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.
Gardner herself dismisses that notion with a sheepish snicker.
"Oh, I definitely couldn’t say that,” she tells Escape Collective. “I think it can only truly be in a road racing context.
"When people talk about it, it’s about being in the peloton. I find it hard to compare my efforts – like going for Strava segments – to a peloton racing up mountains. A lot of people scoff at just doing one-off efforts like that."
Many competitive and casual cyclists alike take Strava seriously – 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 report that follows a fresh fundraising round and Strava’s acquisition of training app The Breakaway.
For some, Strava’s 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.
Say what you may about Strava, but without it, no one would know anything about the rider who Escape contributor Chris Marshall-Bell called "The best women's climber you’ve never heard of."
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