NORTH YORK MOORS

There are many areas of rich topography in Yorkshire, but if you’re looking for a compact yet vicious ride, there’s nowhere better to head to than the North York Moors. This loop starts in Kirkbymoorside and heads due north towards the first beast of the day, Blakey Bank. Maxing out at just shy of 25 per cent, this climb is a total killer and a strong taste of what’s to come.

Riding east through Street, Glaisdale, Egton and Grosmont, you find yourself at the base of the next big challenge, Sleights Moor, and the first of the day’s 30 per cent signs. The bottom of the climb is savage, but it does ease further up, before you drop back down through Goathland to make your way to Caper Hill. Some say this is the hardest climb in the Moors – which I may not agree with – but it’s certainly the most remorseless as it heads directly up the ridge on its 25 per cent incline.

Now that your legs have turned to jelly, it’s time for the grand finale: Rosedale Chimney. You’ll gulp as you pass the 33 per cent gradient sign at the bottom, requiring a Herculean effort to tackle this monster. But once you have, it’s downhill all the way to the finish.