The field stretched out on the way up Ingleborough Fell. © Jack Chevell
written by Jack Chevell
Three Peaks Cyclocross is a unique event, as much in its no nonsense ethos and grassroots organization, as it is a grueling course. Having always turned down offers of corporate sponsorship, the event relies on the enthusiasm of local volunteers, the landlord of the village pub, mountain rescue and a large field of riders, to make the event one of the highlights of the British cyclocross year.
Rob Jebb riding the rocky approach to Pen-y-ghent. © Jack Chevell
The three peaks referred to are the three highest mountains to be found in Yorkshire. Ingleborough (723 metres), Whernside (736 metres), and Pen-y-ghent (694 metres). Sixty kilometers of dizzyingly steep, energy sapping climbs and muddy, rock strewn descents join the summits. This year the event took place under cloudy, but calm, skies. In the past, gales and heavy rain have made it even tougher. Tony, a Three Peaks regular tells me, “Last year was sunny, but it was blowing a gale. People were getting their bikes blown off them! Then of course the year before, that was the epic year.” An exceptionally wet summer meant much of the course was underwater, waist deep in several places. “But that’s Three Peaks, I suppose,” is his matter-of-fact-conclusion.
Finding your own path up the mountain is the fastest way once it gets crowded. © Jack Chevell
This year’s edition was won comfortably by Rob Jebb of Hope Factory Racing. Rob recently represented Great Britain at the Mountain Running World Championships and he used his exceptional running ability to get ahead on the first and steepest climb. From there he was able to hold the gap on the technical descents and win for the eleventh time. I spoke to the Rob after the race and asked if he had tried to beat his old course record in the great conditions, “No. I had a couple of punctures today, and I was 26, 27 when I set the old record. I knew it was perfect conditions today, and I’ve got better bikes than I did then, but I’m just not strong enough now.”
The Men’s podium, 1st Rob Jebb 2nd Nick Craig 3rd Joe Moses. Plus Rob’s kids.© Jack Chevell
The women’s race was won by Verity Appleyard of Brotherton Bikes. I asked Verity to talk me through her race, “There were two massive crashes at the start, and one on the road to Whernside as well. One was right in front of me and I managed to avoid that. I had a couple of punctures but other than that it was uneventful, and I felt good. I’m really, really happy.”
The Women’s podium, 1st Verity Appleyard 2nd Sarah Barber and 3rd Maddie Robinson. © Jack Chevell
Amongst the six hundred competitors was Keith Bontanger, who has completed Three Peaks on five previous occasions. He seemed eager to rest after the finish, but I was able to ask what it was that appealed to him about the event, “It’s so unique, with the steep climbs and those rocky descents. It’s tough though.” He is known for using experimental kit on this event, and was riding a Trek Boone frame set with what appeared to be prototype wheels.
Flandrian support at the bottom of Pen-y-ghent. © Jack Chevell
As soon as the race has finished, it’s straight to the Helwith Bridge Inn for most riders, where recovery comes in the form of ale, pies and the sharing of stories from an extraordinary race and a unique day.
We also were able to find a beautifully shot short film about this year’s course by TechBytes:
Three Peaks Cyclocross, Men's Fields
| Pos | Name | Club | Category | Time |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Rob Jebb | Hope Factory Racing | M | 2:59:25 |
| 2nd | Nick Craig | Pioneer/Scott/Syncros | MV40 | 3:02:27 |
| 3rd | Joe Moses | Wheelbase Altura MGD | MU23 | 3:07:29 |
| 4th | Neal Crampton | Torq Performance | M | 3:08:51 |
| 5th | Ian Taylor | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:09:32 |
| 6th | Lewis Craven | Wheelbase Altura MGD | M | 3:13:14 |
| 7th | Ryan Henry | Numplumz | M | 3:14:51 |
| 8th | Gary Macdonald | Hope Factory Racing | M | 3:15:16 |
| 9th | Thomas Randall | Huddersfield Star Wheelers | M | 3:15:49 |
| 10th | Steve Halsall | Velo Club Moulin | M | 3:17:15 |
| 11th | Andrew Peace | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:17:47 |
| 12th | Dan Whitehead | Bike Station Ballater | MV40 | 3:17:51 |
| 13th | Tim Gould | www.zepnat.com RT/GSG Clothing | MV50 | 3:18:11 |
| 14th | Simon Harding | Macclesfield Wheelers | M | 3:18:21 |
| 15th | Ben Bardsley | Cyclewise Altura | MV40 | 3:19:17 |
| 16th | Robert Hope | Chorley Cycling Club / Crosstrax | MV40 | 3:19:43 |
| 17th | Bob Addey | Otley AC | M | 3:20:05 |
| 18th | Christopher Metcalfe | Charge Bikes | M | 3:21:15 |
| 19th | Phil Davies | Cyclewise Altura | MV40 | 3:21:31 |
| 20th | Oliver Beckingsale | BW Cycling | M | 3:22:13 |
| 21st | Stefan Macina | Aurelius Cycles | MV40 | 3:22:17 |
| 22nd | Tom Owens | Billy Bilsland Cycles | M | 3:22:58 |
| 23rd | Ewan Thorburn | Nevis Cycles RT | M | 3:23:01 |
| 24th | David Mirfield | Ride-On | M | 3:24:24 |
| 25th= | John Murfin | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:24:29 |
| 25th= | Dave Haygarth | Planet X Bikes | MV40 | 3:24:29 |
| 27th | Paul Robinson | Lyme Racing Club | MV50 | 3:24:32 |
| 28th | William Wright | WIll's Wheels CC | MV40 | 3:24:33 |
| 29th | Mark Ferguson | High Peak Cycles | MV50 | 3:24:36 |
| 30th | Ian Holmes | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:24:54 |
| 31st | Richard Knowles | Edenfield | M | 3:25:29 |
| 32nd | Edward McParland | Torq Performance | MU23 | 3:26:33 |
| 33rd | Scott Chalmers | Felt - Colbornes - Hargroves RT | M | 3:26:34 |
| 34th | Nathan Harrison | Team Nathan Bertrand | M | 3:26:36 |
| 35th | Robert Carr | Ilkley Cycles | MV40 | 3:26:41 |
| 36th= | Daniel Alexander | www.zepnat.com RT/GSG Clothing | MV40 | 3:27:47 |
| 36th= | Scot Easter | Felt - Colbornes - Hargroves RT | M | 3:27:47 |
| 38th | Doug Hart | Ilkley CC | MV40 | 3:28:10 |
| 39th | Yves Corminboeuf | Red Bull Velodux Switzerland | M | 3:28:49 |
| 40th | Keith Murray | Team Scott Syncros Pioneer | M | 3:28:51 |
| 41st | Kevin Smith | Gargrave | M | 3:29:28 |
| 42nd | David Beskeen | Psyclewerx | M | 3:29:31 |
| 43rd | Colin Moses | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:30:00 |
| 44th | Mike Wardle | Wheelbase.co.uk | M | 3:30:09 |
| 45th | Craig Gath | York Cycleworks | M | 3:30:10 |
| 46th | Ted Mason | Appletreewick | M | 3:30:12 |
| 47th | Stuart Pryce | Strada Sport | M | 3:31:14 |
| 48th | Mark Horsley Frost | Buxton Cycling Club | MV40 | 3:31:20 |
| 49th= | Noel Clough | Jedi Cycle Sport | MV40 | 3:31:35 |
| 49th= | Richard Mardle | Felt - Colbornes - Hargroves RT | M | 3:31:35 |
Three Peaks Cyclocross, Women's Fields
| Pos | Name | Club | Time |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1st | Verity Appleyard | Brotherton Cycles | 4:07:19 |
| 2nd | Sarah Barber | North Hampshire Road Club | 4:08:58 |
| 3rd | Maddy Robinson | Velo Club Moulin | 4:16:25 |
| 4th | Heather Dawe | Planet X Bikes | 4:17:39 |
| 5th | Ruth Gamwell | Macclesfield Wheelers | 4:17:41 |
| 6th | Helen Jackson | Keswick Bikes | 4:18:57 |
| 7th | Molly Whittall | Buxton Cycling Club | 4:20:02 |
| 8th | Jane Nssli | BMC / Red Bull Velodux Switzerland | 4:24:02 |
| 9th | Heather Tuffs | Clifton CC / Haxby Cycles | 4:24:18 |
| 10th | Emma Osenton | Kinesis-Morvelo Project | 4:25:46 |
| 11th | Nicola Davies | Beacon Wheelers | 4:25:59 |
| 12th | Lynn Bland | Norton Wheelers | 4:26:33 |
| 13th | Melissa Mather | www.zepnat.com RT/GSG Clothing | 4:28:07 |
| 14th | Nikola Butler | Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International | 4:29:44 |
| 15th | Helen Tickner | Crosstrax | 4:29:45 |
| 16th | Sharon Mcdonald | Ingleton | 4:34:43 |
| 17th | Joanna Rycroft | cxmagazine.com | 4:36:31 |
| 18th | Sarah Barnwell | North Wales Cyclocross Group | 4:38:21 |
| 19th | Marie Meldrum | Nevis Cycles RT | 4:38:56 |
| 20th | Sue Fisher | New Mills | 4:39:34 |
| 21st | Sarah Rowell | Jedi Sports | 4:42:35 |
| 22nd | Jill Eccleston | Escape Bikes | 4:43:15 |
| 23rd | Lorna Latimer | Rugby | 4:49:58 |
| 24th | Jessica Wilkinson | Birkenhead North End CC | 4:51:59 |
| 25th | Pepe Phillips | VC Darmstadt Germany | 4:56:29 |
| 26th | Helen Macgregor | Velo Club Lincoln | 4:57:00 |
| 27th | Fern Henry | Sigma Sport.co.uk | 4:57:42 |
| 28th | Ruth Metcalfe | North Wales Cyclocross Group / Rhos-on-sea CC | 4:58:52 |
| 29th | Joanne Jebb | Norton Wheelers | 5:01:26 |
| 30th | Emma Holgate | Nevis Cycles RT | 5:02:19 |
| 31st | Louise Williamson | Huddersfield Star Wheelers | 5:03:01 |
| 32nd | Katie Lukas | Beacon Wheelers | 5:04:37 |
| 33rd | Clare Smith | Huddersfield Star Wheelers | 5:08:16 |
| 34th | Juliet Horrocks | Hope Factory Racing | 5:10:16 |
| 35th | Beate Kubitz | grit.cx | 5:11:45 |
| 36th | Julie Dinsdale | Brixton, london | 5:19:45 |
| 37th | Emma Peasland | Sheffield | 5:21:20 |
| 38th | Nerys Rolinson | Todmorden Harriers | 5:23:53 |
| 39th | Claire Munton | Vegetarian C and AC | 5:24:12 |
| 40th | Julie Nimmo | Walkers CC | 5:34:16 |
| 41st | Ainsley Turbitt | Velo Club Moulin | 5:37:40 |
| 42nd | Hannah Saville | Norton Wheelers | 5:41:04 |
| 43rd | Mandie James | Ashfield RC | 5:42:25 |
| 44th | Anne Donovan | Beacon Wheelers | 5:43:37 |
| 45th | Charlotte Milligan | Helm Hill | 5:44:58 |
| 46th | Sol Findley | Twickenham CC | 5:48:59 |
| 47th | Jackie Field | CC Ashwell | 5:53:04 |
| 48th | Andrea Rodgers | Norton Wheelers | 6:07:33 |
| Nina Cuckow | Here Come The Belgians | m1 m3 rtd | |
| Jess Atkinson | Team 22 | m3 rtd |
