
Complete all three of the
toughest Southern California
Spring Centuries*:
Mulholland Challenge,
Breathless
Agony,
and
Heartbreak
Hundred
to earn the right to wear the coveted King of the Mountains jersey!
(You can also win some great prizes!)
*All three rides must be completed in the same calendar year!

Our awesome 2008 Official Finisher Jersey! Click here for a larger image!
The 2008 King of the Mountains Challenge is being sponsored by VDO Altimeter / Cyclometer; Detours, and E-Caps
1st place winners will receive a VDO MC1.0+ Altimeter

2nd place winners will receive a $50 gift certificate from Hammer
Nutrition
3rd place winners will receive a Detours bicycle seat bag
Click here for the 2008 Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Century Challenge FINAL RESULTS!
Click here for the 2007 Planet Ultra King of the Mountains Century Challenge FINAL RESULTS!
Click here for the 2006 Final Results!
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
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 Calabasas, 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 has a 400 rider limit
and sells out early. In 2006, the ride was full by the first week in
February.
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 receives a special award.
For 2008, 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 2008 socks!
We'll have snazzy, and very exclusive, cycling jerseys and vests that only Planet Ultra King of the Mountain Official Finishers will be privileged to obtain and wear. Official Finishers may order their jerseys and vests at the finish line of the Heartbreak Hundred (for delivery in early September - based on how quickly Voler can have them ready) . Click here to see the work-in-progress design of the 2008 Finisher Jersey.
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!
We hold a drawing every January which includes the names of all the King of the Mountains Official Finishers for the previous year. One lucky winner receives a Planet Ultra Event Ride Pass, allowing him or her to enter any two Planet Ultra single day events in that calendar year for FREE.
In 2008 - Top Finishers To Receive FREE VDO MC1.0+
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. The top male, female, 50+ male, 50+ female, tandem, and
our most senior finisher (if over 65), will receive a VDO MC1.0+ 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!