LA28 confirms spectacular Griffith Observatory finish for Olympic road races
The Olympic road races at the 2028 Los Angeles Games will finish at Griffith Observatory, with organisers confirming a landmark uphill finale for one of cycling’s biggest one-day prizes.
LA28 announced on Tuesday that the men’s and women’s road races will start at Venice Beach Boardwalk before heading across the city towards Griffith Park.
The confirmation gives the road events a clearer identity, even though the full routes have not yet been published. LA28 said the complete course details for all road events will be released later in 2026.
The finish is expected to make for a selective finale, with the race rising through Griffith Park towards Griffith Observatory in the Hollywood Hills above Los Angeles, adding an uphill sting in the closing kilometres.
There are already signs that the wider route could be even more punishing. According to Escape Collective, which previously obtained a leaked route document, the men’s road race could cover 251 kilometres and include as much as 5,010 metres of elevation gain.
That would put the race above many editions of Monuments such as Il Lombardia and Liège Bastogne Liège in terms of total climbing, favouring riders who combine climbing ability with one day racing pedigree. The obvious name is, of course, Tadej Pogačar, although riders such as Remco Evenepoel and Paul Seixas could also be well suited to a course like this.
Women's race and time trial
The women’s race could also be one of the toughest Olympic road races in recent memory. Escape Collective reported that the course could run to 163 kilometres and include around 2,950 metres of climbing, making it a race likely to favour the strongest climbers and puncheurs.
The road races are scheduled for July 22 and 23, 2028, with the time trials taking place a few days earlier on July 19. The time trial route will start at the LA Zoo, within the Griffith Park Zone, and finish at the Observatory.
Because of the Olympic cycling schedule, the 2028 Tour de France has been moved to its earliest start in recent history.
In Paris 2024, Remco Evenepoel made history by winning both the men’s road race and time trial titles, while Kristen Faulkner claimed gold in the women’s road race and Grace Brown took the time trial title.
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