| Course |
Distance | Overview | Start |
Finish Cutoff | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A |
A1 | 210km | A popular course where you start in Sawada and ride 210 km clockwise around Sado Island in one go, fully experiencing the appeal of the Sado Long Ride. | 5:30 |
18:00 |
| A2 | 5:45 | ||||
| B |
130km | From the start to Ryotsu on the east side of the island, the route is the same as Course A. | 6:00 |
16:00 | |
| C |
100km | 100 km Just like Courses A and B, you start in Sawada and ride through the scenic eastern side of the island, finishing in Ryotsu. Convenient for catching the ferry back toward Niigata. | 6:25 |
13:30 | |
*Click to enlarge the course map and elevation chart.
*Click photos to enlarge
▲The sheer Z Hill?officially Hane-zaka?charging all the way up to 130 meters
210km
Start → Aikawa AS [19 km] → Nyuzaki SS [42 km] → Washizaki AS [75 km] → Ryotsu AS [103 km] → Oda AS [138 km] → Ogi AS [163 km] → Sobama AS [184 km] → Sawada Finish [210 km]
▲Late in the race, after Ogi AS, the A course’s toughest hills hit in succession
Starting shortly after dawn at 5:30 a.m. in Sawada on the west side of Sado, Course A riders pedal clockwise around the island. Aim to reach the halfway point, Ryotsu aid station (103 km), by noon after passing the Aikawa, Nyuzaki, and Washizaki aid stations. In the first half of the course, you ride along the northern coastline of Sado Island, known as “Osado.” The route features a series of scenic spots, including the steep Z-zaka climb that shoots up a sheer cliff, and Onogame, a famous landmark on the north side of the island known for its striking beauty.
After lunch at Ryotsu AS, the second half takes you along the southern “Kosado” coastline, which includes some very steep sections. Since you’ve been riding since early morning, fatigue starts to build and eventually reaches its peak. There are three ASs (aid stations) before the finish, each with a set cutoff time: The cutoff at the Tada AS at 138 km is 13:45, the cutoff at the Ogi AS at 163 km is 15:00, and the cutoff at the Sobama AS at 184 km is 16:30, so manage your pace carefully and aim for the finish. If you reach the finish at Sawada by 18:00, you will receive a finisher’s certificate.
▲After clearing Z Hill, the course heads for Sado’s scenic landmark, Ono-game (167 m)
130km
Start → Aikawa AS [19 km] → Nyuzaki AS [42 km] → Washizaki AS [75 km] → Ryotsu AS [103 km] → → Sawada finish [130 km]
▲?A Sado-exclusive coastal route with sweeping views of the Sea of Japan
Start from Sawada at 6:00 a.m. Up to the Ryotsu AS (103 km mark), the route follows the same scenic Osado coastline as the A Course. After having lunch at the Ryotsu AS, the B Course heads across the Kuninaka Plain in the central part of Sado Island toward the finish at Sawada. It’s about 27 km from the Ryotsu AS to the Sawada finish, but there are continuous uphill sections, so beginners will not find it an easy glide to the finish. Once you cross the mountain pass, it’s flat all the way to the finish at Sawada. If you finish by 16:00, you officially complete the course.
▲Like the other courses, the C course also takes in Osado’s Z Hill and Ono-game
100km
Start → Aikawa Aid Station [19 km] → Nyuzaki Sweets Station [42 km] → Washizaki Aid Station [75 km] → Ryotsu Goal
▲Past the Washizaki aid station, a mostly flat coastal run leads to the finish in Ryotsu
At 100 km, it’s a course beginners can confidently take on. Starting from Sawada at 6:20 a.m., you follow the same beautiful Osado route as the other courses, enjoying the view of the Sea of Japan and the scenic landscapes of Sado. You’ll experience the famous Sado Long Ride spot, the tough Z-zaka climb (130 m elevation, officially called Hanezaka), and enjoy the view of the massive 167 m Onogame rock jutting into the Sea of Japan. The finish is in Ryotsu, and if you arrive by 13:30, you complete the course. Ryotsu, the finish, is a ferry port, making this a convenient course for participants who want to head back toward Niigata early.