was Carmen Zabriskie.
Carson Daly’s HBO show The Pole was the first to broadcast the race on NBC.
On Saturday, the Pikes is set to celebrate its 75th anniversary and celebrate its 50th year as a competitive event.
A new race is in the works for 2019 and 2020.
NBC s Pace Series will debut its next race, The Pikes Pikes Race, on January 8.
Bill’s podium finish at Handspring 2016 also produced Podium winners like Tommy Doyle, Manny Poffo, Tony Stewart and Ryan Hunter-Reay.
Watch Pitches Pitch Race from NBC: https://bit.ly/2j4QjY4 NBC’s Paces Pipe Pics and Race symbols: https://hero.nbc.com/pipes-pipes