Pogacar and Seixas set for 2028 Olympic Games battle? - Organisers confirm spectacular Griffith Observatory finish
Cycling
The Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games are beginning to sketch the profile of one of cycling’s most anticipated events. The LA28 organisers confirmed on Tuesday that the men’s and women’s road races will finish at a venue of powerful symbolism and sporting demand: Griffith Observatory. This should play into the hands of Tadej Pogacar, Paul Seixas, and Remco Evenepoel.
The news offers a clearer picture of how the Olympic road races will conclude, even if the full courses have not yet been officially unveiled. What is confirmed is that both men and women will roll out from Venice Beach, one of the most iconic spots on LA’s coastline, before heading to Griffith Park, where the medals will be decided.
The choice of the Griffith Observatory is not just about the view. Set on the hills overlooking Los Angeles and encircled by park roads, the site offers ideal terrain to craft a selective finale. The final kilometres will include a climb that could become the race’s decisive point and open gaps among the gold medal favourites.
Although organisers have not released the complete route, the confirmed finish allows a forecast of the rider type most likely to benefit. The ascent to Griffith Observatory adds a layer of difficulty that will likely reduce the chance of a sprint and favour riders who excel in prolonged efforts.
A blend of endurance, climbing ability, and one-day race craft could be the winning profile for Olympic success. It is not only about cresting a final climb, but also about managing a long, demanding day before the decisive kilometres.
LA28 will reveal full route details for the road races at the end of 2026, once planning concludes for all cycling events on the Games programme.
Pogacar, Evenepoel and other leading candidates
While we wait for the official confirmation, some reports already outline the scale of the challenge. According to Escape Collective, which accessed a leaked document, the men’s race could stretch to 251 kilometres with as much as 5,010 metres of elevation gain.
Given a course like this, certain names are unavoidable. Top of any shortlist is Tadej Pogacar. His ability to dominate both Grand Tours and the Classics would make him a prime contender on a circuit of such physical intensity.
Alongside the Slovenian, Remco Evenepoel stands out as one of the defining riders of recent seasons. His versatility and capacity to sustain high performance over long, hard days could align perfectly with what Los Angeles 2028 is expected to demand.
Among those tipped to benefit from this design is Paul Seixas, another rider who could find a favourable stage to showcase his qualities on this kind of course. The Olympic cycling programme will open with the time trials. Both the men’s and women’s events are scheduled for July 19th, several days before the road races.
Remco Evenepoel, en plena acción contrarreloj
The Paris 2024 precedent
In this case, the course will start at the Los Angeles Zoo, within the Griffith Park area, and also finish at Griffith Observatory. One of the city’s most recognisable landmarks will thus become the epicentre of Olympic cycling during the Games. The road races will follow on July 22nd and 23rd, rounding off a week set to gather the world’s best specialists.
Los Angeles will take up the baton from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, which produced memorable performances. In the men’s events, Remco Evenepoel delivered a historic double by claiming gold in both the road race and the time trial.
Read also
In the women’s competition, the road race went to Kristen Faulkner, while Grace Brown won the battle against the clock.
Gavin QuinnCycling Journalist
Gavin Quinn is a cycling journalist and ultra-distance cyclist with a BA in Journalism from Dublin City University. Formerly the Press & Communications Officer for Cycling Ireland, Gavin has worked inside the national team at the World Championships and has reported for the Irish Mirror, Mirror UK, and The42.
His expertise is backed by elite-level access, having interviewed stars like Sam Bennett and Ben Healy, as well as immense personal endurance. In 2025, he completed a 12,000km solo cycle from Ireland to Vietnam, following a 4,600km tour across Europe. From the cobbles of Paris-Roubaix to the gradients of the Tourmalet, Gavin’s writing focuses on the "romance and brutality" of the sport. Having visited 50+ countries, he brings a global, cultural perspective to his coverage of the pro peloton for CyclingUpToDate.
claps 0visitors 0
Just in
Popular news
Latest comments
- guillaume martin is wuite a surprise as a gc rider.Ketterechts02-11-2026
- Who cares what Bruyneel thinks. He and his best mate Lance, the biggest fraud in the history of sport, have no place commenting on anything but how to lie and cheat!whit2pet02-11-2026
- Eeesh!Lozza02-11-2026
- bravo! a rider likes jonas needs motivation and he needs to believe in being able to reach goals. he - like anybody else in the world - doesn't believe that he can win the tdf with pogi present. and what's it worth for when pogi is not there? second class victory only. he has checked all three grand tours, so what is left if not retire? the classics! go for it, jonas!Ketterechts02-11-2026
- i am sure that under the pretext of medical examination a lot worse has happened when they were under.abstractengineer02-11-2026
- dude, Lemond never even was in the same race as Armstrong. He throws all these aspersions on other American riders who might usurp his throne as the greatest ever American racer. He doesn't say a single thing about (foreign) dopers who he actually raced against. Biggest douchebag move ever. I used to revere that guy, now I despise him. His actions are so weird.fatsupermodel02-11-2026
- This is just stupid, You do what you are good at not what you are weak at. He has no results to speak of when he participated. Even Froome, Conatdor had very little. With Pogi there he wont win none of the classics. he is already 30+ with a few years left at the top. It takes years to get good at classics. Is that really worth the effort???abstractengineer02-11-2026
- Sure, little fella.awp02-11-2026
- You'll be the ongoing joke of 2027 with anything you post here!frieders302-11-2026
- Awwww your inside information must be from PogiFanGirl. You two daughters of different mothers?frieders302-11-2026
Loading
Write a comment