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.
In August of each year, up to six hundred riders take part in the race which centers around a 7.6mile (12.2km) 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 1:06:08, made by Kristen Kulchinsky in 2024.[6][non-primary source needed]
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John Allis (USA)
