Ronde Van Seattle

Seattle's terrible roads and steep, short climbs make some sweet-ass Flanders/Liege vibes. I combined the two into something nasty! Thankfully, teams won't have to worry about the housing crisis because the Ronde van Seattle is a 233km one-day sufferfest.

TL;DR - Lots of hills, hellish technical brick finish, check the last bit.

Space Needle > Pike Place Market 233.31km / Hilly, 3222m gain)

MapMyRide Link

It rolls out from under the Space Needle before passing under the monorail and by the EMP, through the Seattle Centre, past the International Fountain and Pacific Science Centre.. The race is on as the course goes along the edge of Lake Union and over the Fremont Bridge. Then over roughed-up roads out to Golden Gardensand the first steep climb at about 13.5km. It's about 1.8km long with a ramp of 18%.

Golden Gardens: StreetView link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

Then, the race loops Green Lake and back to Lake Union. The race climbs through the U of Washington campus (800m @5%), then to the next bergs.

The first is up 65th Street through a rich suburb at km 35. It's 1km long with 61m of elevation gain with two bits at 13%.

65th St Climb: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

4km later, the race turns left again up the ridge on Inverness Drive. It's only 360 metres, but sticks at 20%+. Normally, StreetView doesn't do a great job of capturing steepness. But this one comes pretty close. Doesn't that look like fun?

Inverness Drive Climb: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The riders will then climb to the highway and descend to Log Boom Park. Hopefully they recover in time for Juanita Drive past St. Edward State Park, home of a historical seminary, cyclocross races and mountain bike trail at km 40. The route doubles the climb up, doing the notorious southbound direction before the steeper way from Holmes Point Road. The combo is 10km long with 1/3 being descent. The climbs max out around 15% but are some of the harder ones in the Seattle area.

Juanita Drive Climb(s): StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The race heads through Kirkland and Marymoor Park, home of a sweet velodrome. The course wraps around the east bank of Lake Sammammish with the race's future biggest hill looming. The riders will get a bit of a break before that from kilometre 50 until about 70, but the route still climbs a bit along the May Valley Road before descending to south Lake Washington. Then they turn around and go back where they just were via the Sunset Drive climb.

Sunset Drive Climb: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The race crosses over itself and heads to Cougar Mountain, the biggest test, but skips it the first time past. The riders will climb up Village Park Drive first, AKA Lower Cougar.

Lower Cougar Mountain: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The course loops back to do the real Cougar Mountain. High teens for 3.6km. Oof!

Cougar Mountain: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The race crosses the elevated span of I-90 from the east side to Mercer Island. The bridge is very windy and exposed. Frequently a strong gusty wind from the north. The riders start the 18.5km Mercer leg at kilometre 185. Funnest bit!
Mercer Island: StreetView Link | Profile | [MapMyRide Link] (http://www.mapmyride.com/routes/view/1549499734)

Legs should be soft by now, but the race is just starting. The riders return to mainland Seattle via I-90 floating bridge where they immediately have a short 25% kick from the bridge. Then they ride up "Montez Par Coleman à Saint-Clément," a 350m climb averaging 19% on a road where the pavement has worn off the original 1900s brick road base. The steepest part is 25% on the bricks.

Montez Par Coleman à Saint-Clément: StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The riders return to the lake on a very fast and very technical descent before climbing up Madrona Drive, a longer 7% climb.

Madrona Drive StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The race then goes downtown, past its start point and up Queen Anne where it loops up and down some of the steepest and narrowest roads in Seattle. Also brick cobbly! This comes around 220km, so expect some crazy moves here.

Queen Anne Crapshoot StreetView Link | Profile | MapMyRide Link

The finale takes the riders by the Olympic Sculpture Park and along the waterfront. It turns left and heads up Western Avenue by Pike Place Market three kilometres from the finish. Profile!

They head downhill, make two righthand turns past the Seattle Art Museum. Then they turn down Pike Place, which is aggressively bricked. Very slippery. The final 600 metres are in the market area.

Finish profile!

It finishes with a hellish kick. Last 200m. The hill is not just wickedly steep, but also bricky. The trouble with this hill is that it starts at nearly 20%, then kicks to 40% (hard to walk on!) but levels out, making it necessary to kick pushing after that ridiculous effort.