Take a mile of railroad ties, throw in 2,000 feet of elevation gain, set it at 6,600 feet, and throw in a colorful history, and you’ve got one colorful FKT. The Manitou Incline in Manitou Springs, Colorado delivers all of that, and it has been the site of some incredible women’s FKTs. Home of a Strava segment that helps you figure out if you’re at least in the running, the current women’s ascent FKT actually belongs to Allie McLaughlin in 20 min, 7 seconds. The women’s Strava CR sits at 21:01.
The FKTs that really blow our minds, however, are held by Andrea Sansone, who completed the 13 lap “Inclinathon” in 15 hours, 43 minutes and 0 seconds – a 26 mile, 36,000 feet of elevation gain challenge, an average of 72 minutes per lap. Sansone also holds the supported FKT for the 24 hour challenge, completing 19 laps in 23 hours, 36 minutes, for a total of 38 miles and 38,000 feet of climbing – an average of 74 minutes per lap. Crystal Flores holds the self-supported FKT of 9 laps in 17 hours, 1 min, an average of 2 hours 6 minutes per lap. Think your climbing skills are up for the challenge?
One last variation of this FKT has no posted women’s number, which is the most Incline laps in a year. Jordan Ciambrone’s 585 in 2018 is the likely number to beat (anyone know Jordan – can we get her to post her FKT?!!).
Want to learn more about this climb? Check out Salomon’s short movie on this history and people who call the Incline home: