what is the world's toughest road bike climb?
05-23-10, 02:45 PM
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what is the world's toughest road bike climb?
I was watching the Giro on TV this morning and the commentators said the Monte Zoncolan at the end of the stage is the toughest climb in any European bike race. The climb is about 4000 vertical feet in 6 miles (12% average grade).
Are there any tougher climbs anywhere in the world (on a paved road open to the public)? Anything with an average grade > 10% with a 5000 foot elevation gain?
Are there any tougher climbs anywhere in the world (on a paved road open to the public)? Anything with an average grade > 10% with a 5000 foot elevation gain?
05-23-10, 02:47 PM
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That climb today was the nastiest climb I've ever seen in a grand tour.
05-23-10, 03:35 PM
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Yeah, all the Euro bike race guys say the Ventoux is the nastiest climb, but I don't think most of them have done the Zoncolan, which wasn't used for bike races until today's Giro stage.
05-23-10, 03:37 PM
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mt washington auto road is a burly local climb, not open to the public though.
05-23-10, 03:38 PM
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+1 on the Mt. Washington climb, that's rather epic from the sound of it.
05-23-10, 03:39 PM
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I would nominate East Hawley Road 50 miles into the Mt. Greylock Century. Still having nightmares about that one.
05-23-10, 03:45 PM
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The Zoncolan has been used in the giro a number of times over the years.
Most recent being 2007.
05-23-10, 03:46 PM
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Peloton Shelter Dog
They were talking about how they had paved the tunnels and added lighting to them, it left me with the impression that was to make it suitable for the Giro.
05-23-10, 03:47 PM
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05-23-10, 04:39 PM
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05-23-10, 04:45 PM
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From the Maglia Rosa:
“I did the Zoncolan in the 2007 Giro d’Italia and I had bad memories of it but this time it went much better”, Arroyo claimed.
“This is harder than the Anglirů in Spain where you have some breathing space every 500 metres. Up here it goes steep for six kilometres with nowhere to recover
“I did the Zoncolan in the 2007 Giro d’Italia and I had bad memories of it but this time it went much better”, Arroyo claimed.
“This is harder than the Anglirů in Spain where you have some breathing space every 500 metres. Up here it goes steep for six kilometres with nowhere to recover
05-23-10, 04:49 PM
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didn't they used to have a bicycle hill climb on Mt Washington? some sort of annual event?
I think the worst climb I ever tried was Brandon's Gap near Rutland Vt. either that or Grafton Notch in CowHampshire
I think the worst climb I ever tried was Brandon's Gap near Rutland Vt. either that or Grafton Notch in CowHampshire
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05-23-10, 05:19 PM
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I ain't sure in the world, but these are arguably the toughest two in Europe:
a) Nebelhorn (Germany). Some people who actually climbed it say that grade peaks at around 38-42 % at a few points, and that the road is awful (of course, you wouldn't expect nice pavement up there, would you?
(yes, you're right... THAT's the road!)
(profile from Salite)
Here you can read almost everything about it from a few guys who went and climbed it. I'm afraid it's Spanish, but just the pics and videos are really worth it):
b) Scanuppia / Malga Palazzo. This is a concrete road in Italy.
(again, the profile from Salite)
(Yes, the road sign is real and the pic isn't manipulated, although I don't think it's totally accurate either).
You can find a short video of a guy climbing Malga Palazzo on a moutain bike in Youtube.
However what profiles may look like, I know someone who has actually climbed both (one of the guys from the link above), and says Nebelhorn is harder to climb, because there are some points where it is almost impossible just not falling from the bike. To me, they're the same; I cannot differentiate between 'impossible' and 'impossible'.
a) Nebelhorn (Germany). Some people who actually climbed it say that grade peaks at around 38-42 % at a few points, and that the road is awful (of course, you wouldn't expect nice pavement up there, would you?
(yes, you're right... THAT's the road!)
(profile from Salite)
Here you can read almost everything about it from a few guys who went and climbed it. I'm afraid it's Spanish, but just the pics and videos are really worth it):
b) Scanuppia / Malga Palazzo. This is a concrete road in Italy.
(again, the profile from Salite)
(Yes, the road sign is real and the pic isn't manipulated, although I don't think it's totally accurate either).
You can find a short video of a guy climbing Malga Palazzo on a moutain bike in Youtube.
However what profiles may look like, I know someone who has actually climbed both (one of the guys from the link above), and says Nebelhorn is harder to climb, because there are some points where it is almost impossible just not falling from the bike. To me, they're the same; I cannot differentiate between 'impossible' and 'impossible'.
Last edited by campaleches; 05-23-10 at 05:23 PM.
05-23-10, 05:25 PM
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Peloton Shelter Dog
That 5.9 km stretch with the 14.9% average grade that makes up the meat of today's climb is just too nasty. I was getting gassed watching that on lo-def TV.
05-23-10, 05:30 PM
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While it isn't the hardest in the world, Skyunka Mtn road/White Oak Mtn road is easily one of the hardest in the Blue ridge Mtns. Only 2-3 miles, but averages 16 or 17%. It's south of Asheville, NC off of I-26. Skyunka Mtn Road goes at it from one way, White Oak Mtn goes up the same mountain from the other side. Here's a pick from the ride up
https://skyukalodge.com/images/shunkewauken.jpg
this is actually taken from the road, it's only about 10 feet away. You go from where the picture was taken to the top of the falls in one switchback.
https://skyukalodge.com/images/shunkewauken.jpg
this is actually taken from the road, it's only about 10 feet away. You go from where the picture was taken to the top of the falls in one switchback.
05-23-10, 05:35 PM
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ah.... sure.
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Toughest climb I've done in Washington State is from the Ferry landing up Hurricane Ridge. 20 miles and 6200 ish feet from Sea Level to the end of the road. Only about 500 feet of flat/slight downhill otherwise it's all up.
Can't imagine climbing something longer or steeper... I'd be toast.
Can't imagine climbing something longer or steeper... I'd be toast.
05-23-10, 06:54 PM
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Damn. 12% on it's own is steep but in most locales, almost always readily manageable as it usually doesn't stay 12% for more than half a mile.
12% for 6 friggin' miles sound like death to me. Mile one = doable, mile 2 = harder than I thought, mile 3 = WTF!, mile 4 = I'm outta my league, mile 5 = I need cardioversion NOW, mile 6 = I'm a rock star of cycling!
12% for 6 friggin' miles sound like death to me. Mile one = doable, mile 2 = harder than I thought, mile 3 = WTF!, mile 4 = I'm outta my league, mile 5 = I need cardioversion NOW, mile 6 = I'm a rock star of cycling!