The first day leaves the eastern side of the Phoenix Valley: Tempe, Mesa, wide roads, canals, suburbs and long traffic-light sections. The opening 30 kilometres stay flat, then the edge of the city becomes visible. After Apache Junction, the Superstition Mountains move into view, the buildings thin out, and the route continues toward Gold Canyon and the US 60 corridor. The climb to Superior is not one defined pass, but a long sequence of rollers, open straights and dry rock slopes. On the final kilometres, Picketpost Mountain stands ahead of town, with the Boyce Thompson Arboretum area just off the route. Superior sits at more than 800 metres – a clear change from the flat valley start.
