LOCAL KNOWLEDGE GETTING THERE

DISTANCE 45km/28 miles

TOTAL ELEVATION 2044m

MAXIMUM ALTITUDE 4308m

GRADE: Very hard. What this steady but relentless climb lacks in steep gradients it more than makes up for with its immense altitude.

I booked return flights from Heathrow to Denver with United Airlines (united.com), which offers a non-stop daily seasonal service with return economy fares starting at £525 with one checked bag.

WHERE TO STAY

I stayed half way up the climb in a rental motorhome, but I was reliably informed that both the Silver Lake Lodge and Miners Pick Bed and Breakfast are great options in the town itself. Call in advance as most places get booked up quickly over race weekend.

WHERE TO EAT

Idaho Springs has a number of restaurants catering for all tastes, but after a ride of this magnitude there are few better places to refuel than Beau Jo’s where the pizzas, known locally as mountain pies, are as big as Mount Evans itself.

BIKE SHOPS

If you want to rent a bike it’s best to visit SloHi Bike Co. ( slohibikeco. com).

TOURIST INFO

Visit Colorado ( colorado.com)

BOB COOK MEMORIAL MT EVANS HILL CLIMB

Bob Cook was a member of the 1980 USA Olympic Cycling Team and former sixtime winner of the Mt Evans Hill Climb who lost his life aged just 23 as a result of brain tumours. The race, which has been running for over 50 years and also acts as the Colorado State Championship Hill Climb, was renamed in his honour. I finished in 3 hours 21 minutes 33 seconds. The winner of the Gran Fondo was Mark Ertmer in a time of 2 hours 17 minutes 28 seconds. The winner of the State Championship race was Keegan Swirbul in 1 hour 43 minutes and 52 seconds. The course record is held by former pro Tom Danielson with 1 hour, 41 minutes, 20 seconds. The women’s record is held by Jeannie Longo at 1 hour, 59 minutes, 19 seconds. bicyclerace.com