The first climb is shortly after Big Sur, after a little over 50 kilometre in the saddle. In 3.5 kilometres the riders gain 232 altimetres, meaning an average gradient of 6%. For a while the route keeps going slightly up and down along the magnificent coast line and it’s between kilometre 120 and 130 the two ascents at Ragged Point Climb lay waiting. The first one is 3.5 kilometres at an average grade of 5%, followed shortly by a 1.9 kilometres climb at 7%.
Upon descending the remainder of the race is flat, so odds are a certain M. Cavendish will be crossing the finish line with both hands in the air.
Cambria is on the California State Route 1, located halfway between Los Angeles and San Francisco. The main industry is tourism – not surprising with an array of beautiful beaches and cliffs pointing out to the Pacific. Cambria is west of Paso Robles, not only a renowned winery and hot spring town, but arrival town in the 2011 Tour of California as well. Peter Sagan won the stage that year in Paso Robles, besting Leigh Howard and Ben Swift in the bunch sprint.
It looks like Sagan (image) will be back in 2014. He is record holder with 10 stage victories in California. He is followed by the retired Levi Leipheimer and the Argentine rider Juan José Huado, who both took 5 stage wins. Last year Sagan took 2 stage wins, both bunch sprints.
Cambria has been dubbed many names in the past, amongst others Slabtown. The current name is the Latin version of ‘Wales’.
The stage begint at 20:50 (CET) and the finish will be around 00:45.
Tour of California 2014 stage 4: Images and more
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Big Sur (1st climb) at StravaRagged Point 1 (2nd climb) at StravaRagged Point 2 (3rd climb) at Strava