Ditto to the "steepest hill" comment above, overall climbing doesn't much matter as far as gearing. If it was pancake flat for 98 miles, then a 2 mile vertical climb, that would change the requirement, would it not?
Do you live anywhere close where you can just drive over and leisurely ride the course?
Riding my local hills, it is really helpful to have ridden them before, and to know I can just hammer up this one in high gear and drop it into granny gear while I read a book for that one.
And keep in mind that the ideal gearing gets a little lower as you get more tired.
__________________
"be careful this rando stuff is addictive and dan's the 'pusher'."