Apra Harbor Cup   

The Apra Harbour Cup is a professional road cycling race held every season in Guam. It was originally organized as entertainment for US Marines who were stationed at Guam. It was therefore very frustrating for the founders when the first three editions of the race were won by Germans (2 times Rico Weiss of Sasol Leeus and then Jonas Sanders of Red hood riding), and they had to wait untill the ninth edition for an US winner (Ja...

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The Apra Harbour Cup is a professional road cycling race held every season in Guam. It was originally organized as entertainment for US Marines who were stationed at Guam. It was therefore very frustrating for the founders when the first three editions of the race were won by Germans (2 times Rico Weiss of Sasol Leeus and then Jonas Sanders of Red hood riding), and they had to wait untill the ninth edition for an US winner (Jackson Witherspoon of Supernutz).

The race starts in the National Park of Asan Beach. The riders follow the Marine Drive which leads them to the capital of Hagåtña, which is with its 1051 inhabitants one of the smallest capitals of the world. The riders continue north untill reaching the district of Yigo, the largest and northernmost of all the districts on the island. Yigo is the location of the Anderson Air Force Base, which is a vital strategic point for the US Army.

Heading back south again, the riders pass spectacular cliffs in the district of Mangilao, which also hosts the main prison and university of the island. After 70 kilometres, the riders reach the southernmost point of the island, which marks the beginning of the final. The peloton passes two forts which flank the Umatac Bay, before beginning with the only two hills of the race. At 14 kilometres, Mount Jumullong (391 metres) and Mount Lam Lam (406 metres) can be crucial for a succesfull breakaway, however, an attacker would need impressive TT skills or at least a few colleagues to be succesfull.

The riders take the Shoreline Drive into the Apra Harbour Area, which leads them past the Old Wives Beach. The First National Highway takes them to the water, where they take a left. The final sprint is on the Gab Gab Beach Boulevard, and ends in front of the Spanish Step Lagoon, only a few metres before the land ends. It's not uncommon for the winner to crash into the sea if he's too busy cheering.