British Classics Weekend: Hebden - Skipton - Hebden 199.8km: Sunday 29th May 2016

Introduction
I'm going to start the British Classics weekend route descriptions with the more low-key Sunday race rather than the Saturday race. The reason for this is to build tension in much the same way as the Hit Parade when it counted down from 40. In at number 2.......

Route

The Hebden - Skipton - Hebden Classic is actually slightly longer than the previous days Hebden Bridge Classic however with over 1,000m less of vertical gain it should be an easier day in the saddle. The race starts in the pedestrianized square of the very scenic town of Hebden Bridge and the rollout will head straight up Cock Hill for a long 8km neutralized section. From here the racing starts and it will start incredibly quickly with a downhill run to Howarth followed by a hard, steep and grippy climb on Green Sykes Road. If a break goes away here then they will be able to build their advantage on the flattish out and back loop into the Yorkshire Dales. Flatish is the word though, it's far from pan flat, in the 140km loop there are 3 significant climbs; Bolton Road (2.4km @5.2%), Kidstones Bank 4.4km @4.4%) and Ribblehead (1.8km @3.9%). It might be that these climbs prove welcome relief from the exposed moorlands that make up much of the mid part of the race.
From the top of Ribblehead, at 433m it's the highest point on the course, there's a 60km largely downhill run to Cross Hills, a suburb of Keighley, and the end-game begins. The course now rejoins the earlier route for the last 25km and the crowds need only walk over to see the slow trudge up Lumb Clough Bank (2.6km @8.7%) and it will be a trudge. The climb starts immediately after the peloton exits Sutton-in-Craven with 700m of 14% before the high roadside walls are replaced with trees and the road "eases" to 7%. The last 800m are dead straight and average 11% - how many riders will be left by the bottom of the last climb?
At the bottom of the final climb, Oxenhope Hill, the north side of Cock Hill and also used in the Tour de France, there will be just 11km left, too early for a last attack? Well possibly, because, although the bottom of the climb is steep and sheltered the top is steep but very very open and a lone attacker might well be riding himself out of the race. It's a balancing act however, any lone attacker who reaches the top with any significant gap will have 7km all downhill and it will be incredibly hard to bring them back. Teams who have managed to retain numbers in the lead group will be at a significant advantage.
The descent from Cock Hill is straightforward, well surfaced and very quick. The last kilometer isn't so easy though. With just 500m left there's an almost 180 right hander before a flat and straight sprint through the center of town.

Points of Interest
Kidstones Bank
Coming after just 73km don't expect fireworks but, a more beautiful place you couldn't wish to watch a bike race. It also featured during the 2014 Tour de France, called the Cote de Cray, at a similar point on the stage to where it is positioned today. If you're feeling adventurous, not to mention fit, then you could ride out to Kidstones in the morning, watch the peloton ride by, and then hop back on your bike to head back down to Lumb Clough Bank, which is just 51km south. In the meantime the peloton will be riding for another 100km before they get to the same climb.

The Cote de Cray during Stage 1 of the 2014 Tour de France

Ribblehead
Under half way to go until the stage finish lies the Ribblehead viaduct and the Ribblehead climb which is the highest point on the race. The climb isn't all that special, it's a bit of a moorland slog and its ease depends hugely on how the wind is blowing. So why head there? Well, the Ribblehead viaduct alone is worth a visit to see its span across the desolate moor. When you've visited that, why not head back over the climb to the delightful motorcycle haven of Hawes. When you've had a cup of tea and a slice of cake head south to take in Fleet Moss, which makes a very good case as the toughest climb in Britain. It's not the longest and it's not the steepest but it is both long enough and steep enough to make it incredibly tough. The finishing stretch is unspeakably tough, if you're still on your bike you deserve a medal and if you're riding up without swerving back and forth across the road then you should become a pro. Finish off the ride by going over Kidstone Bank and back to Hawes or, alternatively, keep on heading south towards Grassington and Settle for more punishing climbs.

Lumb Clough Bank

This could be the decisive point in the race and you can watch the riders twice without moving your bag of sandwiches and cordial. It will be used first as a descent before it appears later, just 25km from the line to break the hopes of the weaker riders. Don't expect to see attacks, instead look to the rear of the peloton to see the masks of pain as weaker riders attempt to hang on for just long enough to make it to the top.
If you're feeling keen, why not watch the riders tackle Lumb Clough Bank early in the day from the south side before hopping on your bike to ride the short distance to Haworth and a visit to the Bronte Museum. Have a slice of cake and practice your best brooding Heathcliffe impression but make sure you get back to Lumb Clough in enough time to see the tired riders haul themselves up.

Profile

Map

Routes are plotted using plotaroute.com. Profile maps are made using http://paooolino.altervista.org/