The summit of Gibraltar Road will enter bicycle racing lore in 2016. Stage 3 of the 11th annual Amgen Tour of California will finish there, and it will be preceded by a preview ride dubbed L’Etape California.
Both rides will cover 105 miles beginning in Thousand Oaks. The route will descend the Mulholland Highway to Pacific Coast Highway, then pass through Oxnard and Ventura up the coast to Santa Barbara. The final 10 kilometers will ascend the newly resurfaced Gibraltar Road at an average grade of 8% to the finish at an elevation of 3,300 feet.
L’Etape California is scheduled for April 24. It is the sixth annual Amgen Tour preview ride, and it is open to cycling enthusiasts of all levels. International legends Jens Voigt and Freddie Rodriguez are slated to join them on the ride. The early registration fee is $110. Visit www.amgentourofcalifornia.com/letapecalifornia.
Stage 3 of the 2016 Amgen Tour will challenge a lineup of elite professional cyclists on May 17. The eight-stage tour will kick off in San Diego on May 15 and conclude in Sacramento on May 22.