CONQUERING THE TRASH MOUNTAIN

Crazy cycling community seeing opportunities where there are none

Community event, August 2024

In a city as famously flat as Copenhagen, you wouldn't expect to find a hill climb challenge — until now that is. Enter CopenHill, an urban mountain built atop a waste treatment plant, with a staggering 35% ascent over 250 metres that has cyclists both intrigued and intimidated.

This year, GripGrab, in collaboration with VeryLirens CC, hosted the 2024 CopenHill Climb: transforming this man-made peak into a battleground for the most daring riders in Copenhagen.

The final climb was so intense that some riders had to sling their bikes over their shoulders like a cyclocross boss, all while dodging blasts from a water gun-wielding announcer!

This hill climb isn't for the faint-hearted. Starting with an immediate punch of over 25% gradient for the first 80 metres, riders are pushed to their limits right from the get-go. But that's just the warm-up. After this initial leg, cyclists face a unique twist — they must dismount and tackle a staircase on foot, carrying their bikes in a bike 'n' hike segment. Once back on two wheels, the climb continues with a series of twists and turns, culminating in a final 30-metre ramp that feels more like a vertical wall than a road. In total, the climb spans 250 metres of pure adrenaline and exhaustion.

Turning the impossible into possible – the CopenHill Climb is the ultimate test of power and explosivity

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Autoreply: Out of office. I'm redifining my work life balance.

CopenHill isn't just any hill — it's a symbol of Copenhagen's innovative spirit. Officially known as Amager Bakke, this structure is a waste-to-energy plant that also serves as an urban recreation area, complete with a ski slope, hiking trails and, now, a killer cycling route. The hill stands as a testament to the city's commitment to sustainability, turning waste into energy and now into an extreme sporting venue, too.

Riders hit a wild 35% wall at the end—some powered up while clipped in, while others ran up the hill.

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In the pancake flat city of Copenhagen, finding the craziest location like CopenHill for events, breaks the status quo of what can be done, and sets a new frame for what can be done.

Champagne, pasta and flowers were on the menu at the summit for the podium celebrations.

CopenHill Climb saw daring riders take on the challenge, cheered on by a wild crowd looking to experience the sheer insanity of the climb. The DJ kept the energy high, matching the intensity of the climb. For the cycling community VeryLirens, this wasn't just a race — it was a celebration of pushing boundaries and finding mountains where none exist.

About Copenhill Climb