Secrets of the mountain G.O.A.T.s

What does it take to excel as a climber? We asked a selection of mountain GOATs – greatest of all time in their respective uphill specialism, from one minute to two full days

Climbing GOATs
(Image credit: Future)

Stripped down to bare physics, climbing success is a simple formula: produce the maximum possible number of watts for every kilo you’re carrying. But that tells us nothing about the texture and particulars of the human stories behind the stats and palmares of those men and women who have carved out their place as some of the greatest climbers in cycling. 

From them, we can learn, if not how to become a mountain G.O.A.T. ourselves, then at least how to work on and improve that part of our riding. CW caught up with a selection of exceptional climbers, from a one-minute specialist to the 48-hour record holder, to find out how defying gravity to go fast uphill is far more than an exercise in pie-dodging and masochism. Consider this a cornucopia – literally, a goat’s horn overflowing with blessings – of climbing wisdom!

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Chris Marshall-Bell

A freelance sports journalist and podcaster, you'll mostly find Chris's byline attached to news scoops, profile interviews and feature writing across a variety of different publications. He has been writing regularly for Cycling Weekly since 2013.


Previously a ski, hiking and cycling guide in a number of places, but mostly in the Canadian Rockies and Spanish Pyrenees, he almost certainly holds the record for the most number of interviews conducted from snowy mountains.


He lives in Valencia, Spain.