SOME of the world’s finest cyclists will be tackling a tricky local climb when the Tour of Britain sweeps through Barnsley next week. Ashley Ball speaks to local riders about Hound Hill Lane
With King of The Mountain points available and it being the penultimate climb of the stage, Hound Hill, between Stainborough and Worsbrough Common, could be critical in deciding the Tour of Britain stage winner.
So how hard is it? It’s a 1.5km climb with the points awarded for passing Rob Royd Farm Shop on Genn Lane.
It averages a seven per cent gradient climb.
Members of two local clubs met up earlier this week to tackle the climb.
Both Birdwell Wheelers and Barnsley Road Club are celebrating momentous years.
It’s their 75th and 100th year anniversaries respectively and it’s pleasing for them that big-time cycling is heading to the town again.
Birdwell Wheelers’ Paul Heggie said: “The first 100m or so up to the bridge are the hardest. I think it peaks at about 12 per cent. I think if the riders get a good head of speed into it they could easily be in the big ring all the way up.
“I think they have put it in because it will sort them out. It is a good jumping off point for someone to get away from the rest if they have got the legs.
“It’s very much like a one day classic ride. It’s short and sharp.
“It will be interesting to see who gets away and whoever is away here is probably going to win it.
“Overall it’s great to have the stage in Barnsley. It’s great publicity and if it gets one more person into cycling then that’s great.”
There is a triumvirate of cycling stars heading to the Tour with current double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel on the same team as two-time world champion Julian Alaphilippe.
Leeds’ own Tom Pidcock, also a double gold medal winner at Olympics and a winner up the famed Alpe d’Huez, in the 2022 Tour de France, will also compete.
Barnsley Road Club’s Matt Fawcett has recently completed the whole stage.
He said: “It probably suits Remco but so does everything at the moment.
“I think because this climb is so close to the end, it could be really important. The other category climbs are Jawbone which is the most difficult but it’s shorter.
“Long Lane just goes on and on.
“I’m not sure if there will be a breakaway by the time they get to the town centre. Riders can go fast downhill by Locke Park and Harborough Hill too.”
Siblings Theo, eight, and Madison Haworth, six, also tackled the climb alongside mum, Chloe.
The youngsters are both members of Barnsley Road Club.
Chloe said: “Theo was talking all the way up. They do enjoy cycling and it’s great the Tour is coming to Barnsley.”
Stage three of this year’s tour leaves Sheffield at around 11am and takes in a huge amount of South Yorkshire including Wath, Cudworth, Royston, Darton, High Hoyland, Penistone and then back towards Barnsley where it finishes on County Way after a 800m-long drag up Old Mill Lane.
The stage is 166.1km long and includes 2,763m of elevation gain.
It is anticipated to finish on County Way between 2.48pm and 3.35pm.
The Birdwell Wheelers who completed the climb were: Paul Heggie, Steve Myatt, Steve Lowiss, Austin Watson, Allan Whittaker and Trevor Mayne.
Barnsley Road club’s climbers were: Tracy Hughes, Chris Smart, Chloe Haworth, Theo Haworth, Madison Haworth, Matt Fawcett and Ryan Dawson.
Bank Holiday Monday saw Wheeler Trevor Mayne team up with long standing friend Colin Parkinson to ride in the Coalville Wheelers 2 Up Time Trial on a rolling course near Loughborough.
The riders take it in turns to ride on the front sheltering the following rider from the wind.
The pair completed the 19.8 mile course in 48-49, placing them second overall.
