‘Demanding’: Five insights from the Wollongong 2022 full course release

Yesterday, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and the Wollongong 2022 organising committee released the full race details for the 2022 UCI Road World Championships.

Last year, we found out 10 key points about the routes for this landmark event, but it was an incomplete picture.

We knew the roads they’d be using, and the start and finish locations. We knew the elite road races would tackle Mount Keira and multiple laps of a twisting Wollongong City Circuit.

But we didn’t know how many times they’d ascend the hill, how many laps they’d be doing, and whether the key climb(s) would be near the start, middle or end – and, therefore, whether the course would best suit climbers, puncheurs, or even give sprinters a chance.

With yesterday’s announcement, the fog has lifted from September’s seaside event, giving us clear understanding of what to expect in the race for rainbow jerseys.

Here’s what we now know about these home world championships.

1. Twisty time trials are locked in

The time trial courses have now been confirmed, with only a minor change to the start location.

Elite riders will roll down the start ramp on Market Street before racing the sinuous city-based circuit, heading north towards Towradgi before finishing along the seafront on Marine Drive.

With over 30 corners per lap, these technical courses will demand accurate bike-handling as much as raw speed.

As predicted, the elite men and women will ride two laps (34.2km) – the first time both categories will race on the same day over the same distance.

The other time trial events will take place on a slightly shorter version of the circuit. The junior women will race one lap (14.1km) while the junior men, under-23 men and mixed relay events will be held over two laps (28.8km – a little less for the mixed relay).

2. They've added a no-brainer neutral section

A small but important point for the elite road races: organisers have added a 6.9-kilometre neutral section after the remote start in Helensburgh.

Those opening miles include a steep, white-knuckle plummet from Stanwell Tops to the coast. They’re not ideal roads for launching a 200-strong peloton under race conditions.

Neutralising the descent is a sensible decision.

The junior and under-23 races will stay wholly on the local urban circuit. (Photo: Dee Kramer Photography)

3. We know how far the juniors will race

Organisers have confirmed the distances for the Men Junior, Women Junior and Men Under 23 Road Races, which will be held entirely on the urban Wollongong City Circuit.

The junior women will race four laps (67km), the junior men eight laps (136km), and the under-23 men 10 laps (170km).

These races will all begin with a short neutral section of 1.2km to lead the peloton out of the city centre.

For roadside fans, then, there’ll be no shortage of chances to watch the world’s best young riders fly past before a spectacular seaside finish.

4. Lots of climbing – but it could be worse for sprinters

We already knew the road races wouldn’t be flat: aside from Mount Keira (8.7km at 5%), the Wollongong City Circuit includes the sharp ascent of Mount Pleasant (1.1km at 7.7%).

Organisers have described the circuits as "demanding", "challenging" and "highly technical".

“Many people have a perception that Australia is flat, open and all about the ocean,” race director Scott Sunderland said. “If you think you know Wollongong and Australia, think again.”

Mark Renshaw (right) thinks it's possible for a sprinter to win the 2022 UCI Road Race World Championship. (Photo: Ryan Miu)

Appropriately, then, organisers have revealed a total of 2,433m elevation for the elite women over their 164km race, and a whopping 3,945m over 267km for the elite men. That’s comparable to Liège-Bastogne-Liège, a one-day classic usually won by punchy climbers.

But, looking past the raw numbers, the course configuration is about as balanced as possible: after the run-in to Wollongong, the peloton will climb Mount Keira only once before completing the rest of the race on the city circuit (six laps for the women, 12 for the men).

It’s about as friendly (or least hostile!) to sprinters as it could be. By getting Mount Keira out of the way early, the door is ajar for dropped riders to rejoin the peloton before fighting tooth-and-nail to survive Mount Pleasant.

Safety manager and former professional Mark Renshaw said he believed it would be "possible" for a sprinter to win the road race, but they would need to bring their "absolute A-game".

Make no mistake, a big bunch sprint is unlikely. This is tough terrain and only the strongest will make it.

But it just raises the possibility of an unpredictable, Milan-San-Remo-esque finale where all types of riders – climbers, puncheurs, and the most determined of fast finishers – remain in the mix in the closing kilometres. It should be an exciting finish!

Photo: UCI/SWpix

5. A brand new set of rainbows will be awarded

The UCI has confirmed that for the first time, medals and rainbow jerseys will be awarded in the Women Under 23 category for the individual time trial and road race.

There won’t be a standalone under-23 women’s race. Instead, the prizes will be awarded as part of the elite events (the UCI says this is a transitional measure and that separate events will be run from the 2025 World Championships onwards).

Still, we’ll get to see history made in Wollongong: it’s on Australian soil that a young woman will pull on a new set of rainbows for the very first time.

The 2022 UCI Road World Championships in Wollongong will begin on September 18. For more information, visit the official Wollongong 2022 website.