Click here for the 2009 Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Century Challenge FINAL RESULTS!

Click here to see results from all prior years!

How The King of the Mountains Century Challenge Works
It's simple, really. Riders will register for each of the three qualifying events individually. There's no separate sign-up or anything special riders must do to have their finishing times count toward the King of the Mountains Century Challenge. We'll take care of that. To be honored with the title "King of the Mountains Official Finisher," and to earn the right to wear the coveted finisher jersey, a rider must complete each event by showing up for the ride, following the rules of each ride, pedaling every mile without deviation, and making sure their times are recorded at any required checkpoints and the finish lines. Easy, right?

Which Rides Count in 2009
Mulholland Challenge*: Ride up, over, and along mountain peaks and ridges, and through a multitude of canyons and country sides in the Santa Monica Mountains. It's pretty much up or down all day, with very few "flat" sections. These roads are where Lance did a lot of training for number seven, and you'll see why. Starting in Agoura Hills, you head over to the coast in Malibu via Las Virgenes/Malibu Canyon. Then you'll tackle the first big climbs of the day, Topanga and Old Topanga Canyons. After these classic climbs you'll continue north on Mulholland with a few miles of rollers before the climb up from the famous Rock Store on miles of fresh, silky smooth asphalt. As you enter Ventura county, you'll climb up nearly deserted Little Sycamore, Yerba Buena and Cotharin before a fast and curvy descent with breathtaking views down Deer Creek to the coast. Enjoy the couple of rolling miles down the coast back to Decker Canyon Road, as they are your last flat miles before the finish. You'll climb the super steep Decker back to Mulholland, and then enjoy the rolling hills until you reach last long climb of the day - Stunt Road. After a gruelling four mile climb, you're rewarded with terrific ocean breezes and views at the last checkpoint. But it's not all downhill from there! A tough one mile climb up Piuma and the last steep pitch on Cold Canyon will challenge you to the end!
Total distance is 112 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing.

*The Mulholland Challenge course significantly overlaps with, but is not exactly the same as the Mulholland Double Century course, and is held on the same day. Double riders may earn Grand Slam and Triple Crown credit and also participate in the King of the Mountains Century Challenge by riding the Double; however, they cannot be timed for KOM ranking. King of the Mountains Century Challenge Official Finishers who rode the Double will be listed at the bottom of the KOM winners list with an asterix and a note that they completed the Mulholland Double but could not be timed for the final standings.

Breathless Agony: Hosted by Santiago Cycling in Tustin, this classic ride climbs to the top of Onyx Summit the hard way! Starting in Redlands, riders warm up for awhile before climbing up the "not maintained" Jackrabbit Trail. The climbing is endless, and breathless, from there! The steepest climbing of the day, Oak Glenn is next. On the way up, you'll wind your way through apple orchards on roads featured in the Redlands Stage Race. You'll get a well earned, but brief, respite on the way down to the base of the mountain. Then the climbing continues. Up from the ranger station to Angeles Oaks, and onward to Onyx Summit is probably the longest continuous climb in Southern California. Thirty miles of climbing interrupted by only a few little rollers at Barton Flats after Angeles Oaks. The clock stops at mile 75 when you breathlessly reach Onyx Summit at 8,435 feet. So stay awhile and enjoy the party before you enjoy the 42 mile descent back to Redlands.
Riders must complete the four pass option which is 114 miles with 12,000 feet of climbing. Click here for the Breathless Agony website and registration information. Please note that Breathless Agony sells out early - so don't wait to sign up.

Heartbreak Hundred*:
Come discover a hundred miles of lightly traveled roads close to home you probably didn't know existed. The start in Lebec is just off the 5 freeway north of Los Angeles, at the base of the Grapevine. This ride starts UP! Leaving Lebec, you'll begin a gentle climb towards Frazier Park which pitches up as you head to Apache Saddle through lush green forests. After the summit, you're treated to one of the finest descents in all of California, down a recently repaved road with gorgeous views of the valleys on both sides. You then ride to Ventucopa where lunch awaits. After lunch, you'll meander up the valley for a while before making the turn up Lockwood Valley Road and towards this ride's namesake, the infamous Heartbreak climb. Be forewarned, however: The Heartbreak checkpoint is at a false summit! You have plenty of miles of climbing left before the awesome long descent back to Lebec. A great course with only five turns!
Total distance is 100 miles with 8,000 feet of climbing.

*The Heartbreak Hundred is the middle 100 miles of the Heartbreak Double Century, and is held on the same day. Double riders may earn Grand Slam and Triple Crown credit and also participate in the King of the Mountains Century Challenge by simply checking in and out at Lebec (CP#2 and CP#5 on the double) with the KOM time keeper.

King of the Mountains Century Challenge Stage Race
Just completing all three of these incredibly tough centuries is a feat to be proud of - and we'll acknowledge everyone who takes the Challenge, fast and not-so-fast. We know and appreciate that many (maybe most) riders participate in cycling events just for the fun of it - to ride new roads, meet new friends, and enjoy the energy that comes with being part of an event. We dig that. But we also know and appreciate that there's a super competitive spirit out there too. So, for those of you who want to get out there and see if you can kick each other's butts, each of the three rides are timed, and the results posted in order of total ride time. The three times will be combined for the King of the Mountains Stage Race - and special awards will be given to the top three finishers in the following categories: Male, 50+ Male, Female, 50+ Female, and Tandem. (In order for prizes to be awarded, there must be at least five participants in each category.)

How Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Official Finishers Are Recognized
At the finish line of the Heartbreak Hundred (the 3rd event in this spectacular series), surrounded by the thronging masses of fans and with great pomp and circumstance, each Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Official Finisher (who signs up for Heartbreak by May 5th) receives a special award. For 2009, we'll once again happily bestow upon each finisher a fabulous and totally unique pair of King of the Mountain socks to be worn with pride and bragging rights. Click here to see the 2009 socks!

We'll have snazzy, and very exclusive, cycling jerseys, vests and shorts that only Planet Ultra King of the Mountain Official Finishers will be privileged to obtain and wear. Official Finishers may order their gear at the finish line of the Heartbreak Hundred (for delivery, most likely, in early September; depending on how quickly Voler can have them ready) . Click here to see the 2009 Finisher Jersey. To honor our female riders, we also offer Queen of the Mountains gear - which has the same design as the King jersey, expect it says Queen, and all of the parts that are red will be pink instead.

Planet Ultra will post the results on our website and publicize them via our e-newsletter. Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Official Finishers have serious bragging rights and we want to be the first to offer congratulations and to spread the word about the riders' great achievements!

Again In 2009 - Top Finishers To Receive FREE VDO Altimeter/Cyclometer
Planet Ultra is pleased to announce that Ibex Sports, the exclusive U.S. Distributor of VDO is an official sponsor of the King of the Mountains Century Challenge. In each category with five or more competitors, the top male, female, 50+ male, 50+ female, tandem, and our most senior finisher (if 73 or older), will receive a VDO wireless Altimeter/Cyclometer, compliments of our friends at Ibex Sports!

German automobile companies like Porsche have depended on VDO gauges and instrumentation for decades. Now you may benefit from their world-renowned accuracy and reliability with the MC1.0+ altimeter and cyclometer. The MC1.0+ utilizes the very latest micro-altimeter technology so the data is highly accurate and updates faster than older systems. Current % gradient is always displayed so you'll know why your legs are burning! The unique 3 Line display has large and clear digits displaying most of the data on one screen so you toggle less and ride more! Temperature and service interval indicators are other useful  touches. Backed by VDO's market leading 5 Year warranty. Planet Ultra is also proud to offer VDO products to all of our riders at very competitive prices! Click here to order yours now!