National Hill Climb – Simon Warren’s Preview
Posted October 18, 2011
Simon Warren is a bit of a hill climbing expert. Author of the excellent 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs, he has ridden in the National Hill Climb seven times, finishing 37th in 2009. His next book - Another 100 Greatest Hill Climbs will be released in May 2012.
Who better to give us an insight into this year’s race? What follows is a guest post from the man himself…
Long Hill
This year the National Championship is being held on Long Hill near Buxton in Derbyshire. To call it a hill though is an injustice to hills. It's more of a gentle drag, and in my opinion not in the spirit of the discipline and certainly not a suitable course for the National Championships.
At 4.4 miles long with an average gradient of just 3% it's certainly no Rosedale Chimney, so why choose it? I can only think because it favours a different type of rider and may have a less predictable outcome. Will the race be won by a climber who can time trial? Or a time triallist who can climb? Which is the most important skill? It is all up hill so the magic power to weight ratio will be a factor so it's certainly not for the heavyweights.
The Usual Suspects
First look at the start sheet and it's smattered with many of the usual suspects, but there are a handful of pure climbers who haven't turned up. Most notably last years 1st and 3rd placed riders Dan Fleeman and Michael Smith, both sure the course held nothing for them. In their places you'll see some fresh names, and plenty of riders who'd never normally be seen riding a hill climb, who fancy their chances on the mild slopes.
Key Riders
Lets look at a few of the key riders and where better to start than the current bookies favourite, Tejvan Pettinger. Not only did he win the test event up the same hill run a few weeks ago but he's also the current course record holder with an impressive 12:26, which is an average speed of 21.5 mph! He's made a marked improvement this season and won almost every race he's started. Not just a featherweight climber but an excellent time triallist, it's his type of course, he's in form so he has to be the man to beat.
One of many who'd disagree is the 2009 champion Matt Clinton. He's not been in utterly dominant form like in previous years but he's coming good at the business end of the season, and in the absence of Fleeman he'll be happy to assume the role of last man off.
The next favourite, and a rider who's come onto the scene seemingly out of the blue is Gunnar Gronlund. Having just annihilated the course record up Beeley Moor and won everything he's ridden in his first season hill climbing some people are saying the title is his and the rest needn't turn up. Let's wait and see.
Here are a few of the other big name climbers to watch, No147 Robert Gough, No127 Richard Handley No145 Mike Cumming and the twice runner up No125 Dave Clark.
Star Entrants
But of all recent National Champs this one looks least likely to go by the form book, the one most likely to be won by a dark horse and the field has a few.
Lets start with the two star entrants, Michael Hutchinson and the legend that is Rob Hayles. Hutchinson has won National championships, at 10, 25, 50, 100 and 12 hours, he's without doubt the most dominant domestic time triallist of his generation. This is the only significant title that he's missing and although he claims to "Not have a chance" it's impossible to count him out.
Next, Rob Hayles, multiple world and national champion on the track and the road. He's had a quiet year, maybe age is finally catching up with him but as the former course record holder he hasn't entered this race to come second, that's not his style.
From his pursuit background he has the skill and ability to ride at his absolute limit without tipping over the edge, and that's the effort needed on this hill. You need to find the sweet spot, the exact point where the body's at it's most efficient and hold it, for 12 minutes. Drop off the pace and you lose the race.
Add into the mix, the talents of Rob English, Pete Tadros, Danny Axford, Adam Yates, former champs Mark Lovatt, and James Dobbin and it looks like it's going to be an exciting event.
Teamwork
As for the team prize, this seems a little more open, there are plenty of top quality double acts such as Hayles and Clark (Endura) but only a few stand out teams of three. Adeo Cadence would seem to have the strongest squad on paper along with Maxgear RT and In Gear Quickvit Trainsharp RT, but also keep an eye on Velo Ecosse Montpeliers and Blackburn & District CTC.
Win a copy of 100 Greatest Hill Climbs!
There will be a chance to win a signed copy of 100 Greatest Hill Climbs this week on Daily Cycle :-)
Photo by Brian McNea
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