10 Bucketlist Century Rides

Riding 100 miles (161km) takes effort, grit, determination and training. You’ll be focused on those 100 miles and how your body and mind will get you to the finish for months in advance. So it’s important that those 100 miles are worth every ounce of your effort. You want views, landscapes, history and experiences that will live in your memories — and on your Strava feed — for years to come.

So we’ve rounded up some of the world’s greatest century cycle rides and their 100-mile segments that are guaranteed to offer something unique to make all that training and effort worthwhile.

Badwater to Lone Pine Town Limit – California, USA

California’s Death Valley might not be the first place to spring to mind when planning a century ride, but this route, starting at the place made famous for its furiously hot ultramarathon, climbs 10,000ft / 3,048m up the finish at Mt Whitney (including a hike to the summit), taking you from the lowest point in the US to the highest in the span of a day.

Iron Cowboy Day 100 – Utah, USA

When Canadian triathlete James Lawrence broke the world record for the number of Ironman-distance triathlons completed consecutively, this was his bike route. As he lived in Utah, it was right on his doorstep; and although it’s not the flattest 112-mile loop, it’s become a must-ride segment due to the Iron Cowboy’s 101 laps of it over 101 days. Do it once to gain an insight into the challenge Lawrence faced.

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White Rim in One Night – Utah, USA

This gnarly route that takes in 100 miles of inhospitable terrain is so grueling that most cyclists bikepack it over a few days. But taking it easy across these miles means you can fully appreciate the natural wonders of Moab’s Canyonlands National Park. The name of this segment indicates that night-time is the best time to ride it due to the heat, and it requires an off-road bike capable of tackling challenging terrain.

La Marmotte – France

For those thinking of tackling this, we salute you. A century through the French Alps should not be taken lightly — this is the route of the popular gran fondo that takes place each summer, but you can also tackle it in your own time. With three major climbs, including Tour de France favorites Col du Télégraphe (5,150ft / 1,570m) and Col du Galibier (8,677ft / 2,645m) and ending at the summit of Alpe D’Huez (6,069ft / 1,850m), you’ll require quads of steel and an unbreakable spirit.

Mickelson Full Southbound – South Dakota, USA

This 109-miler rich in gold-mining history in South Dakota starts at Deadwood and follows the George S Mickelson Trail — a former railroad — through the beauty of the Black Hills. Along the way the rideable, crushed-gravel trail crosses more than 100 converted railway bridges and four rock tunnels, passing sights such as the Crazy Horse memorial and the Moonshine Gulch Saloon. 

Williamsport to Georgetown – West Virginia & DC, USA

One-hundred miles of flat Chesapeake & Ohio Canal towpath, this segment follows the Potomac River from Williamsport to Georgetown and can be ridden at a fair clip. Starting at the Conococheague Aqueduct, you follow the river through towns including Shepherdstown and Brunswick, and sites of historic interest such as the Paw Paw Tunnel, which took 14 years to build, before finishing in Georgetown, Washington DC.

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Mallorca 167 – Spain

See some of Mallorca’s many, many highlights in one 100-mile loop. This route takes in a pair of famous climbs: Coll de Femenia (1,702ft / 519m) and Puig Major (2,949ft / 899m), as well as a wide range of landscapes and sweeping panoramas that the Balearic Island is famous for.

Prospect Park Century, Brooklyn, NY, USA

Lapping Brooklyn’s 5.5km Prospect Park 29 times feels like cheating for this list, but it exists as a segment on Strava, so we’ll include it here. The fastest time is currently under 4 hours, which is crazy fast. If you want to complete a century without leaving New York, this could be your best bet. 

Fred Whitton 2021 – England

A century in England’s Lake District is never easy, but this popular 100-miler sees cyclists tackle not only a challenging course — constantly undulating despite never going higher than 430m while offering nearly 4,000m (13,100ft / 3,993m) of elevation gain — but also challenging weather: you never know what you might get (but it’ll probably include rain, mist and winds). The landscape you’re struggling through makes every pedal turn worthwhile.

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Whole Skyline Southbound Gate to Gate – Virginia, USA

Starting in Front Royal, Virginia, this segment follows the route of the Skyline Century Ride, taking you 100 miles through the glorious Shenandoah National Forest, packed with waterfalls, acres of wildflowers and deep forests of ancient trees. There are 75 lookout points along the undulating route, offering plenty of opportunities to pause and soak up your surroundings. And with 10,000ft / 3,048m of ascent, you’ll be glad of the rest.