When the world’s best cyclists top Mount Pleasant for the 12th and final time at the UCI World Road Championships this month, they will have climbed nearly 4000 metres in elevation.
To take out the men’s elite road race title in Wollongong, cyclists must ascend roughly the height of Mount Perisher – twice. Competitors in the women’s road race will tackle Mount Pleasant six times.
Formidable climbing is just one element of the elite road races, in which the men will cover 266.9km, while the women do 164.3km.
Australian former professional cyclist Scott McGrory said the climb was comparable to those in other major international events.
“[The climb] is nasty; it will really hurt,” he said. “[The men’s race] is equivalent to any of the big mountain stages in the Tour de France.”
The Mount Pleasant climb has a maximum gradient of 14 per cent and is 1.1km in length.
Former professional cyclist and Olympian Gracie Elvin said while the climb isn’t long, it is very steep.
Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert.Credit:AP
“[The ascent] is long enough that the bunch will keep splitting up as riders who are stronger in that kind of climb make it really difficult and potentially attack,” she said.
For the average person, Elvin said even one ride up the hill would be difficult.
“If you don’t ride bikes very often at all, I don’t think you’d be able to ride up [Mount Pleasant] without getting off and walking,” she said. “If you’re a rider that rides fairly regularly, then you’d be able to do it a few times, but your legs would start burning after maybe three or four times.”
While Mount Pleasant will likely be a deciding factor in determining the winner, that rider won’t necessarily be the one leading the pack over the top of the hill, McGrory says.
“[To win] you either have to be good enough to ride away on your own over Mount Pleasant, or be good enough to at least stay with a small group of leaders over the last couple of laps and then sprint towards the end,” said McGrory, who will be part of the commentary team for Stan Sport, which will be covering the world championships from September 18-25. Stan is owned by Nine Entertainment, publisher of this masthead.
McGrory said the harsh climb would suit the man who has won the past two world titles, Julian Alaphilippe.
“[Alaphilippe] will want to go harder [on the hill] every time to narrow the field and give himself a better chance to win again,” McGrory said. “He’ll be attacking the hill with three, four or five laps to go to make the most out of it as possible … so he doesn’t have to sprint against anyone at the end.”
However, a crash during Stage 11 of the Vuelta a Espana on Thursday has put Aliphilippe’s participation in Wollongong in doubt.
On the other hand, McGrory said Australian cyclist Michael Matthews would need a sprint finish if he is to be a chance.
“[Matthews] doesn’t necessarily want to attack on the climb,” he said. “He just wants to make sure he follows those [uphill] runs as much as possible. He has enough speed to sprint from small groups.”
The impact on the body of completing the course goes beyond just burning leg muscles, according to Elvin.
Former professional cyclist Scott McGrory said the team accompanying leading cyclists would help determine their success.Credit:Mike Powell
“When you’re doing lots of climbs, especially in the back half of the race, the whole body is fatiguing; not just your legs, because you’re running out of all the energy you need to keep propelling yourself,” she said.
McGrory said while there wasn’t a significant physical difference among the top riders, mental strength could ultimately be what separates them.
“It just comes down to who is stronger mentally, and who is able to peak that little bit extra on the last couple of times up the hill,” he said.
McGrory said the winners would also be determined by which countries send the strongest teams to support their leading lights.
“[The leader’s success] also depends on what other members of their team are able to do to help, and protect them throughout the race,” he said.
Team members will help chase down competitors who attempt to break away from the group so that their leader remains competitive in the race, or help their leaders to conserve energy by giving them water and food, and by drafting, which saves energy as they are protected from the wind.
With his good form and a strong team to support him, Belgium’s Wout van Aert is one of McGrory’s top picks for the men’s race. However, McGrory said Matthews and Australian cyclist Grace Brown in the women’s race were also strong contenders.
While the climb will be painful for riders, McGrory said TV viewers are in for a treat.
“From a spectator’s perspective, we’ll love it because there will be so much happening in the race,” he said. “The climb is absolutely where all the action is.”
Stan Sport’s exclusive coverage of the 2022 UCI Road World Championships begins on September 18 with every race streaming ad-free, live and on-demand.
