The challenges

1 B6342 climb

After 20 miles the ups and downs are increasing and there’s much more to come, so treat this half-mile, eight per cent average gradient climb with respect in the small ring.

2 Bilsmoor Bank

You’ll see this before you feel it, looming through the trees at an angle that appears sickeningly steep. In fact, that’s one of the harder sections, though the average is still seven per cent.

3 Climb to Ryal

Passing by Hallington Reservoir the road begins to rise as you make your way to Ryal. Just a three per cent average gradient, the road nudges towards 12 per cent in last 500 metres of the climb.

4 Winter's Gibbet

This climb starts just after crossing the bridge in the village of Elsdon. While none of the gradients on this route are extremely steep, this climb included, some climbs are long, namely this one at two miles in length. Thankfully the long drag that takes you to the top of the climb is just four per cent (the average gradient is five per cent) but it’s the first section that is the steepest. As soon as you see the tarmac point upwards you’re in for a push to get over a 14 per cent gradient. You can soon settle into a rhythm as the road settles at the halfway point to a more acceptable six per cent.