I did the long course last year. Had the Peugeot with 28 teeth front - 32 rear. Still walked the last mile of Kiler and Cypress MT.

The challenge (as I see it) is that in isolation, most could probably ride up the dirt sections (ok a couple like Cass Winery may be impossible for normal folks), but Kiler is only 30 miles in and Cypress is half way, so there is a bit of saving something in the tank for later.

Whole route took me 10.5 hr on the bike