Start: 7:00 AM. 100 miles & approximately 6,300 feet of climbing. Download the Century Route Sheet.
This is not an easy century. While not the hardest event on the calendar, it is still challenging with one lengthy climb, three shorter, but extended climbs, and several smaller hills.
Leaving from the Valencia Town Center, both the 50 mile and 100 mile routes will follow Soledad Canyon Road up to Acton. Both routes provide spectacular views of the Santa Clarita and Antelope Valleys. Some of the distant mountains may still have snow-capped peaks—an excellent photo opportunity!
Beginning and ending in the beautiful Santa Clarita Valley, the century will eventually follow a portion of the difficult stage of the 2009 Amgen Tour of California. Riders will enjoy the hills and countryside as they proceed to the first water stop at the Rio Market at mile 15. From here riders continue the rolling climbs into Acton and the first SAG stop at Acton Park.
After leaving the park in Acton, Century riders will join a portion of previous stages of the Amgen Tour of California as they ascend Aliso Canyon Road into Angeles National Forest. This is a stair-step climb, mixing short, steep walls with extended climbing. At the top, it becomes very steep for a brief, 200-yd section to the next turn.
A left turn onto Angeles Forest Highway, quick descent and then it’s another climb on Mount Emma Road. At the end of Mount Emma Road, at approximately the 50 mile mark in the town of Litterock, riders turn around, climb back onto Mount Emma Road and back to Acton via Sierra Highway. With more than half their ride done, riders will get much needed fuel again at Acton Park before returning to Santa Clarita.
From Acton Park, riders will ride the rollers of Escondido Canyon Road into Agua Dulce, past Vasquez Rocks Natural Area Park, used innumerable times in motion pictures, tv shows and still photography. A right turn onto Davenport Road, left onto Sierra Highway, and onto the bike path for a nice, flat, 10-miles back to the Valencia Town Center.
Check out the interactive 100-mile route at www.ridewithgps.com.
