If you don't think US climbs rate with the best climbs in the world, I suspect you haven't seen them. Mt. Washington? Ooofaaaa. Even here in NY, the Devil's Kitchen climb in the Catskills was so steep during the Tour de Trump the autobus dudes (sprinters/non-climbers) were KEELING OVER ON THEIR BICYCLES 15 years ago during the stage that went up that climb. When it comes to sheer ball busting steepness, American climbs can be tougher than most of the climbs I see on the UCI pro tour.