The hardest worlds

[delgado]

What was the hardest worlds parcours in recent memory? Duitama 1995 comes to mind, along with Sallanches 1980 maybe (ok strike recent). Sure the riders make the race difficult blabla..., but in terms of pre-race givens (altimetry, but also weather/altitude/other factors) let's hear a ranking!

(opposite ranking is surely led by Zolder, or has there ever been a pure sprinters course after the early 90ies?)

 

[ak-zaaf]

Mendrisio was pretty tough.

Lissabon was supposed to be hard too if I remember correctly. That ended in a bunch sprint though.

 

[Lupetto]

Just a few with no specific ranking

Nürburgring 1927, 182 km. First world road race on the very hilly Nürburg Raceway. They had to climb the so called "Steilstrecke". Only the winner of the race Alfredo Binda could do it on his bike. The rest had to climb off and push. The course was done in 1966 and 1978, too. But without this extremly steep section. But even without it, it's still a very demanding circuit.

Moorslede 1950, 284 km. Not a small circuit, but a bigger one with lots of cobblestones and the Kemmelberg. Briek Schotte simply hammered away and took home his secong world championship.

Solingen 1954, 240 km. Not the longest one, but with a very demanding circuit and really bad weather. Raining the whole day and bitterly cold. The last rounds were every man for himself. Bobet took it in front of Schaer and Charly Gaul.

Frascati 1955, 293 km. Last year freezing cold, this year an extremly hot day in the oven of the alban hills near Rome. Around 35C for the whole day. Race took nearly nine hours.

Salò 1962. 296 km. Again a very hilly and demanding course in big heat. Right at the Lago di Garda. Not a big day for the favorites, neutralizing themselves and so Anquetils best helper Jean Stablinski took it home solo.

Montreal 1974, 263 km. Merckx third victory. Nearly the same course we saw last weekend. The finish line was right after the Mont Royal Climb. It had to be climbed 21 times.

San Cristobal 1977, 255 km. Heavy tropical rains all day, causing nearly every rider to puncture and/or crash. I don't have any information regarding the course. But I guess it was a very hilly one.

Sallanches 1980, 268km . Legend in this sport. Brutal heat and a brutal climb. Badger time. Only 15 of 107 starters reached the finish line. Hinault simply destroyed everyone of them.

Altenrhein 1983, 270 km. Greg LeMond took his victory on a difficult course with two climbs. A course for big champions.

Duitama 1995, 265 km. Half of the race was pure climbing in 2500m altitude. Unfortunately lots of riders called it off. Only 98 starters, but a world class podium with Olano, Indurain and Pantani.

 

[Parrulo]

iirc the lisbon worlds with the climb of the monsanto were at least hardish.

i think oporto(where i live) could have some of the best worlds ever.

riding in a circuit from the river side at the bottum(the oporto ribeira is considered patrimonum of the world so its just beautifull) all the way up to that tower at the top of the pic and then back down.

thats the tower of the previous pic. thats the main street of the city. from the river side to there its a steep climb in pave. not a PR kind of pave . . . but still its pave nonetheless.

^^that kind of pave.

the finish ofc should be at the top

p.s. there are wider and much more steeper roads to go up

 

[ergmonkey]

Just a few with no specific ranking

Nürburgring 1927, 182 km. First world road race on the very hilly Nürburg Raceway. They had to climb the so called "Steilstrecke". Only the winner of the race Alfredo Binda could do it on his bike. The rest had to climb off and push. The course was done in 1966 and 1978, too. But without this extremly steep section. But even without it, it's still a very demanding circuit.

Moorslede 1950, 284 km. Not a small circuit, but a bigger one with lots of cobblestones and the Kemmelberg. Briek Schotte simply hammered away and took home his secong world championship.

Solingen 1954, 240 km. Not the longest one, but with a very demanding circuit and really bad weather. Raining the whole day and bitterly cold. The last rounds were every man for himself. Bobet took it in front of Schaer and Charly Gaul.

Frascati 1955, 293 km. Last year freezing cold, this year an extremly hot day in the oven of the alban hills near Rome. Around 35C for the whole day. Race took nearly nine hours.

Salò 1962. 296 km. Again a very hilly and demanding course in big heat. Right at the Lago di Garda. Not a big day for the favorites, neutralizing themselves and so Anquetils best helper Jean Stablinski took it home solo.

Montreal 1974, 263 km. Merckx third victory. Nearly the same course we saw last weekend. The finish line was right after the Mont Royal Climb. It had to be climbed 21 times.

San Cristobal 1977, 255 km. Heavy tropical rains all day, causing nearly every rider to puncture and/or crash. I don't have any information regarding the course. But I guess it was a very hilly one.

Sallanches 1980, 268km . Legend in this sport. Brutal heat and a brutal climb. Badger time. Only 15 of 107 starters reached the finish line. Hinault simply destroyed everyone of them.

Altenrhein 1983, 270 km. Greg LeMond took his victory on a difficult course with two climbs. A course for big champions.

Duitama 1995, 265 km. Half of the race was pure climbing in 2500m altitude. Unfortunately lots of riders called it off. Only 98 starters, but a world class podium with Olano, Indurain and Pantani.

Just wanted to say great post. Thank you. I enjoyed it a lot.

My own memory only went back so far as Duitama until I read this.

 

[Moose McKnuckles]

Just a few with no specific ranking

Nürburgring 1927, 182 km. First world road race on the very hilly Nürburg Raceway. They had to climb the so called "Steilstrecke". Only the winner of the race Alfredo Binda could do it on his bike. The rest had to climb off and push. The course was done in 1966 and 1978, too. But without this extremly steep section. But even without it, it's still a very demanding circuit.

Moorslede 1950, 284 km. Not a small circuit, but a bigger one with lots of cobblestones and the Kemmelberg. Briek Schotte simply hammered away and took home his secong world championship.

Solingen 1954, 240 km. Not the longest one, but with a very demanding circuit and really bad weather. Raining the whole day and bitterly cold. The last rounds were every man for himself. Bobet took it in front of Schaer and Charly Gaul.

Frascati 1955, 293 km. Last year freezing cold, this year an extremly hot day in the oven of the alban hills near Rome. Around 35C for the whole day. Race took nearly nine hours.

Salò 1962. 296 km. Again a very hilly and demanding course in big heat. Right at the Lago di Garda. Not a big day for the favorites, neutralizing themselves and so Anquetils best helper Jean Stablinski took it home solo.

Montreal 1974, 263 km. Merckx third victory. Nearly the same course we saw last weekend. The finish line was right after the Mont Royal Climb. It had to be climbed 21 times.

San Cristobal 1977, 255 km. Heavy tropical rains all day, causing nearly every rider to puncture and/or crash. I don't have any information regarding the course. But I guess it was a very hilly one.

Sallanches 1980, 268km . Legend in this sport. Brutal heat and a brutal climb. Badger time. Only 15 of 107 starters reached the finish line. Hinault simply destroyed everyone of them.

Altenrhein 1983, 270 km. Greg LeMond took his victory on a difficult course with two climbs. A course for big champions.

Duitama 1995, 265 km. Half of the race was pure climbing in 2500m altitude. Unfortunately lots of riders called it off. Only 98 starters, but a world class podium with Olano, Indurain and Pantani.

Great post right there!

 

[theviciousfishes]

Just a few with no specific ranking

Nürburgring 1927, 182 km. First world road race on the very hilly Nürburg Raceway. They had to climb the so called "Steilstrecke". Only the winner of the race Alfredo Binda could do it on his bike. The rest had to climb off and push. The course was done in 1966 and 1978, too. But without this extremly steep section. But even without it, it's still a very demanding circuit.

Moorslede 1950, 284 km. Not a small circuit, but a bigger one with lots of cobblestones and the Kemmelberg. Briek Schotte simply hammered away and took home his secong world championship.

Solingen 1954, 240 km. Not the longest one, but with a very demanding circuit and really bad weather. Raining the whole day and bitterly cold. The last rounds were every man for himself. Bobet took it in front of Schaer and Charly Gaul.

Frascati 1955, 293 km. Last year freezing cold, this year an extremly hot day in the oven of the alban hills near Rome. Around 35C for the whole day. Race took nearly nine hours.

Salò 1962. 296 km. Again a very hilly and demanding course in big heat. Right at the Lago di Garda. Not a big day for the favorites, neutralizing themselves and so Anquetils best helper Jean Stablinski took it home solo.

Montreal 1974, 263 km. Merckx third victory. Nearly the same course we saw last weekend. The finish line was right after the Mont Royal Climb. It had to be climbed 21 times.

San Cristobal 1977, 255 km. Heavy tropical rains all day, causing nearly every rider to puncture and/or crash. I don't have any information regarding the course. But I guess it was a very hilly one.

Sallanches 1980, 268km . Legend in this sport. Brutal heat and a brutal climb. Badger time. Only 15 of 107 starters reached the finish line. Hinault simply destroyed everyone of them.

Altenrhein 1983, 270 km. Greg LeMond took his victory on a difficult course with two climbs. A course for big champions.

Duitama 1995, 265 km. Half of the race was pure climbing in 2500m altitude. Unfortunately lots of riders called it off. Only 98 starters, but a world class podium with Olano, Indurain and Pantani.

I know its a lot of work but you seem to have a good memory/plethora of knowledge on the race. Any chance I can get a recap of other notable ones dating back to the 60's? I have only seen last years.

 

[delgado]

great stuff on the list, thanks.
Duitama couldn't have been that hard since Olano finished it on one tire! seriously, not only was the topography ridiculous, but the deep hanging clouds + occasional drizzle made for some apocalyptic scenery (much like Sallanches). Also, if I recall correctly, there was serious kidnap angst going around among some of the star riders at the time.

Since the inclusion of the Kemmelberg in the 50ies worlds was mentioned, and the trend in the grand tours seems to be inclusion of classics routes into stages (Arenberg, Monte Paschi), how about a Liege or Huy WC... they do the Mur only 3 times in the flèche I think, seems like a waste of pavement!

 

[Lupetto]

iirc the lisbon worlds with the climb of the monsanto were at least hardish.

i think oporto(where i live) could have some of the best worlds ever.

It really looks nice. Beautiful city.

If there was any possibility, I'd bring the worlds to San Francisco. So many steep streets and a fantastic city. I really miss the GP SF, was a great race with tons of fans on the streets.

 

[bicing]

I wish Bola del Mundo was a worlds course.

 

[ultimobici]

Can't believe no one has mentioned the 1989 Chambery race!

Appalling weather conditions and one of the most dramatic finales.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yJSgzHTRg38

Enjoy!

 

[Ryo Hazuki]

duitama 1995 by far. I think only 17 guys finished it

 

[khardung la]

The hardest is Ponferrada 2013

 

[movingtarget]

Sallanches 1980 stands out. Hinault was unstoppable and there was so much climbing to do. Last year's course at Mendrisio was also supposed to be incredibly hard. Usually the amount of finishers says it all.

 

[icefire]

The hardest is Ponferrada 2013

The organiser will provide a wrong map and profile. Riders will only know after they start the race

 

[nvpacchi]

Just a few with no specific ranking

Nürburgring 1927, 182 km. First world road race on the very hilly Nürburg Raceway. They had to climb the so called "Steilstrecke". Only the winner of the race Alfredo Binda could do it on his bike. The rest had to climb off and push. The course was done in 1966 and 1978, too. But without this extremly steep section. But even without it, it's still a very demanding circuit.

Moorslede 1950, 284 km. Not a small circuit, but a bigger one with lots of cobblestones and the Kemmelberg. Briek Schotte simply hammered away and took home his secong world championship.

Solingen 1954, 240 km. Not the longest one, but with a very demanding circuit and really bad weather. Raining the whole day and bitterly cold. The last rounds were every man for himself. Bobet took it in front of Schaer and Charly Gaul.

Frascati 1955, 293 km. Last year freezing cold, this year an extremly hot day in the oven of the alban hills near Rome. Around 35C for the whole day. Race took nearly nine hours.

Salò 1962. 296 km. Again a very hilly and demanding course in big heat. Right at the Lago di Garda. Not a big day for the favorites, neutralizing themselves and so Anquetils best helper Jean Stablinski took it home solo.

Montreal 1974, 263 km. Merckx third victory. Nearly the same course we saw last weekend. The finish line was right after the Mont Royal Climb. It had to be climbed 21 times.

San Cristobal 1977, 255 km. Heavy tropical rains all day, causing nearly every rider to puncture and/or crash. I don't have any information regarding the course. But I guess it was a very hilly one.

Sallanches 1980, 268km . Legend in this sport. Brutal heat and a brutal climb. Badger time. Only 15 of 107 starters reached the finish line. Hinault simply destroyed everyone of them.

Altenrhein 1983, 270 km. Greg LeMond took his victory on a difficult course with two climbs. A course for big champions.

Duitama 1995, 265 km. Half of the race was pure climbing in 2500m altitude. Unfortunately lots of riders called it off. Only 98 starters, but a world class podium with Olano, Indurain and Pantani.

Agree with everyone else, fantastic post!

Its quite spectacular thinking about Eddy Merckx climbing the same hills I just witnessed last week in Montreal. Seeing the Montreal course used as the world's circuit makes the race that much more meaningful to me.