Updated June 15, 2026 03:07PM
LA28 Olympic road race: Key facts
• Men’s road race: 250km
• Women’s road race: 150km
• Start: Venice Beach
• Finish: Griffith Observatory
• Olympic time trial start: LA Zoo
• Olympic time trial finish: Griffith Observatory
• Women’s road race: July 22, 2028
• Men’s road race: July 23, 2028
Full course details expected before the end of 2026.
The 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games road races will finish at Griffith Observatory beneath the Hollywood Sign, creating one of the most recognizable finishing venues in Olympic cycling history.
While organizers have not yet released the complete course, the confirmed start and finish locations already provide clues about what kind of riders could be racing for gold.
Where will the LA28 Olympic road race start?
Both the men’s and women’s road races will start at Venice Beach on the Pacific coast of Los Angeles.
Where will the LA28 Olympic road race finish?
The road races will finish at Griffith Observatory, one of Los Angeles’ most iconic landmarks.
The final climb rises 3.8km at an average gradient of 4.9 percent, with sections reaching 8 percent. It is not steep enough to create huge time gaps, but it is selective enough to discourage a traditional bunch sprint.
What type of rider could win Olympic gold?
Although the final route remains unknown, the Griffith Observatory finish already points toward a selective race.
A climb of nearly four kilometers at the end of a 250km men’s race could prove decisive after a full day of racing.
If the world’s best riders arrive in Los Angeles at peak form, the course could suit riders such as Tadej Pogačar, Remco Evenepoel, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert, and other riders capable of surviving repeated climbs before producing a powerful final acceleration.
On the women’s side, defending Olympic champion Kristen Faulkner will be aiming to defend her title after her memorable victory in Paris. Riders such as Demi Vollering, Lotte Kopecky, and other top contenders are also likely to target the course.
What route could the race follow?
The complete route remains one of the biggest unanswered questions ahead of LA28.
Former professional cyclist Phil Gaimon correctly predicted Griffith Observatory as the finish location months before the official announcement and has outlined a possible route that would head north toward Malibu before returning through the Hollywood Hills.
Such a route could include multiple ascents of Southern California’s famous Rock Store climb, a 4km ascent averaging 6.6 percent with pitches approaching 10 percent.
If organizers include significant climbing in the Malibu mountains before the final ascent to Griffith Observatory, the race could become one of the most selective Olympic road races in recent memory.
For now, however, the exact route remains unconfirmed.
How long are the races?
LA28 officials have confirmed the race distances:
• Men’s road race: 250km
• Women’s road race: 150km
The men’s race will be among the longest one-day races on the international calendar, comparable to many of cycling’s biggest monuments and championships.
What about the Olympic time trial?
The individual time trials will also feature Griffith Observatory.
Riders will start at the LA Zoo inside Griffith Park before racing toward the observatory finish.
Detailed route maps and elevation profiles have not yet been released.
LA28 cycling schedule
The cycling road events are scheduled for:
• Time trials: July 19, 2028
• Women’s road race: July 22, 2028
• Men’s road race: July 23, 2028
Cycling traditionally takes place during the opening week of the Olympic Games, ensuring the sport receives significant attention before many other events begin.
Why Griffith Observatory matters
Every Olympics aims to showcase its host city through sport.
Paris used the Eiffel Tower, Montmartre, and the cobbled streets of the French capital as a backdrop for its road races.
Los Angeles is taking a different approach.
The combination of Venice Beach, the Pacific Ocean, palm-lined boulevards, the Hollywood Sign, and Griffith Observatory promises one of the most visually striking Olympic cycling courses ever staged.
Whether the route ultimately favors climbers, classics specialists, or all-rounders, one thing already seems certain.
The race for Olympic gold in Los Angeles is going to have a distinctly Hollywood ending.
FAQ
Where does the LA28 Olympic road race start?
The men’s and women’s road races will start at Venice Beach.
Where does the LA28 Olympic road race finish?
Both races will finish at Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood Hills.
Will the LA28 Olympic road race suit sprinters?
Probably not. The final climb to Griffith Observatory is 3.8km long and averages 4.9 percent, with ramps reaching 8 percent.
How long is the men’s Olympic road race?
The men’s race will be 250km.
How long is the women’s Olympic road race?
The women’s race will be 150km.
When will the full route be announced?
Organizers are expected to release detailed route information before the end of 2026.
Can spectators watch the Olympic road race for free?
Unlike stadium events, much of the Olympic road race course is typically accessible to spectators without a ticket, although organizers may establish restricted viewing zones near the start, finish, and other high-security areas.
Additional spectator information is expected closer to the Games.