Real cyclists don’t avoid mountains. Scenic cycling roads are nice and all. But hill climbs—leg- and lung-busting as they can be—are what bring the real rewards.
“It almost becomes just a battle with yourself to beat the mountain,” says Axeon Hagens Berman Cycling team director Jeff Louder.
The only question is where to go for your next challenge?
We talked to a handful of professional riders, enthusiasts, and former pros to compile a list of 20 American hill climbs every cyclist should try once. It’s a veritable Tour de Pain. So here it is, a list that’s bound to leave you sore the next day, but proves you have what it takes.