The 2011 National Hill Climb Championships was held on Long Hill between Whaley Bridge and Buxton. – 4.44 miles long, 3.2% gradient. After a bit of rain in the morning it was unseasonably warm and sunny. The good weather attracted quite a lot of spectators to line the route up the climb. There was a great view down the valley from the top which the spectators could appreciate – if not the riders!
Gunnar Gronlund - 1st
After coming into great late season form, Gunnar Gronlund won in a time of 12.49. Richard Handley capped off a great season by coming second and Matt Clinton did a storming ride to squeeze into the medals just ahead of George Atkins. I was in 5th place, 13 seconds adrift of Gunnar.
Result 2011
| Pos | Rider | Club | Time | N1 | N2 | N3 |
|
1
|
GUNNAR GRONLUND
|
RST RACING TEAM – TRIGON
|
12:49.0
|
M
|
||
|
2
|
RICHARD HANDLEY
|
TEAM RALEIGH
|
12:56.1
|
M
|
||
|
3
|
MATT CLINTON
|
MIKE VAUGHAN CYCLES
|
12:57.5
|
M
|
||
|
4
|
GEORGE ATKINS
|
VELO ECOSSE-MONTPELIERS
|
12:58.9
|
M
|
||
|
5
|
TEJVAN PETTINGER
|
SRI CHINMOY CYCLING TEAM
|
13:02.4
|
M
|
||
|
6
|
MICHAEL HUTCHINSON
|
IN GEAR QUICKVIT TRAINSHARP R.T
|
13:07.0
|
M
|
||
|
7
|
JAMES WILLIAM TUCKER
|
SOUTH PENNINE RC
|
13:10.9
|
M
|
||
|
8
|
MIKE CUMMING
|
TWENTY 3 C – ORBEA
|
13:15.8
|
M
|
||
|
9
|
PETER TADROS
|
IN GEAR QUICKVIT TRAINSHARP R.T
|
13:19.5
|
M
|
A
|
|
|
10
|
DAVID CLARKE
|
ENDURA RACING
|
13:22.5
|
M
|
- Full results at CTT
Lyn Hamel crossing line.
1st Women Lyn Hamel Herbalife/ Wheelbase 15:38.6
1st Junior – JOSH TEASDAL TEAM JEWSON – MI RACING – THULE – CNP
Michael Hutchinson – not a natural climber but finished 6th on this long ‘roadman’s course.
Rob Hayles
a great shot of Rob Hayles in his last race.
The national hill climb championship was Rob Hayles last race in a long and illustrious career, which included three Olympic track medals. Two World Championship Golds (2005) and British National Road Race 2008.
Pete Tadros
Pete Tadros riding fixed and lightweight wheels, 9th and first Vet.
David Clarke.
Danny Axford (Arctic Shorter) looking aero.
My Race
I was happy with build up to race, everything seemed to go well this season. It was interesting been featured in Cycling Weekly, but on the day I didn’t feel nervous.
At the start I pulled my foot out of cleats (something that never happened in race before. But, apart from that race went well. It’s hard to remember much, though it was nice to have commentary from David Harmon (Eurosport) at half way stage. Also a good touch was seeing the signs 500m to go and 250m to go. At the end I thought I’d done quite a good race, but it wasn’t to be. 5th was perhaps disappointing after winning 10 hill climbs out of 10 this season. But, as I said in the preview to the race, it all depends on what you do on the day.
view from top
Thanks to Sam and Buxton CC for putting on a great event and great cakes. It was also a nice touch to get a musette bag from Sett Valey Cycles.
Next year, I’ll probably come back to ride Long Hill again. Next time I will take my time trial bike, it seemed many of top guys were riding time trail bikes rather than road bikes with aero bars.
2012 National Championship on the Rake
Next year the national hill climb championship is on the Rake in Ramsbottom. At 25%, at least I won’t have to worry about whether I should be riding a time trial bike 
But, I won’t be training for the rake for quite a while!
Thanks also to other members of Sri Chinmoy Cycling Team who came to support and take some photos.
Photos of Race
photos cycling weekly
Buxton CC
- A few more photos at my Flickr stream
leave comment if you have photo link.
Video of Race
Related
- Hill Climb page
- Previous winners of National Hill Climb
- A few more photos at Flickr
Greate Ride but despite what all the reports say it was not really a hill climb hill. I freewheeled down and then rode up and was surprised to be passing riders (I was passed by far more than I passed).
Role on next year when it’s on a classic.
you’ve had an amazing season, and although yesterday wasn’t to be, your ride on burrington this year is the best individual hillclimb i’ve ever seen. been great to ride the hills again, and see you next year!
a fantastic ride tejvan, up against people who have been riding professionally all season. your ride on burrington was my highlight of the season, so impressive to see. the BSCC will be talking about that one for many years to come.
Hi Tejvan,
when I saw the results I was slightly disappointed because I thought you would win or finish in the top 3. However as you say in your report on the day the riders who beat you did great rides. Having watched the video footage of the race it looked quite a busy road. I hope you come back to ride the Otley CC events next year and maybe the steeper climbs suit you. Always good to read your bloggs, have good winter and I will look out for your results in the spring.
Regards Sheldon Howcroft OTLEY CC
cheers Sheldon. Definitely hope to be at Otley next year.
Great race!
I like this photo – full of poetry.
- http://www.cyclingweekly.co.uk/galleries/photos/34288/6/4/british-hill-climb-national-championships-2011.html
Hi Tejvan, hard luck missing the top 3, I’d tipped you for the win and was really hoping you’d pull it of. Still, 10 wins and 1 5th is a pretty good season all the same.
Good photo of me there.
Bad luck on finishing out of the medals, I really thought you were going to do it this year. It was however a very competitive field.
I think the head wind did you no favours. This slowed the rate of climbing down, meaning that it became less a factor of power to weight and more a factor of power to aerodynamic drag. And since you are tall and thin this change in the decisive variable had more of an effect on you than someone who is shorter and rounder. On such a shallow grade the wind can make more of a difference to the rate of climbing than on a steep grade. I think a tail wind or a steeper grade would have got you a better placing, all other things being equal.
Cheers Danny, I guess aerodynamics won’t be so important next year on the rake…. though I think Gunnar is similar weight to me (i’m 61KG) so it shows what a good ride he did.