This year I have been trying out several new types of racing across both multisport and cycling! Over this challenging COVID period, “fun races” have meant a lot to me! When the opportunity to race up the hill to my family home in Bristol popped up, I couldn’t say no to entering my first ever hill climb!

Belmont Hill is a 1.4km 7% average climb consisting of 3 steep bits. I have cycled up it several times after much longer rides but never tried an “all out” effort! The race organisers had managed to secure a road closure for the event which was awesome and there was a field of 150 riders going off at 1 min intervals. With no prior hill climb experience I was quite a low seed and therefore off two hours before the faster girls!

I had recce’d the hill on my car trip home from the train station the evening before and had some sort of race plan thanks to the wise words of Tim and the Belmont Hill experience of my mum!

When it came to the race itself - I set off rather enthusiastically, flew up the first steep bit, completely spaced out on the 2nd steep bit and came back to life again on the final steep bit once I saw my mum near the top! It was all over in a flash - 4mins 21secs to be exact!

It took me a while to mentally process what had just happened. My legs however told me very quickly what had just happened - lactate, lots of it!

Thankfully I only had a 2min spin home. I had a cup of tea, put some more layers on and headed back down the hill to sign out and continue a longer ride with my mum!

I had absolutely no idea how I had done until Sunday morning. Final results- 9/25 female (within 7 secs of 5th) 95/143 riders. It was a really strong female field and I am really proud of how I did for my first attempt! Definitely going to have to give another go next year!

Megan Powell

University of Bristol CC Belmont Hill Climb, 10 Oct 2020

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