Preview – 88th HMT Hospitals Monsal Hill Climb

This weekend sees a staggering 198 riders entered for the 88th HMT Hospitals Monsal Hill Climb in Derbyshire.

The 88th running of this hill climb classic, organised by Marc Etches and Sheffrec CC has a classy field of entries including three former winners. Defending Monsal champion, Adam Kenway, Vitus Pro Cycling leads the charge with Joe Clark, Cycling Sheffield Giant Sheffield and Calum Brown, Team B38/Underpin Racing all capable of winning. The favourite is wide open this year and many who could strike a surprise win. Tom Pidcock, Team Wiggins could well be the one to upset the regular hill climbers on Sunday.

The event this year is expected to be a a very close run race for the top prizes. Unsurprisingly with so many riders and the event being one of, if not the most prestigious of the hill climbs, there are a lots of potential winners.

Kenway won at Peaslows last week and broke Malcolm Elliott’s 30 year record and Calum Brown won and broke the record at the Urban Hill Climb last weekend is flying and again proved this with his win at Hardwick Hall in September. Leon Wright, Race Hub, Kieran Hotson Kingsnorth, International Wheelers and Kieran Smith, Bolsover and District CC could be up at the think end and we have Brown’s team mate, Andrew Nichols entered who was 2nd last week on Pea Royd Lane.

The HMT ladies cup is a battle between several riders. Hannah Larbalestier, Boompods EDCO NRG was 2nd at Bradfield this year and has had a great season on the road. She won the Magnificent 7 in March and could be the one to push Sarah Storey hard. Sarah Storey is back after having a baby and has a good record at Monsal. Emilie Verroken, Maxx R. T. was second last year with a time of 1.54.5 and a sure favourite for a podium place. She was 2nd at Pea Royd Lane last week so she might go one better and claim the top spot.

Everyone us in search of a slice from the £2500.00 prize fund. First prize is £250.00 and there is an equal prize for men and women and top 3 prizes for all categories.

The big question is, can anyone be a real threat to the 37 year old record set by Elliott in 1981? Year after year, talk of riders breaking the record is always a hot topic in the run up to the event. Times last year were slower but 2016 was a different story with Adam Kenway posting an amazing time of 1:16.5 – Just 2.3 seconds off the record pace.

The vets race is also looking like a one horse race with Russell Downing now a vet. Defending vets champion Andy Hibbard, Rapha CC is back to try and retain his Monsal crown. Pushing them all hard will be Olly Humphries and Gavin Alcock. The whole field is a great mix of youngsters, ladies and seniors with many local clubs represented. Writer of 100 Greatest Climbs, Simon Warren, Norwood Paragon CC is again at Monsal and knows the climb well having written about the famous climb in his much publicised books.

First run in 1930, Monsal Hill Climb has been on the hill climb calendar for an amazing 88 years. This event was first started by a few mates riding out to Monsal Head at the end of the track season and timing each other up the hill, at this time it was an unmade road. How times have changed. The course is a one-in-six and 675 yards long.

This year is again supported by the Healthcare Management Trust. HMT were founded in 1985 as a registered charity to provide consultancy services to healthcare providers.

HMT’s aim has always been to develop and promote the services offered by associated charitable hospitals and care homes so that they can be a viable alternative to the commercial companies both now and into the future. Event organiser, Marc Etches commented “This is a great partnership and the support from HMT has made this prestigious event now very prestigious. We are excited to be able to offer such a great prize list to all the riders and we will now continue to lead the way in setting the standard very high in hill climb promotion nationally”.

The Healthcare Management Trust Chief Executive, Tony Barrett commented, “It is an honour for HMT Hospitals to be supporting such a historic event, and one that really brings professional cycling close to communities. The Monsal Hill Climb gives local club cyclists the opportunity to compete against world-class athletes and serves to promote cycling in general. Cycling is a sport that aligns with our goal of promoting health and wellbeing to all ages and abilities, and that is epitomised in this event. Each year we see more and more people coming back to compete and spectate, and encouragingly for us we are seeing families riding their bikes to cheer on those racing.”

Start List

1 11:01 David Redford Sheffrec CC V
2 11:02 Malcolm Trippett Worrall Wheelers V 50+
3 11:03 Finley Hudson Sheffrec CC SB
4 11:04 Jet Du Toit Newark Castle C C SB
5 11:05 Jan Forrester Belper BC LV
6 11:06 Matt Yardley Macclesfield Wheelers V
7 11:07 Fraser Cummings Matlock CC SB
8 11:08 Jude Du Toit Newark Castle C C SB
9 11:09 Gethin Sinclair North Midland Youth Squad SB
10 11:10 Marc Rocca Rapha Cycling Club V
11 11:11 Jane Grant Velo Club Bridgford LV
12 11:12 Ryan Thomas East Bradford CC SB
13 11:13 Mick Kelly Team Milton Keynes V 50+
14 11:14 Harry Hudson Sheffrec CC SB
15 11:15 Fraser Macarthur Team Milton Keynes SB
16 11:16 Kevin Allerton Audax UK V
17 11:17 Joe Cuff North Midland Youth Squad SB
18 11:18 Paul Hutchin Worrall Wheelers V 50+
19 11:19 Benjamin Taylor North Midland Youth Squad SB
20 11:20 Dominic Watts Veloviewer V
21 11:21 George Cooper Bolsover and District CC SB
22 11:22 Rowan Trippett Worrall Wheelers SB
23 11:23 Matt Jones Southend Wheelers V 50+
24 11:24 Catherine Neary Dinnington Racing Club LV
25 11:25 Mark Pilling Macclesfield Wheelers S
26 11:26 Mandie James Derby Mercury R C LV
27 11:27 Paul Faulkner Brighton Phoenix Athletic Club V
28 11:28 Max Secunda Berkhamsted Cycling Club S
29 11:29 Mandy Hibberd Rapha Cycling Club LV
30 11:30 Ally Lewis Clifton CC York V
31 11:31 Khaled Balabil Holmes Chapel Velo V 50+
32 11:32 Hatti Archer Bolsover and District CC L
33 11:33 Dale Wilkes Mansfield Road Club S
34 11:34 Jo Jebb Common Lane Occasionals LV
35 11:35 Ben Charlton Mansfield Road Club S
36 11:36 Connor Macarthur Team Milton Keynes SB
37 11:37 Matt Lawton Macclesfield Wheelers S
38 11:38 Ian Brookes Bolsover and District CC S
39 11:39 Jim Mcquaid Wetherby Whs V
40 11:40 Patrick Casey Cycle Sport Pendle SB
41 11:41 James Russell Macclesfield Wheelers V 50+
42 11:42 Gemma Hobson Sussex Nomads CC L
43 11:43 Jason Hales Cheshire Maverick Cycle Club V
44 11:44 Paul West Rutland Cycling Club V
45 11:45 James Scrivener Reading CC S
46 11:46 Conor Cairns Bolsover and District CC V 50+
47 11:47 Ben Mellor Matlock CC SB
48 11:48 Elliot Buchanan Common Lane Occasionals S
49 11:49 Jonathan Pupius 7 Hills Cycling Club S
50 11:50 Claire Hughes Solihull CC LV
51 11:51 Bob Cuff Rutland Cycling Club V
52 11:52 David Martin Holmfirth C C S
53 11:53 Amy Cuthbertson Otley CC L
54 11:54 Pat Macarthur Team Milton Keynes V
55 11:55 James Wakefield Huddersfield Star Whs V
56 11:56 Nick Burton Newark Castle C C V
57 11:57 Madeline Crosswaite York Cycleworks L
58 11:58 Peter Campbell Heanor Clarion CC V
59 11:59 Anthony Walker Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield V 50+
60 12:00 Scott Harrison Tuxford Clarion C C V
61 12:01 Michael Cooke Nottingham Clarion CC S
62 12:02 Sonia Insley Bolsover and District CC LV
63 12:03 Rich Steels Belper BC S
64 12:04 Josh Stringfellow Mansfield Road Club S
65 12:05 Thomas Mccormack Element Cycling Team V
66 12:06 Nigel Modlinsky Seamons CC V
67 12:07 Warren Trippett Worrall Wheelers V 50+
68 12:08 Sandra Mackay Velo Schils Interbike RT LV
69 12:09 Keith Robertson Matlock CC V
70 12:10 Nick Wallis Common Lane Occasionals V
71 12:11 Darren Speight 3 RT V
72 12:12 Jon Turner Rapha Cycling Club V
73 12:13 Joe Woodhouse Birdwell Wheelers S
74 12:14 Joseph Turnbull Ilkley CC SB
75 12:15 John Hind Bolsover and District CC V
76 12:16 Chris Loxley North Cheshire Clarion V
77 12:17 Joel Barnett Belper BC S
78 12:18 Ewan Mackie Matlock CC J
79 12:19 Pete Laud Common Lane Occasionals V
80 12:20 Ryan Williams North Midland Youth Squad SB
81 12:21 Richard Edwards Sheffrec CC S
82 12:22 Tim Glenie Belper BC V
83 12:23 Robert Rowson Macclesfield Wheelers J
84 12:24 Em Pantoja Army Cycling Union L
85 12:25 Dan Swain South Peaks CC S
86 12:26 Paul Whittaker Rutland Cycling Club V
87 12:27 Lee Allen Bury Clarion CC S
88 12:28 Jo Holden Macclesfield Wheelers LV
89 12:29 Dave Archer Bolsover and District CC S
90 12:30 Euan Adams Brighton Triathlon Club S
91 12:31 Mark Brearton Wigan Whs CC V
92 12:32 Andrew Wiley University Of Manchester CC S
93 12:33 Ben Manning 3 RT S
94 12:34 Matthew Green Velo-One Cycling Team(Staples Vegetables/Neil Palmer Electrical) S
95 12:35 Dave Asquith 7 Hills Cycling Club S
96 12:36 Glen Turnbull Harrogate Nova CC V
97 12:37 Olivia Braybrooke The Racing Chance Foundation LJ
98 12:38 William Glover Buxton CC/Sett Valley Cycles S
99 12:39 Mark Canning South Normanton C C V
100 12:40 Rory Wells VC 10 S
101 12:41 Rapid Rich Stoodley 3 RT V 50+
102 12:42 Peter Grant Velo Club Bridgford V
103 12:43 Marc Layfield Veloviewer S
104 12:44 Calvin Cheung Hub Velo S
105 12:45 James Barlow Bicester Millennium CC S
106 12:46 Shaun Randall Rossington Wheelers Cycling Club V
107 12:47 Sam Smith Rutland Cycling Club S
108 12:48 Stuart Bolton Sheffrec CC V 50+
109 12:49 James Hawkins North Midland Youth Squad SB
110 12:50 Adam Machan Sheffrec CC S
111 12:51 Samuel Hall VeloRunner RT SB
112 12:52 Bradley Hill Calder Clarion J
113 12:53 Kevin White Matlock CC V
114 12:54 Daniel O’donnell Macclesfield Wheelers S
115 12:55 Jake Harrison Rutland Cycling Club S
116 12:56 Brian Turrall Team Wheelguru V
117 12:57 Reuben Bakker-dyos BikeRadar S
118 12:58 George Radcliffe Otley CC SB
119 12:59 Lewis Dolan Manilla Cycling SB
120 13:00 Elliot Sleath Macclesfield Wheelers S
121 13:01 Stefan Rick Beeston Cycling Club V
122 13:02 Matt Nicholson Matlock CC SB
123 13:03 Richard Vallance Welland Valley CC S
124 13:04 Cameron Cass Sheffrec CC S
125 13:05 Adam Lathbury Rutland Cycling Club S
126 13:06 Christian Fox Manchester Wheelers V
127 13:07 Simon Warren Norwood Paragon CC V
128 13:08 David Hughes Macclesfield Wheelers S
129 13:09 Oliver Cockerill VC Beverley J
130 13:10 Chris Ashworth Sheffrec CC S
131 13:11 Gavin Alcock 7 Hills Cycling Club V
132 13:12 Tim Rutter Worrall Wheelers S
133 13:13 Robert Copeland Sheffrec CC V
134 13:14 Jamie Humphries Westmead Team 88 V
135 13:15 Bhima Bowden Macclesfield Wheelers S
136 13:16 Sarah Briggs Matlock CC LJ
137 13:17 Alistair Rees Holmfirth C C V
138 13:18 Matthew Coates OVB S
139 13:19 Paul Armstrong Sheffrec CC S
140 13:20 Ben Norbury Congleton CC S
141 13:21 Jordan Hill Leek CC – Den Engel Belgian Bar S
142 13:22 Jamie Raven Rutland Cycling Club S
143 13:23 Jake Dooley Congleton CC S
144 13:24 James Doxey South Normanton C C V
145 13:25 Alexandra Kendall-smith Crimson Performance Race Team L
146 13:26 Andrew Laidler Sitwell Cycling Club S
147 13:27 Darren Hull Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield V
148 13:28 James Worley OVB S
149 13:29 Tommy Cockerill Velo Club Rutland S
150 13:30 Joseph Molyneaux Leek CC – Den Engel Belgian Bar S
151 13:31 Ricki Ellison CC Giro S
152 13:32 Nick Sweeting 3 RT V
153 13:33 Daniels Kucerjavijs Team JRC J
154 13:34 Josh Rowe OVB S
155 13:35 Patrick Murphy South Normanton C C V
156 13:36 Darren Rider Team PB Performance J
157 13:37 James Gelsthorpe Velo-One Cycling Team(Staples Vegetables/Neil Palmer Electrical) S
158 13:38 Lee Tunnicliffe Lutterworth Cycle Centre Racing Team S
159 13:39 Callum Dixon Go Below – Kingud S
160 13:40 George Wood North Midland Youth Squad J
161 13:41 Alex Whitmore Ratae RC S
162 13:42 Luke Hind Bolsover and District CC S
163 13:43 Dominic Cordner Deeside Thistle CC S
164 13:44 Nicola Soden Velo Schils Interbike RT L
165 13:45 Jake Hagyard Rutland Cycling Club S
166 13:46 Rob Watkinson Doncaster Wheelers C.C. V
167 13:47 Benjamin Harmer Wold Top Actif RT S
168 13:48 Nick Edwards Matlock CC J
169 13:49 Abbie Taylor Fusion Cycling Club Dronfield L
170 13:50 Robert Telford University of Sheffield Cycling Club S
171 13:51 Tony Cope Leek CC – Den Engel Belgian Bar V
172 13:52 Taylor Hill Sheffrec CC SB
173 13:53 Josh Coyne Okehampton CC S
174 13:54 Joshua Mee Nix Cycles S
175 13:55 Gregg Booker Loughborough Students C C S
176 13:56 Yasmin Marks Beeston Cycling Club L
177 13:57 Liam Bromiley Sheffrec CC S
178 13:58 Oliver Humphreys National Clarion CC V
179 13:59 Richard Marsden Manchester Wheelers S
180 14:00 Erin Avill North Midland Youth Squad SG
181 14:01 James Hill Team PB Performance S
182 14:02 Hamish Mcdougall Leicester Forest CC S
183 14:03 Andy Hibberd North Hampshire RC V
184 14:04 Leon Wright Race Hub S
185 14:05 Emilie Verroken Maxx R. T. LV
186 14:06 James King OVB S
187 14:07 Oliver Rees Holmfirth C C J
188 14:08 Steve Tait OVB S
189 14:10 Hannah Larbalestier Boompods EDCO NRG L
190 14:09 Kieran Smith Bolsover and District CC J
191 14:11 Russell Downing Holdsworth Pro Racing V
192 14:12 Kieran Hotson Kingsnorth International Whs S
193 14:13 Calum Brown Team B38/Underpin Racing S
194 14:14 Sarah Storey Storey Racing LV
195 14:15 Joseph Clark CYCLING SHEFFIELD Giant S
196 14:16 Thomas Pidcock Team Wiggins S
197 14:17 Andy Nichols Team B38/Underpin Racing S
198 14:18 Adam Kenway VITUS PRO CYCLING S