The great get together that is the RTTC National Hill Climb Championship brings the 2012 Championship season to a close on Sunday with the Lancashire Road Club’s promotion on The Rake.
With 150 Men, Women and Juniors taking part a lively afternoon of entertaining, if breathless for the competitors, sport is guaranteed.
Defending champion Gunnar Gronlund (RST RT-Trigon) will be doing his utmost to retain the title, although the shorter, steeper climb in Ramsbottom may not suit him. The main challenge could well come from Jack Pullar (Wheelbase.co.uk-MGD), who won last year’s event on The Rake.
Third to Gronlund in last year’s championship, Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles) has a handful of victories to his credit over this ‘climbing’ season as has Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT) and both are in the running for medals.
Others looking to get in the frame include Lee Baldwin (Buxton CC-Sett Valley Cycles), Robert Gough (Arctic-SRAM) and Josh Teasdale (EPC Omega Pharma Quickstep), Junior champion in 2011.
Of the 20 women listed Lynn Hamel (Herbalife-Leisure Lakes Bikes) should be up to the challenge and defend her current title.
A useful entry of 30 Juniors and Juveniles includes time trial champion Ryan Mullen (Planet X), Jamil Gaida (Rapha Condor CC), Tom Ward (Team Echelon Rotor) and James Knox (Motivation Junior Academy).
Course record is 2-14, set by Jeff Wright, but with the steepest part of the 947 yards climb resurfaced this could be under threat.
The climb is closed to other traffic with the first rider away at 12.01, the last, Gronlund, 14.30. Prize giving will be either at the Shoulder of Mutton car park or the Holcombe Emmanuel School if the weather is unfavourable. The Mayor of Bury, Councillor Joan Grimshaw and her consort Paul Grimshaw will be presenting the awards.