The organisers of the World Road Championships in Wollongong, Australia, next year have revealed the first details of the race route and it looks like a very good course for Ireland's Sam Bennett.
While there are climbs, they are not overly challenging, meaning the races should suit fast finishers who can climb. Indeed, the route looks like one that could produce a sprint from a reduced bunch.
It is certainly one where Bennett - one of the best sprinters in the world, and who can climb better than other sprinters - can be in contention into the finale.
Australian rider Caleb Ewan, one of Bennett's main rivals in the sprints, said in recent weeks the Worlds route was one that could suit him. Though no details of the course had been confirmed at the time he spoke, Australian rider Ewan clearly had insider information.
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The details revealed early this morning in Australia confirm his outlook; though any sprinter who wants the rainbow jersey must be able to climb a little and must have his or her climbing legs on the day.
The full race routes and lengths have not been revealed, though details of the circuits the race routes will be based around are now public.
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The start of the men's and women's elite races will be in Helensburgh, a town just north of Wollongong and close to the outskirts of southern Sydney.
There are two loops that the elite men's and women's title races will be based around - the Mount Keira lap and the Wollongong city circuit lap, with some climbing on both.
The 'Mount Keira Loop' is 34km in length and features an 8.7km climb, averaging five per cent gradient but with pitches of 10 per cent and 15 per cent, with a steep descent off the climb.
The Wollongong City Circuit is almost 18km around and features two short climbing sections. One is 900m at 4.5 per cent while the other is 1.1km with an average gradient of just under eight per cent, and touching 14 per cent in places.
It is unclear what order the loops will come in and how many times each will be tackled. It is also not yet confirmed if the riders will go back and forth between the two loops, as was the case this year at the Worlds in Belgium.
However, aside from the elite men's and women's races, it has been confirmed all of the other road races - U23s and juniors - will take place exclusively on the near 18km Wollongong City Circuit.
More to come.
