Explore the World Cup trail in Wollongong: "Breathtaking start, watch out for pee breaks"

Wollongong is the epicenter of the race this week, but for the start of the elite road race (men and women), the peloton diverts to Helensburgh, a stone’s throw from Sydney.

Towards the first loop with Mount Keira, a passage of about 27 kilometers follows along the coastline, including the Sea Cliff Bridge.

It is a World Cup entrance that is particularly popular. “This is incredibly beautiful”, Maarten Vangramberen shares his admiration.

“Maybe the riders can enjoy the cliffs and rocks along the Pacific Ocean for a while.”

“I can’t imagine that a World Cup has ever had a better start than this World Cup.”

However, there is little to no time to be a tourist. After any sightseeing, a first circuit pops up, a round of 34 kilometers that is only served once.

The executioner in that loop is Mount Keira (after more than 40 kilometers), on paper the toughest and especially longest climb of the day.

Maarten Vangramberen: “The start is tough, with a stretch of 15 percent. The climb is 9 kilometers long, with an average of 5 percent. That’s not too bad.”

But will Mount Keira have an impact on the race story? “That will be fine.”

“The climb will be a bit grueling, but the flight with exotics will already have left here.”

Our reporters mainly point to another factor: “The riders are going through the Australian rainforest, super exciting.”

“These forests are teeming with spiders and snakes: so be careful with the massive bathroom breaks!”

After more than 60 kilometers the peloton then enters Wollongong, where the 17 kilometer circuit shines 12 times for the men on Sunday. The women go for 6 laps.

The circuit in Wollongong has 2 calf biters. Mount Ousley is the first nuisance.

“You can compare the first part with the Bruine Put in the Brabantse Pijl”, our scout concludes.

“There will certainly be differences here as we continue into the final laps.”

“You have to turn up in a good position here. If you are too far here, you are not with the guns.”

After Mount Ousley you can blow your lungs full twice and then there is the next dish with Mount Pleasant.

Pleasant or Not Pleasant, as Wout van Aert claimed after a first acquaintance?

“I had already heard many Indian stories about it,” says Maarten Vangramberen after his inspection.

“Percentages of more than 20 percent, that’s not right. We measured it ourselves: 14 to 15 percent, that’s the maximum.”

“I see a mix of the Smeysberg, last year on the World Cup course, and the Roche-aux-Faucons, the climb in Liège-Bastogne-Liège.”

“Once, that’s okay, but 12 times… In the last laps it will go really fast here.”

We get the last passage at 8 kilometers from the white line. “It goes straight down on very wide roads where speeds of up to 100 kilometers per hour will be reached,” predicts our cycling reporter.

“The finish is a bit downhill and narrow. It will be a very fast sprint, but I don’t expect a large group. The suit will be different. But the really fast men have an advantage at this finish.”

And what is the conclusion? “It’s a beautiful course and especially the start is breathtaking.”