It has not been a normal road to the 2022 Road World Championships in Wollongong, with the COVID-19 pandemic acting as a "hand brake," but the course is one step closer to being finalized as Australia continues to open its borders. Last week, race director Scott Sunderland traveled to the region to make final adjustments for the UCI inspection scheduled for later this month.

An outline of the course was released in December 2021, revealing the roads and key features, but not the distance, elevation, or number of laps on the race loop. This delay in details was related to international border restrictions, which not only made it difficult for UCI representatives to travel to Australia to inspect the course, but also posed a challenge for Sunderland, which is based in Europe.

"COVID was undoubtedly a major brake on the whole event, as well as many other events around the world. It has severely limited my opportunities to travel to Australia with the UCI."

Nevertheless, Sunderland said the local organizing committee, led by Wollongong 2022 CEO Stu Taggart, is continuing its efforts and gaining momentum for the September event.

"I think we're in a good position, but it would help if things really start to open up now and we can get on with this and really move forward."

The gradual easing of border and quarantine restrictions allowed Sunderland to preview the course around Wollongong with his team before the UCI inspection, a major step in lowering the border access hurdles facing the eight-day event, which will be held September 18, 2022.

The elite road race will start in Helensburgh, a small town south of Sidney, and traverse the coastline before running an urban loop course that includes a climb up Mount Pleasant and a loop course that climbs steep slopes, including a climb up Mount Keira. The time trial will take place on a loop course that passes the beach and heads to the finish line.

"We made some subtle changes and adjustments to the race to improve the race flow, race safety, and race dynamism.

"I think we have a very solid course. I think it will be challenging, exciting, dynamic, and very picturesque. Not only will the riders love it, but I think the fans and spectators will thoroughly enjoy it as well."

Australian riders often use their summer trips home to preview the course for their home World Championships. The uphill climb of Mount Pleasant's urban circuit, with an average gradient of 7.7% and a maximum gradient of 14%, is one of the features that attracts comments. The average gradient is 7.7% and the maximum gradient is 14%. Sunderland notes that the course is not very comfortable for racers on race day.

"It's stair-stepped and you can't always see where the top is, which leads to the mistaken belief that you're "almost there."

It shouldn't be long before the racers find out how many times they will have to challenge themselves on that climb and others, or the details of the course "adjustments". The UCI announced in its December course overview that it will visit in the first quarter of 2022 to "see firsthand the extensive planning by the organizing committee and confirm all the details of the race.