Out here in Durango there's actually a bike race that sort of does that, but in a safe manner, called the Iron Horse. (http://www.ironhorsebicycleclassic.com/) When the Durango-Silverton train (http://www.durangotrain.com/) leaves Durango the bikers start up the road to Silverton and try to beat it there. While the train stays in the Animas River valley the bikers climb up two mountain passes (Coal Bank at 10,640' and Molas at 10,910') Looks exhausting to me.