- It's just absolutely brutal.
- Parts of Simon Fell, where you can stand,
put your hand out in front of you, like that,
and pretty much touch the ground in front of you.
It's that steep.
- The race became known as the toughest,
I said right at the beginning,
it was the world's toughest cyclocross.
Nobody's disputed that.
The Three Peaks Cyclocross is now in it's 56th year.
It's 60 kilometers long, and with a course record
standing at 2 hours and 52 minutes,
it's three times longer than the usual cyclocross race.
But, it's the terrain that it crosses,
the bleak limestone mountains of the Yorkshire Dales,
that really mark it out.
This is a cross race that bears little resemblance
to a cross race.
The first time I did it, I said I'd never do it again.
And then, the second time I did it,
I realized why I'd come back.
It gets under your skin.
And this, then, will be my third,
but I'm gonna be joined by Three Peaks virgin,
Oscar Pereiro, Spanish rogue pro cyclist,
and owner of the most flamboyant mustache
seen in Yorkshire in the last 25 years.
Firstly though, time to sample a bit of local hospitality.
As you can see, pre-race nutrition strategy, pretty dialed.
Oscar, gotta ask, how you feelin about tomorrow, mate?
- I feel a little bit nervous,
I don't know what it's going to happen.
- You are experienced at riding afraid, right?
So, you've been fourth in the national cyclocross champs,
seventh in the national mountain bike cross country champs.
- I knew this race since a long time ago,
and I know a little bit about,
and I hate running and walking.
- Having done this twice before, I can tell you
that I hate walking and running,
and this is definitely the weakest part of my race,
my worry is that Oscar is still exceedingly fit.
You've actually got two road races left to do this year,
so I can't beat you walking,
and I definitely can't beat you on the bike.
I don't know what I'm holding on to,
but it's a glimmer of hope that maybe a bit
of prior knowledge will help.
Maybe I'll get you another beer?
Do you want another beer?
Race day, I can't pretend I'm not nervous.
I can't seem to shake this habit of a lifetime,
which is I turn up to a bike race,
and I get nervous, even though now
it really doesn't matter how I do.
But, there is one extra reason, and that is
although it's not actually raining out,
it's really damp under tire.
And there's a lot of exposed rock on this course.
And an overinflated cyclocross tire and wet rock,
it's not kind of like the ultimate combination.
Anyway, I'm trying to think that it's the exactly the same
for everyone out there.
I'm just gonna go sign on, do my thing,
and then I'll be alright.
Just about to sign on.
There's some important equipment I need to do so.
My racing license, this,
which is the mandatory survival bag.
Also, this, which is my mandatory survival whistle,
and also, a waterproof jacket, as well.
How many cyclocross races do you need a survival bag?
That's what you've gotta ask yourself.
Given the severity of the course, you could well be forgiven
for wondering why on earth a mountain bike
wouldn't actually be a better tool for the job.
And, you'd be right.
I think a 29er lightweight mountain bike, hard tail,
probably would be far better for the job.
But it's not allowed, quite frankly.
True to the original spirit of the event,
cyclocross bikes are the only bikes permitted,
and they're quite heavily regulated, as well.
So you can use 35mm wide tires, so slightly fatter
than the UCI limit of 33.
Your handlebars can be no wider than 46cm.
They have to be drop handlebars, so there was a time
where people were using flat handlebars,
and you are permitted to use those levers
on the top there, but with hydraulic disk brakes,
that isn't really possible to do.
So there we go, there's gonna be more information
about my bike for today over on the tech channel,
so make sure you check that one out.
But in essence, here we go.
One by, I've got 42 chainlink up front,
1042 cassette out the back.
And yes, last year on the start line,
everyone laughed at me 'cause I was riding carbon wheels
on possibly the rockiest cyclocross race in the world,
but they're back for another year!
So, let's see how they go!
The route starts with a neutralized road section
up Ribblesdale, before the flag drops,
and the riders hit dirt for the first time.
Up through open farm land, until the slopes
of Simon Fell, its actual name.
Up onto the summit ridge of Ingleborough,
most of which is unrideable, before a fast descent
to Cold Cotes, and back onto tarmac,
9km in fact, until the next mountain, Whernside.
A long succession of completely unrideable
limestone steps lead on to the summit,
the highest point of the race, at 728 meters,
before a ridgeline single track descent,
with more limestone and more steps.
Another stretch of tarmac then takes us to the final climb,
an out and back up Pen-y-Ghent, almost all rideable,
but still a gruesome climb.
And then, a fast descent down to one last
section of tarmac.
- How do you feel today?
- I feel really nervous, mate. Low, crappy nerves.
There's so much pressure to beat you,
I can't get over it!
No, I am nervous, mate.
Like, it's a race, isn't it?
Even though I've not really got any expectations,
I still get--
- But this is the feeling it has to be, you know,
like, feel this.
- Yeah. Is it what you expected?
- Mmm, kind of, you know?
- I'll tell you what, mate, what I'm really hoping
is that we end up in a similar place.
Like, I'm not expecting to hold your wheel,
and I wouldn't expect you to wait,
but it would be super cool if we get to do a bit
of riding together, so my fingers are crossed
that I don't see you scampering away
on the first climb.
I hope you really are as slow at walking as you say you are.
- [Race Announcer] Five, four, three, two, one.
- This is my walking threshold.
(heavy breathing)
- 'Bout 42 watts, I reckon.
(whipping wind) So, getting towards the summit
of the first one.
This is the bit you don't see.
All those photos of Simon Fell
but it actually carries on for a few good kilometers.
The wind is howling!
(heavy breathing) Ah! You got me
just as I'm getting back up to the group.
It's the only bit (labored breath) I feel like I can do.
So glad Ingleborough's out of the way.
It's absolutely savage.
Possibly the worst thing I've ever done with a bike.
It's all gonna get better from here.
Former bronze medalist Eugene Manuel there.
How is Oscar doing, Atry?
- [Oscar] (speaking spanish)
- [Simon] To the next one!
- At the bottom of mountain number two!
I managed to ride quite a bit,
but I've just jumped off now.
Steps, but here's the thing!
With my dodgy eyesight, I can just actually make out Oscar,
probably a couple of minutes up.
So I hope he's getting on alright.
(heavy breathing)
I can't wait to hear what he thinks.
I have to say sorry to half the riders
who are annoyed at me in the downhill,
because you guys are so technical!
How fast you can go downhill
with this bike!
Crazy!
- [Simon] As you can see, I'm on my own
for this stretch of road.
The climb up to the top of Whernside is another brute.
It's not quite as bad as the first one.
The descent's good, like really good fun.
But every now and then, I find myself
on some treacherous rocky slab,
and then about 10 meters off to my left,
some dude will come barreling through a bog,
going four times my speed!
And I'm like, where have you come from?!
I'm pleased to be down it puncture free,
so just one more climb and descent to go.
And this one, I seem to remember,
if you've got anything left,
it's about 98% rideable,
so I'm hoping I can make up a bit of ground,
but I'm pretty tired.
Got a bit of cough crown.
Nearly ready to turn off now.
I've got an hour and a quarter
to get back before
the magic three and a half hours,
so, just keep my fingers crossed.
- [Oscar] (breathing heavily) This has been so tough.
- [Simon] So, I've decided
that because I'm so bad at walking,
I'm just gonna
stay on the bike as much as possible.
It's easier said than done,
cos I can't feel my arms,
and I can't feel my legs!
Gah!
Last push to the summit.
There it is.
Pen-y-ghent.
Last bit of climbing.
Both quads are cramping.
As you can see I'm going
even slower than before.
I managed to ride
all but about 10 meters of the way up here,
which I'm particularly pleased with,
for no reason other than
I didn't have to walk any further.
- [Man] - Yeah Tom!
- Ah man, both legs cramping,
my hamstrings have gone!
Ahh!
I got a bit of a puncture right at the top,
and I was riding down through some grass,
and I just caught the edge of a rock,
but fortunately, it hasn't gone down too much.
I stopped to pump it up for a little bit,
but, to be fair,
I wasn't really able to use my pump very well.
My arms are in bits!
I don't think I've ever
suffered quite so much in this race before.
It's ridiculous!
I've got 10 meters to catch up to this bloke,
and I can't do it.
I'm at 300 watts,
and I'm just maxed out!
Ahh!
Ah, come on Richardson!
I hurt so badly.
- Fifth earner beats his friend, again!
- Fair play, Oscar, you absolutely smashed that, mate.
Like, I knew you were gonna do well,
but I just didn't know what you'd think
when you going down these ridiculous descents
on a ridiculous bike.
Twentieth, I got.
What'd you get?
Eighth?
3:05?
Whoa!
Smokin!
You know, next year, Oscar,
we should do push ups before we come here.
My arms, my little arms, it's just like, (trilling sound)
- And tomorrow?
- Uh, tomorrow man.
- Will be so hard. (laughing)
- So that is it from the 56th edition
of the Three Peak Cyclocross Race.
I am very very sore, and slightly cold now, actually,
but I've had an absolutely cracking time,
as I have done the two editions before that.
Fair play to Oscar, who absolutely nailed that
on his first attempt, so all credit to him.
If your Spanish is up to scratch, you can watch
the video over on GCN en Español
to find out a little bit more about
exactly how he has found it,
but I would encourage anyone who fancies the ultimate
cyclocross challenge to get an entry in for next year.
It tends to be oversubscribed, but give it a go.
One thing I would say, though, is please don't
come up to the Yorkshire Dales and try and ride
the route, because it's not allowed at any time
other than the race, because it's on private land,
or public footpaths, so please don't do that,
because you'd put the race in jeopardy in future years.
So anyway, we'll finish on a little of a warning,
but yeah, if you want to see a little bit more information
about my bike that I rode today, then you can get
through to video over on the tech channel
by clicking there.
Otherwise, give this video a thumbs up
if you've enjoyed it!