Los Angeles Olympic Games road events to finish on climb to iconic Griffith Observatory

The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games will feature a distinctive finish for all road cycling events, with the men's and women's road races and time trials concluding on a challenging ascent to the Griffith Observatory, situated on the southern slope of Mount Hollywood. The road races will commence at the Venice Beach Boardwalk as initially planned, while the time trials will start from the Los Angeles Zoo in Griffith Park, located north of the observatory. This decision highlights a dramatic and iconic backdrop for the cycling competitions, promising a visually striking and physically demanding finale. Scheduling conflicts are set to pose significant challenges for elite cyclists, particularly in relation to the Tour de France and the Olympic Games. The 2028 Tour de France has been moved to an earlier slot, finishing on 16 July, just three days before the Olympic time trial on 19 July. This tight turnaround will force riders to carefully consider their priorities, as the short interval leaves little time for recovery or acclimatisation after crossing nine time zones from Europe to California. The uncertainty surrounding the 2028 Tour de France Femmes dates further complicates the calendar for female cyclists aiming to compete at the highest level. The road races at the LA Games are scheduled for 22 and 23 July, with both events expected to finish in the late afternoon, around 4:15 p.m. local time. Beyond the road events, the Olympic cycling programme includes six track cycling medal events for men and women—Madison, Omnium, Team Pursuit, Sprint, Keirin, and Team Sprint—set to take place over six days at the Carson Velodrome from 25 to 30 July. This comprehensive schedule ensures a diverse and competitive cycling showcase throughout the Games. In addition to the road and track disciplines, organisers have confirmed a new venue for the Mountain Bike Cross-Country races. Rather than Bonelli Park, the races will be held near the Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry, west of Los Angeles. This change reflects ongoing efforts to select optimal locations that balance logistical considerations with the demands of Olympic-level competition, contributing to the overall success of the cycling events at LA28.