{"id":163974,"date":"2025-06-06T21:37:11","date_gmt":"2025-06-06T21:37:11","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/163974\/"},"modified":"2025-06-06T21:37:11","modified_gmt":"2025-06-06T21:37:11","slug":"amateur-rider-illi-gardner-might-be-the-worlds-best-pure-climber","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/uk\/163974\/","title":{"rendered":"Amateur rider Illi Gardner might be the world’s best pure climber"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"Amateur<\/p>\n

Culture<\/a><\/p>\n

Despite power numbers that are among the best in the world, the 25-year-old Welshwoman has no desire to be a professional.<\/p>\n

Gardner en route to setting a new Col du Galibier QOM in 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Chris<\/p>\n

Illi Gardner, Cor Vos, Sarah Hall<\/p>\n

Illi Gardner has over 10,000 climbing QOMs on Strava, multiple national and European hill climb titles, two Everesting records, and no desire to be a pro. She might well be the most talented pure climber in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gardner herself dismisses that notion with a sheepish snicker.<\/p>\n

“Oh, I definitely couldn\u2019t say that,\u201d she tells Escape Collective. \u201cI think it can only truly be in a road racing context.<\/p>\n

“When people talk about it, it\u2019s about being in the peloton. I find it hard to compare my efforts \u2013 like going for Strava segments \u2013 to a peloton racing up mountains. A lot of people scoff at just doing one-off efforts like that.”<\/p>\n

Many competitive and casual cyclists alike take Strava seriously \u2013 seriously enough to drive its valuation to US$2.2 billion, with 155 million paid and free users, according to a recent Wall Street Journal<\/a> report that follows a fresh fundraising round and Strava\u2019s acquisition of training app The Breakaway.<\/a><\/p>\n

For some, Strava\u2019s value lies in an unintended consequence: giving exceptional athletes like Gardner a stage to showcase their talent and earn the recognition they deserve, ultimately propelling them into broader cycling relevance.<\/p>\n

Say what you may about Strava, but without it, no one would know anything about the rider who Escape contributor Chris Marshall-Bell<\/a> called “The best women’s climber you\u2019ve never heard of.”<\/p>\n

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Did we do a good job with this story?<\/p>\n

\n \ud83d\udc4dYep
\n \ud83d\udc4eNope\n <\/p>\n

\n Culture<\/a>
\n Interviews<\/a>
\n Illi Gardner<\/a>
\n Esports<\/a>\n <\/p>\n