Can Australia win the marquee world championships road race in Wollongong in September?
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Former top sprinter Mark Renshaw certainly thinks so.
The official course was revealed on Thursday night, starting at Helensburgh and along the Sea Cliff Bridge to Wollongong.
Then comes the longest climb up Mt Keira, at its steepest at a 15 per cent gradient, before the 12 laps of the city circuit, including the Mount Pleasant rise along Ramah Avenue, where over 1.1km it will be come a tactical battle between sprinters and climbers of the 119m rise, that tops out at 14 per cent.
"I've ridden just about every metre of this course so I can say from the bottom of my heart it's possible for a sprinter to win," Renshaw said. during the official press conference.
"As an Australian we've mentioned Caleb Ewan, I'd love to see Caleb win, but he is going to have to bring his absolute 'A' game. That climb of Mt Pleasant on the city circuit is going to be super difficult for a sprinter to get over that, but it's not going to be impossible, there's time to come back from that climb.
"I'd love to see a sprinter hold on over those 12 laps for the men, six for the women and come down Marine Parade, it would be a beautiful photo, a really bunched sprint finish.
"I'm crossing my fingers to see a sprinter there."
Michael Matthews, who finished second in 2015 and third in 2017, is another key figure in the Australian contingent hopeful of figuring in the final stages.
At 27, Ewan has won five individual stages at the Tour de France, as well as five in the Giro d'Italia, as the Aussies aim to break the stranglehold of France's Julian Alaphilippe, who as won the past two road race crowns.
In the women's event, Aussie Amanda Spratt is confident local knowledge of the course would help make her a contender, against the superstar Netherlands team and reigning champion, Italy's Elisa Balsamo.
"I've certainly had a good ride of the course and I definitely think it suits me," she said. "But I think overall as an Australian team, everyone is putting their hand up for it, we're going to have a really strong team.
"It lends itself to not just having one specific leader, you have to be open to different race situations.
"It's going to be a really aggressive race, a team like the Dutch is going to trying very hard to drop Balsamo."
International president David Lappartient held high praise for the Wollongong layout, following the technical teams visit in February, after months of delays due to COVID restrictions.
It comes after former Tour de France rider and Olympics track gold medallist Brad McGee told the Mercury the Sea Cliff Bridge crossing will be the region's Champs Elysees moment.
"The UCI delegation that visited Wollongong in February is very excited about the tough, technical and ambitious courses designed by the organising committee in partnership with the UCI," Lappartient said.
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Tim Barrow
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
When it comes to sport - at professional and community level - in the Illawarra, I'm here to provide insight, context and opinion, as well as the latest news you won't find anywhere else.
