Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb

The Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb is an annual American cycle racing event held in New Hampshire. The event raises money for the Tin Mountain Conservation Center, which promotes appreciation of the environment.

Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb
Race details
DateAugust
RegionMt. Washington, New Hampshire, United States
DisciplineRoad race
TypeOne-day race
History
First edition1973 (1973)
Editions37
First winner John Allis (USA)
Most wins Tyler Hamilton (USA) (4 times)
 Aimee Vasse (USA) (5 times)
Most recent Phil Gaimon (USA)
 Courtney Nelson (USA)

Background

In August of each year, up to six hundred riders take part in the race which centers around a 7.6 mile (12.2 km) climb to the top of New Hampshire's Mount Washington—the highest peak in New England.[1] The Mount Washington Auto Road has an average gradient of 12% and reaches gradients of up to 22%.[1]

The race's most famous victor is Tyler Hamilton who got his fourth victory in the race in 2006 in a time of 52:21,[2][3] beating out Ned Overend by 2:20. Jeannie Longo held the women's record at 58:14 prior to the records being reset in 2022, while Tom Danielson owned the men's record of 49:24 prior to the records being reset in 2022.[4]

In June 2011 Mount Washington Auto Road race organizers announced that the times ridden by Tyler Hamilton of the United States and Genevieve Jeanson of Canada would no longer be considered official records.[4] Both Jeanson and Hamilton admitted to using performance-enhancing drugs throughout their career, which led to the record loss.[4]

As of 2022, the road is completely paved, whereas previously portions of the climb was gravel.[5] The process of paving the road began in the 1970s.[5] Due to the road change, race organizers chose to reset the records in 2022. Because of this, the current male record is 50:38, made by Phillip Gaimon in 2022, and the current female record is 1:09:35, made by Courtney Nelson in 2022.[6]

Past winners
Year Men Women
1973 John Allis1:15:05 Unknown
1974 John Allis1:01:39 Unknown
1975 Results unknown
1976 John Howard Barbara Amburgey
1977 Mike Hogan58:24 Ester Salmi
1978 Martin Ernst Bruhn1:03:21 Unknown
1979 Steve Pyle1:01:29 Unknown
1980 Dale Stetina0:57:41 Unknown
1981 Steve PyleUnknown Beth Heiden1:16:30 (new wm's record)
1982 Matt VonWahzle1:06:22 Murrie Green1:14:24 (new wm's record)
1983 Gary Evans Unknown
1984 Chuck Canfield1:03:45 Martha Tuttle1:29:46
1985 Chuck Canfield0:59:59 Martha Pitman1:18:58
1986 Chuck Canfield0:28:22 Kathy Swanson0:31:52 (shortened due to weather)
1987 Dan Works1:06:20 Kathy Swanson1:23:12
1988 Dan Works1:07:48 Debbie Jensen1:21:31
1989 Tai Roulston1:10:16 Megan Hayes1:22:48
1990 Douglas Tanner1:05:13 Kathy Swanson1:19:25
1991 Andrew de Garmo1:01:30 Mary Serreze1:24:40
1992 Mike Nelson1:02:47 Suzy West1:16:17
1993 Joe Bucciaglia1:02:33 Jodi Groesbeck1:16:51
1994 Race cancelled due to weather
1995 Race cancelled due to weather
1996 Joe Bucciaglia1:00:30 Marilyn Ruseckas1:14:19
1997 Tyler Hamilton0:51:56 Marilyn Ruseckas1:11:38
1998 Robert Dapice0:59:19 Dorrie Martell1:11:56
1999 Tyler Hamilton0:50:21 Geneviève Jeanson1:01:57
2000 Tim Johnson0:55:46 Jeannie Longo0:58:14 (record)
2001 Tim Johnson0:53:31 Karen Bockel1:09:20
2002 Tom Danielson0:49:24 (record invalidated in 2011) Geneviève Jeanson0:54:02 (record invalidated in 2011)
2003 Tom Danielson0:51:05 Geneviève Jeanson0:59:58
2004 Justin England0:58:50 Aimee Vasse1:10:44
2005 Tyler Hamilton0:51:11 Aimee Vasse1:12:38
2006 Tyler Hamilton0:52:21 Aimee Vasse1:08:31
2007 Race cancelled due to weather
2008 Phillip Gaimon0:54:57 Flavia Lepene1:08:52
2009 Phillip Gaimon0:54:37 Sue Schlatter1:07:43
2010 Nico Toutenhoofd0:57:26 Marti Shea1:05:42
2011 Ned Overend0:55:03 Marti Shea1:04:12
2012 Cameron Cogburn0:52:28 Marti Shea1:03:14
2013 Cameron Cogburn0:50:48 Silke Wunderwald1:09:56
2014 John Kronborg Ebsen0:52:53 Marti Shea1:06:01
2015 Eneas Freyre0:53:00 Véronique Fortin1:05:58
2016 Eneas Freyre0:52:10 Victoria DiSavino1:07:32
2017 Phillip Gaimon0:52:10 Aimee Vasse1:07:32
2018 Barry Miller0:53:34 Aimee Vasse1:04:05
2019[7] Erik Levinsohn0:53:42 Stefanie Sydlik1:10:32
2020 Race canceled due to Covid-19
2021 Cameron Cogburn[8]0:50:48 Silke Wunderwald[8]1:09:56
2022[9] Phillip Gaimon0:50:38 (Record) Courtney Nelson1:09:35
2023 Race cancelled due to weather

See also

References
  1. "Test your endurance during the Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb". Boston.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  2. Reports, From Staff. "Hamilton wins Mt. Washington bicycle Hillclimb". Foster's Daily Democrat. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  3. "Hamilton's N.H. mountain-bike records voided". ESPN.com. 2011-06-07. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  4. Sports, Vermont (2011-06-07). "Mt. Washington Auto Road Records Shake-Up". Vermont Sports Magazine. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  5. Wibur, Eric (2022-06-01). "Mount Washington Auto Road completes a half-century of paving in time for summer". New England Ski Journal. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  6. "Race Records | MWARBH". www.mwarbh.org. Retrieved 2024-06-04.
  7. Services (LTS), Lightbox Technology and. "Mt. Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb". www.iresultslive.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  8. VeloNews.com (2013-08-17). "Cameron Cogburn, Silke Wunderwald win Mt. Washington Hillclimb". Velo. Retrieved 2024-05-28.
  9. Services (LTS), Lightbox Technology and. "Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb". www.iresultslive.com. Retrieved 2024-05-28.

44°16′52.9″N 71°16′36.5″W

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