PUSHING the limits in a race up the slopes of Mount Panorama - it is something that has tested countless drivers over the years and is now set to challenge cyclists as well.
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Come next year's Bathurst Cycling Classic, the famous race circuit will for the first time be the scene of the hill climb event.
In the past a service road adjacent to the Mount Panorama circuit has been used for the hill climb, but now the famous tarmac itself will challenge cyclists.
Former road professional Mark Renshaw, a man who has ridden countless laps of the 6.213 kilometre circuit, played a key role in the move.
"I was a big pusher in moving it onto the race track. I just thought that if you were going to have it at Mount Panorama, it was fitting to have the hill climb on the race track," he said.
"Starting from Murray's Corner, straight up the main straight, Mountain Straight and up to Brock's Skyline.
"It's going to be a little bit shorter than previous hill climbs at Mount Panorama, but I think the aura, the x-factor of riding on the race circuit and being able to compare your times all year around and having a very definite start and finish is something people will jump at."
The hill climb will also form stage one of the new Bathurst Tour. Renshaw, who's shop Renshaw's Pedal Project will sponsor the 3.2km leg burner, feels it will test both legs and tactics as riders ascend 170 vertical metres.
"It will all be over quite fast, but there are some steep sections up around 10 to 15 percent [gradient] in the steeper sections up around The Cutting," he said.
"it's going to be a matter of pacing yourself for those step sections when they do kick in. There'll be a lot of lactate.
"It's great council has come on board in moving it onto the track and given people the chance to ride on a closed circuit."
The new hill climb takes place on March 12.
