The routes for the men’s and women’s road races at the upcoming World Championships in Glasgow are full of intrigue, historical points of interest and the potential for exciting racing.
Proud Scots Anna Shackley and Sean Flynn know the course better than almost anyone. They spoke to Cyclingnews to give an insight into the roads they call home.
The UCI Cycling World Championships will conclude on the 13th of August with the women’s elite road race. The route begins in the town of Balloch on the southern tip of Loch Lomond, Scotland’s largest loch by surface area.
Anna Shackley was born and raised in Milngavie, 25 kilometres southeast of Balloch and 11 kilometres north of George Square in the centre of Glasgow where the road races finish. Shackley thinks Balloch will be a picturesque location for the start of the race.
“We start in Balloch, which is a really nice bit at the bottom of Loch Lomond. When you look up the Loch, it’s really, really pretty,” she said.
A view of Loch Lemond near Balloch
A short neutral zone will take the riders out of the West Dunbartonshire town towards the rolling roads and lush green countryside of Stirlingshire and the historic villages of Drymen and Fintry. It’s a regular training road for Shackley and it moves the riders on towards the longest and highest climb of the day.
A popular hill for cyclists around the Glasgow area, the Crow Road climb is 5.4 kilometres at 4%. It features in the first third of both the women’s and men’s races so shouldn’t be the hardest part of the day, but it will contribute to the gradual wearing down of the peloton.
Shackley, who rides for Team SD Worx, has a long history with this climb and thinks the Crow Road will present an opportunity for striking visual shots. “When you get to the top you have this really nice view of the whole of Glasgow. I think the aerial shots of the race will be good. The Crow Road is where I do all my efforts and everything like that, so it’s pretty nice that it goes up that one. I think I cycle that climb nearly every single ride when I’m home.”
Shortly after the descent, the course bends westward and into East Dunbartonshire. The race will just miss Shackley’s childhood home in Milngavie by a couple of kilometres before it heads into Glasgow for the finishing circuit. Shackley has already seen some of the preparation for the event first-hand.
A view of the critical Crow Road climb from above
“I was home just a few…
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