"Illi Gardner surpasses nearly every previous ascent on Mt. Washington, declaring it exceptionally challenging"
In the picturesque town of Gorham, New Hampshire, the 52nd edition of the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb took place under ideal weather conditions, leading to strong performances and record-breaking rides on the challenging 7.6-mile course.
This renowned hillclimb, known for its intimidating pitch and iconic stature, is one of North America's toughest, ascending over 4,000 feet in elevation, culminating at 6,288 feet, the highest peak in the Northeast USA. The event, typically closed to bikes, is one of the only chances cyclists get to ride the mountain.
In the women's division, Illi Gardner, a visual effects artist from Cardiff, Wales, etched her name deeper into climbing lore. Gardner became the fastest woman ever to ascend Mt. Washington, setting a new women's record of 58:07. This impressive time earned her sixth place overall, smashing the previous woman's record held by Courtney Nelson by an enormous margin of 11 minutes.
Lydia MacKenzie and Aimee Vasse took second and third in the women's category, with times of 1:14:43 and 1:18:42 respectively.
In the men's division, Ian Boswell emerged victorious, winning the race with a new course record time of 50:15. Boswell distanced fellow former WorldTour pro Peter Stetina in the final stages of the climb to secure his victory. Phil Gaimon's previous course record was narrowly beaten, with Boswell shaving off nearly 23 seconds from Gaimon's 2022 time of 50:38.
Gardner's success at Mt. Washington is not a one-off. She has won three consecutive titles at the British Hill Climb circuit since 2022 and holds the QOM on several legendary climbs, including Mont Ventoux, Col du Galibier, Col de la Madeleine, Cime de la Bonette, Alpe d'Huez, Roxbury Gap, and the notorious 'America's steepest paved mile' of Lincoln Gap.
In 2023, Gardner added the European Hill Climb Championship to her list of achievements during the event's only edition. She also set new course records at the Mt. Ascutney and Mt. Kearsarge Hill Climb races during her east coast campaign.
Gardner's performance on Mt. Washington further solidifies her position as one of the world's top female climbers. Her record-breaking ride on this legendary course will undoubtedly be remembered for years to come.
References: 1. Bicycling 2. VeloNews 3. CyclingTips 4. Cycling Weekly 5. Peloton Magazine
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