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7 Tour of Britain climbs on StravaToB Honister climb

7 Tour of Britain climbs on Strava

A preview at the some of the main climbs in the race, and the best places to watch the action
by David Arthur @davearthur
Sat, Sep 05, 2015 07:23
3

The 2015 Tour of Britain stage race starts on Sunday 6th September, and here are the key climbs of the route with details provided by Strava. As well as showcasing some of the key climbs of the race, this preview provides a good idea of where is a good place to watch the race, if you're planning to get out and support the event, which you really should. 

This isn't an exhaustive list of every single climb on the route, instead a glance at some of the standout ascents. Veloviewer has a comprehensive list of all the notable climbs on the route.

Stage one - Llanberis Pass

The racers won't have to wait long until the first big climb of the race. Llanberis Pass comes 66km into the stage and measures 4.3km with 357m height gain, and an average gradient of 5%. Dan Evans is the current Strava KOM with a tme of 9:18. As well as this climb, the racers will have Nant-y-Glyn and the Bwlch to contend with as well.

Stage two - Pendle Big End

While it's not the biggest climb in the race, it still has an average gradient of 8% and steepens to 15% in parts, and coming just 30km from the finish, it could be the ideal launchpad for a good attack. It's short though, 1.5km, so any attack will have to make the most of the climb to get a decent advantage over the top. 

The current Strava KoM is Joe Skipper covered the climb in 4:29, with fastest QoM being Mary Wilkinson who covered it in 5:48.

Stage three - Wilton Hill

This climb shouldn't pose any problems for the racers, as at 3% it is mostly likely to be ridden in the big ring - the KOM time required an average speed of 28.6km/h, so it's a quick one. It's long, at 3.3km, with 268m elevation gain, so could bump a few tired riders out the back if they're not paying attention. 

The current Strava KoM Robert, who has covered the climb in 6:55.The current QoM is Sally Aston, who covered the climb in 9:05

Stage four - Redstone Rigg

This climb out of Gifford is quite long at 7.3km, and the gradient dips and rises in the early stages, before ramping up to 17.6% at the end. The overall gradient of 4% makes for easier reading.

The current Strava KoM is Evan Oliphant who covered the climb in 16:00. The QoM is Emma Crum who tackled the climb in 19:51.

Stage five - Haydon Bridge

A short climb, but one with quite a stiff gradient overall, and a really steep bit in the middle. The average is 9% but it steepens to 16% for a short section around a sweeping right-hand bend. Recovery after this short section will be crucial. Adding to the challenge is the fact the climb comes after just 20km of racing so legs will be fresh and could be a good place for a breakaway to try and escape the peloton.

The current Strava KoM is Apricat 100, who covered the climb in 3:59.The QoM is Lucy Siddle, who conquered the slopes in 6:25.

Stage six - Cromford Hil

This is a hill that doesn't read on paper like it ought to pose any sort of challenge, but a look at the profile on Strava reveals there is more to the eye. Though just 1.4km long, Cromford Hill starts with a descent, rolls into a climb, levels out and dips slightly, before the sting in the tail, a 17% final section rears its head.

The current Strava KoM is John Johnston, who covered the climb in 3:11. The current QoM is Elisha Clarke, who covered the climb in 4:17.

Stage seven - Brantham Hill

This one comes 18km from the finish of the stage, and that means that it could be the scene of some attacking riding. Like most of the other Tour of Britain climbs, it's quite short at just 1km, with the KOM revealing it only takes just over two minutes to get through. However, it does ramp up to nearly 10% in the middle section so the 3% average gradient doesn't tell the whole story.

The current Strava KoM is Simon Ashmore who covered the climb in 1:36. Rebecca Johnson is the current QoM, who ride up the slopes in 2:12.

We expect most of these KOM times to topple after the race has been over the climbs. Are you planning to watch the race on any of these climbs?

Tour of Britain
Strava
2015 tour of britain
David Arthur @davearthur

David worked on the road.cc tech team from 2012-2020. Previously he was editor of Bikemagic.com and before that staff writer at RCUK. He's a seasoned cyclist of all disciplines, from road to mountain biking, touring to cyclo-cross, he only wishes he had time to ride them all. He's mildly competitive, though he'll never admit it, and is a frequent road racer but is too lazy to do really well. He currently resides in the Cotswolds, and you can now find him over on his own YouTube channel David Arthur - Just Ride Bikes. 

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3 comments

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Jharrison5 | 9 years ago
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I'll climb down a little from my disappointment on climbs. Hartside Moor is, I think, the highest road in England. I hadn't seen it on the route. That's the kind of high Pennine road that should be used. That said, I think I did it when I was 16, after a few dozen miles, in a storm. It wasn't that bad v.

I totally agree with the above though. More Cairngorms please. Places like Torridon? Maybe finish at some of the big hydro dams - Cruachan, Lawers etc.

If they can get up roads where 6ft ice has to be cut through, there must be a way of getting teams through. The Lecht can't be more barren than Ventoux.

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Strathbean | 9 years ago
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Couldn't agree more.
I don't suppose there is any point in trying to out do any of the big alpine climbing days, but we could produce some very challenging stages around the grampians/cairngorms, just get the pro peloton going over glenshee and the lecht, the weather usually does the rest! The same could be said of the lakes, pennines and north wales I expect. I can only guess/assume that the logistics and access requirements of such major events must rule out stages in these remote places, but presumably that's a problem in spain, france and italy too....

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Jharrison5 | 9 years ago
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Redstone rigg is my local one. I'd never have thought it was as long at 8km and would only ever have considered the ramp towards the end as worthy of note. Added to that, there's usually a westerly wind providing assistance from the rear.

I had hoped that with the inclusion of Honister Pass in recent years that the ToB might go looking for some of the UK's better climbs. Cumbria is largely unused. The Tour never comes north of Edinburgh/Glasgow. Whilst there's nothing truly alpine, there's some stunning places to go with big hills in them. Televised cycle races are like great big tourism adverts - the Tour of Britain is perhaps missing the opportunity to get to Wester Ross, Perthshire, Dales, Moors and high Pennines further south.

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