Fell runners get on their bikes
There is a big line-up of top-class fell and mountain running talent on show this weekend in the Yorkshire Dales. Nothing unusual there. But this isn’t your usual fayre of a big fell race, this involves two wheels…
We know it’s not fell running per-se, but we think the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross is as close as you’ll get to the atmosphere, camaraderie, competition and mud, sweat and tears on two wheels.
Few cycling events in the UK rival the 3 Peaks CX . At 38 miles it’s a fair bit further than the 3 Peaks running race and with a mere 50 editions it’s not quite as old. But the race profile, ascent and descent, makes for a tough event, add to that the fact that you have to carry and ride your trusty steed and you can probably appreciate that this race is as tough as any off-road bike race in the UK.
Total distance: 61kms (38 miles)
Road: 28kms (45mins – 1hr 5mins)
Unsurfaced: 33kms (2hrs 15mins – 4hrs 40mins)
Unrideable: 6kms – 8kms (dependent on individual ability & prevailing conditions)
Total climbing: 1524m (5000ft)
Rob Jebb, Ben Bardsley, Victoria Wilkinson, Morgan Donnelly, Phil Winskill, Andy Peace, Rob Hope, Jon Broxap, the start list is a pretty impressive array of runners and riders which would grace any foot race these days. Jebby is the 3P CX legend, with an immense 8 wins over the years, amongst a number of podium places, and will no doubt be duking it out once again with sometime fell runner and MTB legend Nick Craig, himself now a two-time winner.
Course, the fell running aspect comes in handy as the competitors ascend Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen y Ghent, but you can expect the hardy cyclists to be fighting back on the transition tracks between those peaks producing some fierce battles that rival those in the traditional April fell running race. Oh, and with the recent rain, it will be a mudfest too!
