Hillclimbing (cycling)

Last updated
Hill climbing
Cycling 12.jpg
Winnats Pass was used for the 2021 British Hill Climb National Championship for the first time since 1977 [1]
Highest governing body UCI
NicknamesHC
Characteristics
ContactNo
Team membersIndividuals
Mixed-sex No
Type Cycle sport
Equipment Road bicycle
Venue Paved roads
Presence
Country or regionWorldwide
An Oxford University Cycling Club rider on his way to a hillclimbing victory Axford-hc.jpg
An Oxford University Cycling Club rider on his way to a hillclimbing victory

Hill climbing is a cycling event, as well as a basic skill of the sport. As events, a hill climb may either be an individual time trial (which forbids cooperation, drafting, or team tactics), a road race or in some cases a gravel race. A hill climb is a competition of sustained climbing, that finishes at a higher altitude than the start line. [2] Occasionally featured as stages in major professional races, such as the Tour de France, they are usually referred to as mountain stages. Mountain stages may take the form of a normal road race stage, or an individual time trials. Time trial stages are not necessarily from the bottom to the top of a hill, and can simply be a time trial over hilly terrain. [3]

Contents

Hill climbing is one of the key skills required to make cycling more enjoyable. One of the best ways to learn this skill is through practice. There are several ways to practice, solo using intervals or group rides that focus on hill climbs. [4] Being able to tackle hills efficiently can be a "Race Winner" for anyone. Because downhills can be decided in seconds, uphills takes minutes, and being a good climber makes it possible to drop several riders behind.

Great Britain

In Great Britain there is an end of season tradition of cycling clubs promoting hillclimb time trials in October, for small cash prizes. The hills tend to be relatively short, usually taking between three and five minutes to complete, and the races attract many spectators, including locals not otherwise interested in cycling, who come to watch the pain in the faces of the competitors. [5] Competitors regularly strive to save grams on their equipment, going as far as to drill holes in their bike. [6]

British National Champions

Year [7] ClimbWinnerTeam
2021 [8] Winnats Pass Tom BellHigh North Performance
2020 [9] Streatley HillAndrew FeatherHuntBikeWheels.com
2019 [10] Haytor ValeEd Laverack SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling
2018 [11] Pea Royd LaneAndrew FeatherBCR Racing
2017 [12] Hedley HillDan EvansASSOS Equipe UK
2016 [13] Bank RoadAdam KenwayMetaltek Kuoata RT
2015 [14] Jackson BridgeRichard BussellRST Sport/Aero-Coach
2014 [15] Pea Royd LaneDan EvansTeam Elite/Paul Bethall Electrical
2013 [16] The StangTejvan PettingerSri Chinmoy CT
2012 [17] The RakeJack PullarWheelbase.co.uk
2011 [18] Long HillGunnar GronlundRst Racing Team – Trigon
2010 [19] Dover's HillDan Fleeman Team Raleigh UCI
2009 [20] Pea Royd LaneDan FleemanCervelo Test Team
2008 [21] Bank RoadMatt ClintonMikevaughan.co.uk
2007 [22] Cheddar GorgeJames DobbinArctic Shorter
2006 [23] Peak HillJames DobbinArctic Shorter
2005 [24] The RakeBen GreenwoodRecycling
2004 [25] Winter's GibbetJon DayusArctic Shorter
2003 [26] Halifax LaneJim HendersonSouthport CC
2002 [27] Cat and FiddleMark LovattCompensation Group
2001 [28] Y BwlchJim HendersonSouthport CC
2000 [29] Westclose HillJim HendersonTerry Wright Cycles
1999 [30] The RakeJim HendersonTerry Wright Cycles
1998Dover's HillJim Henderson Oxford University Cycling Club
1997Rowsley BarStuart DangerfeildWheelbase CC
1996 [31] Carlton BankStuart DangerfeildParker Int
1995Ditching BeaconStuart DangerfeildLeo R.T
1994Jackson BridgeJeff WrightNorth East RT
1993Newlands PassStuart DangerfeildLeo RC-Shorter Rochford
1992St John's ChapelStuart DangerfeildLeo RC-Shorter Rochford
1991Park RashChris BoardmanManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1990Widecombe-in-the-MoorChris BoardmanManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1989 [32] The BurwayChris BoardmanManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1988 [33] Nick O'PendleChris BoardmanManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1987 [34] Rosedale ChimneyPaul CurranManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1986 [35] Riber HillDarryl WebsterManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1985ChallacombeDarryl WebsterManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1984CrawleysideDarryl WebsterManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1983Weston HillDarryl WebsterManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1982Dover's HillJeff WilliamsManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1981Horseshoe PassJeff WilliamsManchester Wheelers – Trumanns Steel
1980Nick O'PendleMalcolm ElliottRutland CC
1979 [36] Haytor ValeJeff WilliamsGS Strada
1978Dover's HillGareth ArmitageOldham Century
1977 Winnats Pass John ParkerSouthport RCC
1976Horseshoe PassJoe WaughGS Strada Lutz
1975Nick O'PendleGareth ArmitageOldham Century
1974Holme MossTyne RCTyne RC
1973Dover's HillGranville SydneyHuddersfeild SW
1972 Winnats Pass Granville SydneyHuddersfeild SW
1971Horseshoe PassJohn ClewarthKirby CC
1970Nick O'PendleGranville SydneyHuddersfeild SW
1969Llywel HillGranville SydneyHuddersfeild SW
1968Dover's HillPete GannonLeeds St Christopher
1967 Winnats Pass Paul WildsmithEast Bradford CC
1966 Winnats Pass PD GreenhalghNottingham Phoenix
1965Dover's HillGranville SydneyHuddersfield Star Wheelers
1964PeaslowEric WilsonRossendale RC
1963 Winnats Pass Granville SydneyHuddersfield Star Wheelers
1962Nick O'PendleP. J GrahamWest Pennine RC
1961York's HillP. J GrahamWest Pennine RC
1960SaintburyEric WilsonRossendale RC
1959 Winnats Pass Gordon RhodesHuddersfield RC
1958Monks LaneP. J GrahamWest Pennine RC
1957 Winnats Pass Eric WilsonRossendale RC
1956SaintburyLes IngmanNorwood Paragon
1955Holly LaneEric WilsonRossendale RC
1954Holme MossLes IngmanNorwood Paragon
1953 Winnats Pass R KeighleyShipley RC
1952Mow CopBrian RobinsonHuddersfield RC
1951SaintburyR StringwellBramley Wheelers
1950Barber's HillR StringwellBramley Wheelers
1949 Winnats Pass Bob MaitlandConcorde R CC
1948LandsdowneVic ClarkCoventry CC
1947 Winnats Pass Vic ClarkCoventry CC
1946Holly LaneVic ClarkManchester Clarion
1945PeaslowBob MaitlandSolihull CC
1944BrastedHarold F WorthenManchester Clarion

USA

Notable US hill climbing races include the Mt. Evans Hill Climb, the Mt. Baker Hill Climb, the Mount Washington Auto Road Bicycle Hillclimb, and Broadmoor Cycle to the Summit event on Pikes Peak (which has also been the site of USA Cycling's Hill Climbing National championships)

See also

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References

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