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British hill climbing sensation Illi Gardner spent her holiday in the Dolomites last week scooping up legendary Strava QOMs.

The 24-year-old became the fastest woman ever to ride Italy’s Passo dello Stelvio, Passo Giau and Monte Zoncolan, beating a six-year-old record on the latter, set by former world champion Annemiek van Vleuten, by almost a minute and a half.

“I definitely had to dig the deepest on that one,” Gardner said. “The first time I rode it, I think I was about a minute and a bit slower than [Van Vleuten’s] time. I knew that if I did the best ride I could do, then I had a chance of getting it. That one was really difficult. Obviously comparing a race to just doing [the climb] is always a bit different, but I was pretty happy with that one.”

Having previously raced in British domestic scene, Gardner gave up bunch racing in 2021 because she “didn’t really like it“. She now works as a visual effects artist, and rides up mountains in her spare time. Her achievements include the women’s Everesting record, and the most expansive trophy cabinet on Strava, counting the iconic French climbs of Mont Ventoux, the Col du Galibier and Alpe d’Huez. Her Alpe d’Huez record stands, despite Demi Vollering, Kasia Niewiadoma and the Tour de France Femmes peloton racing hard up it last month.

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‘It was a nice break’ – Cycling sensation ‘on holiday’ breaks Zoncolan, Stelvio and Giau Strava records

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