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To put it into context - it's not far short of a G4 S-Works (more than a standard) Levo on full turbo power (and speed) wise.
Bank Road in Matlock btw - it's some hill
Nothing compared to TDF competitors I guess, but still...
(I know sod all about cycling stats but I'm impressed nonetheless)
I doubt the TdF guys are much quicker over a two minute uphill sprint - that’s intense.
My new commute home on my Levo has one big climb that’s the same gradient and about 10% shorter than the Matlock course (it’s entirely off-road through the woods). My PR so far is 2:50 and that’s with the Levo on Turbo! I’ll try to remember to connect up the app with the power meter to see how much I’m contributing…
That hill is a monster! They guy is a monster!
I rode out to watch some of it. I'd left before the proper fast guys came through but I saw a lot of the women, saw Harry Hudson (Junior World (and National) Road Race Champion) warming up and a few guys who were obviously on the quicker side. The power numbers for the top runners (male and female) are staggering.
I honestly don't think even a regular e-bike on full power could get close to that! 😳
It was quite easy to tell the "good" from the "also ran" just from their riding style and speed as they went past, we were about midway up.
Great atmosphere, the place was heaving.
Good gallery of pics from the day here:
https://www.cyclist.co.uk/in-depth/national-hill-climb-championships-2025
A couple of my mates are into the whole hill climb scene so I go and watch / support / pick them off the pavement.
The top people really are utter machines.
Thankfully this year was dryer than the last Nationals I attended which was a total drench-fest at Winnats.
To put it into World Tour rider context, Andrew Feather who came second to Harry at Matlock Bank, just did a race up a 15km climb in Slovenia against Tadej Pogacar. The field had a 6 minute head start over Pogacar and Feather was the only one to cross the finish line ahead of him, but he was still 3 and a half minutes slower than Pogacar excluding the head start.
What's perhaps more impressive is that Harry used to be a real booze and fags party animal and now he's the best hillclimber in the country. Still time to turn yourself around @TheArtistFormerlyKnownAsSTR 😉
I remember marshaling the Scottish hill climb champs a few years back and the thing that stuck with me was the ability of the top guys to literally destroy themselves. There were guys lying on the ground convulsing at the finish line..it didn't look particularly healthy tbh!
10 watts per kilo is absolutely insane. At my fittest I could do 6 for about 2 min. And 10 for about 20 seconds!
Didn't get to go watch but a couple of club mates took part. The photos and videos look incredible.
I could promise you the same atmosphere at the Ilkeston CC Boxing Day hill climb if you need to escape the inlaws. But I might be lying.
Thankfully this year was dryer than the last Nationals I attended which was a total drench-fest at Winnats.
God I remember that. I stupidly rode out to it, I had two waterproofs on and I was still soaked and frozen!
To put it into World Tour rider context, Andrew Feather who came second to Harry at Matlock Bank, just did a race up a 15km climb in Slovenia against Tadej Pogacar. The field had a 6 minute head start over Pogacar and Feather was the only one to cross the finish line ahead of him, but he was still 3 and a half minutes slower than Pogacar excluding the head start.
Pogacar wasn't really trying on that. He was well within himself, waving to people, easing up slightly for selfies as he cruised past everybody, I also don't think he knew there was a ringer like Feather in the mix. I think if he'd have properly gone for it, he'd have caught him. It's a good video though:
Interesting context too when they test Feather and say he's up there with the best TdF climbers on a solo climb effort but then raise questions as to whether he could hold his own in a peloton, still do the climb after 120km full gas to get to the bottom of it and so on. Nothing against Feather at all, the guy is awesome but it did just point out the all-rounder nature of a TdF rider.
One of the reasons I don't ride with a power meter is because I'd look at my figures, compare it to people like Feather, Harry Mac etc as they cruise past at Zone 2 while I'm half-dying to produce even 1/3rd that power! It'd honestly be too depressing for words, I'd just rather not know!
I know it's not a direct comparison but the cyborg that is Harrie Lavreyesen tops 2300w in some of his sprints 😲
Just watched that gcn video. Pog is an absolute freak of nature.
Harrie Lavreyesen tops 2300w in some of his sprintsHe also weighs 90+ kilos... 20 kilos more than harry mac (and near enough 30 more than feather).
