World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria: Route road race

World Cycling Championships 2018 Innsbruck, Austria: Route road race - men

Sunday, 30 September 2018 - The men's road race at the Worlds in Innsbruck amounts to 259.4 kilometres, while the route takes in 4,670 vertical metres. The race ends with a testing finishing circuit. At 31 kilometres, the final round features a 7.9 kilometres climb at 5.7% and a 2.8 kilometres climb at 11.5% before the riders plunge down a 6 kilometres descent. The last 2 kilometres are on the flat.

The UCI-road race at the Worlds in Austria leaves from Endach in Kufstein before the riders head for a circuit in Innsbruck. The biggest hurdle looms at kilometre 57. The Gnadenwald is a 2.6 kilometres climb at 10.5%.

At kilometre 85 the riders hit the circuit and following the passage on the line at the Rennweg in Innsbruck they tackle seven laps. The first six laps are 23.9 kilometres each, while a 7.9 kilometres climb up to Igls is a recurring theme. The average slope is 5.7% and the steepest ramp en route to Igls is 10%.

The last round takes in 7.1 extra kilometres because the riders tackle the Gramartboden. Following the last passage in Igls they plunge down to Innsbruck before they hit the punchy climb to the northwest of the city. The Gramartboden is 2.8 kilometres and averaging 11,5%, while the steepest ramps are 25%. The toughest kilometre is halfway up the hill.

The ensuing descent is 6 kilometres in which the riders pass the Hungerburg. In the 2017 Tour of the Alps, the finale of the 1st stage was the exact opposite. It was a summit finish with Michele Scarponi climbing to his last victory on the Hungerburg. Five days later he was tragically killed during a training ride.

The last 2 kilometres of the road race at the 2018 World Cycling Championships in Innsbruck, Tirol, are played out on the flat.