A WC in the mountains?

[jsem94]

Zoncolan loop would be epic.

 

[Mambo95]

Zoncolan loop would be epic.

It really wouldn't. Very few big names would bother. If there were ten laps (as suggested), half the field would be a long way back after two laps (maybe one) - so they'd drop out. By the fourth lap you'd be down to, at best, 20 riders left. By lap five or six you'll have your first and second decided and maybe two more riders fighting for third. There may be a few nutters still out on the course getting laps. So then you're left with about two hours of four riders just riding to the finish. You might as well go and sit by the nearest main road or watch a sportif for all the excitement it would bring.

And it would be won by some bloke you've never heard of who does the RAAM.

 

[jordan5000]

It really wouldn't. Very few big names would bother. If there were ten laps (as suggested), half the field would be a long way back after two laps (maybe one) - so they'd drop out. By the fourth lap you'd be down to, at best, 20 riders left. By lap five or six you'll have your first and second decided and maybe two more riders fighting for third. There may be a few nutters still out on the course getting laps. So then you're left with about two hours of four riders just riding to the finish. You might as well go and sit by the nearest main road or watch a sportif for all the excitement it would bring.

And it would be won by some bloke you've never heard of who does the RAAM.

That's why I never suggested 10 loops of zonolcan lol, my ideal race would be about 170-200km and would climb about 3750m, yes there wouldn't be that many competitors but I figure that the following could be competitive: Evans, the Schlecks, Sanchez, Contador, Nibali, andd Scarponi that would be 7 riders competing, possibly for 40 minutes+ on a legendary mountain.

 

[Descender]

Wait to see the 2014 WC in Ponferrada. There are plans for an ITT course with 30 km flat and the last 9 km @ 6%. The RR will have a total accumulated climbing of more than 3300 m.

http://www.elpais.com/articulo/depo...lismo/2014/elpepudep/20110404elpepudep_10/Tes

3300m is an average mid-mountain stage. Nothing spectacular.

 

[Libertine Seguros]

This Zoncolán loop... would the riders just reach the top and turn round and have a head on collision? Otherwise I don't see any way it's not about a 50km loop going over Monte Zoncolán, descending to Sutrio and then heading around over the Sella Valcalda back to Ovaro.

Realistically it would be better to have a medium mountain on the loop rather than a HC, because of what has already been mentioned.

Several places could host a pretty good circuit involving such a climb. Toulon with the multiple routes up and down Mont Faron springs immediately to mind, as does Oslo with the Holmenkollen/Vinterpark Tryvann climb. Nice has a number of options, with Mont Chauve and the Baisse de Bordinas in addition to the more likely and more famous Col d'Èze. How about a Worlds in Pinerolo going over and over Pra Martino, or in Genoa going over and over Pino Soprano? Liberec, going over and over Kralovka? Grenoble would be good - you could go as far as Chamrousse if you really wanted, but I'd be more inclined to do the Col de Vence, Col du Palaquit, or Le Fournet instead.

 

[9000ft]

I don't suppose there's really such a thing as a course that "anybody" (IE not a specialist) could win.

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

This Zoncolán loop... would the riders just reach the top and turn round and have a head on collision? Otherwise I don't see any way it's not about a 50km loop going over Monte Zoncolán, descending to Sutrio and then heading around over the Sella Valcalda back to Ovaro.

Realistically it would be better to have a medium mountain on the loop rather than a HC, because of what has already been mentioned.

I did think of this, but if I was gonna go epic, it had to be zonc

I mean I don't even think the best climbers could handle a continuous loop of zoncolan.

 

[CasperVg]

How about six loops of this?

Bédoin -> Mont Ventoux -> Bédoin

Alternatively they could start from Avignon or Orange and only do one or two loop(s)?

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

I was wondering if any World Championships have been done in the mountains, if not why? I've always wondered what it would be like to see the best climbers battle it out for a whole day, rather than just 1 or 2 mountain passes like in the grand tours. Would a mountainous WC be too difficult or would it limit the amount of contenders too much? My ideas for one would be either the dolomites or something similar to stage 18 (I think) in this year's tour. Please share your thoughts, thank you.

1995 duitama, boyaca, colombia

the hardest wc I think of all time. only 19 riders finished the race. on cyclingtorrents you can download it. it's crazy!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

Mountain World Championship. What a great idea! Really.

there are number of countrys that hold national climbing championships like austria, kazachstan and others. which means one giant climbing course and the winner is the best climber of the country, would be awesome to have this maybe once every 4 years as a worlds

 

[rxgqgxnyfz]

just by reading the topic's name i thought it was some kind of joke about the bear in mountain woods...

 

[Timmy-loves-Rabo]

without a doubt us ducth would dominate this.

can you imagine the train...

Lighart ( ), LTD, Ruigh, kelderman, slagter, kruijswijk, poels, mollema, gesink.

Unbeatable

 

[uphillstruggle]

3300 m of climbing is not much. As far as I recall this year in Copenhagen has roughly 2000 m and Varese, 2008 had 3555 m and Mendrision, 2009 had 4,655 m.

That was around the number quoted for the British National road ace last year (that G thomas won). I live close to that circuit and it's very tough but not that selective by pro standards (definitely no liege).

 

[uphillstruggle]

there are number of countrys that hold national climbing championships like austria, kazachstan and others. which means one giant climbing course and the winner is the best climber of the country, would be awesome to have this maybe once every 4 years as a worlds

England has one too but we only have hills

 

[cprior]

1995 duitama, boyaca, colombia

the hardest wc I think of all time. only 19 riders finished the race. on cyclingtorrents you can download it. it's crazy!

This. Epic it was!

On a different level, I know, but Stuttgart was not too shabby either!

 

[Pippo_San]

Duitama and Sallanches are still my favourites, anyway Agrigento 1994 wasn't bad either: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6uutMcZ98-c

Great *cough*EPO*cough* moments!

 

[mb2612]

Zonlocan could work easily if you just looped back by going over Crostis.