The Verrazano Narrows bridge is the only land link between Staten Island and the rest of New York City, in this case to Brooklyn. The bridge is a long suspension bridge that arches up slowly over the water and then gradually back down again. In order for ships to be able to pass beneath it, the bridge is suspended quite high up. The New York City Marathon (on foot), which runs essentially an abbreviated Five Borough Bike Tour course but in the opposite direction, starts in Staten Island and sends people over the bridge right away. This long uphill to the apex of the bridge is usually thought of as the first thing to really separate people out. For the bike tour, this bridge is rumoured to be the final killer that will finish the job of wiping you out.