Out with lightweight, in with aero? How riders fought wind and gravity at the 2026 British National Hill Climb Championships
Aero helmets, aero and TT bikes, disc wheels, narrow handlebars as well as the usual weight-saving tricks in our mega bike gallery
The 2026 British National Hill-Climb Championships saw riders battle against a relentless headwind and gravity on the exposed Porlock Toll Road in Somerset. Although the course's average gradient was shallower than recent championships, the elements still favored pure climbers over time-trialists. Welsh champions Illi Gardner and Ed Laverack secured the women's and open titles, respectively.
The race featured a mix of riders, with some opting for lighter, more aero-oriented equipment to counter the wind. Notable among these was 16-year-old Juniors rider Erza Bateman, who set the fastest time of 14:31 in the junior open category. A headwind in the final stretch of the climb prompted riders to pay closer attention to aerodynamics, leading to a greater presence of aero bikes and bikes built for time-trialing compared to previous years.
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