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Great Britain's Sam Harrison tackles Etape Cymru climb

Etape Cymru
Event: 9th October 2011
Event Details

Photo:  Sam Harrison on the Horseshoe Pass climb

Great Britain's rising star, Sam Harrison, tackled the Horseshoe Pass climb, which forms part of the Etape Cymru route.

Harrison was riding the Horseshoe Pass with organisers of the Etape Cymru, sponsors, journalists and members of the public. The 6.1km Horseshoe Pass climb gains 317m in height and at times the gradient reaches 20%. Harrison finished the climb in 00:14:27 and the Etape Cymru organisers are inviting members of the public to ride the climb and submit their times to the Etape Cymru website (www.etape-cymru.co.uk).

Interviewed at the top of the climb, UCI Track World Cup Medallist Harrison said: "That climb was pretty hard and it's lucky I had a tailwind! The steeper parts really take it out of you; you have to go easy at the bottom and just save yourself for the steeper parts really."

The Etape Cymru, powered by Tweeks Cycles, will be the UK's second closed road cyclosportive event. The 100-mile challenge takes place on Sunday 9th October 2011 and will not only take in the Horseshoe Pass, but also several well known climbs such as the The Shelf, The Garth and Worlds End.

Harrison continued: "It should be interesting for the guys riding the sportive who will have to pace themselves up that after a fair few miles of riding. The Horseshoe Pass is hard for me so I think they will find it really tough. The rest of the course is also really challenging so it's definitely going to be a hard day out at the Etape Cymru. It's tough but enjoyable."

Harrison used the day as training for recovery after breaking his collarbone just five weeks ago: "This is the perfect training for me as I am just getting back into it. I have the European Under 23 Track Championships in a couple of weeks and it is just really nice to ride the roads round here to try and get ready for that."

Come Sunday 9th October, riders will be able to take on the Horseshoe Pass and the rest of the Etape Cymru in a closed road environment. Put together with the support of Wrexham Council, Denbighshire Council, Welsh Assembly Government and North Wales Tourism, riding traffic-free will be a unique experience for entrants.

The Etape Cymru is working in partnership with British Cycling with all entrants receiving a goodie bag (including an event gilet) and free British Cycling Ride membership (worth £24). Event entry for this unique closed road event is £65, while existing British Cycling Members benefit from a discounted entry fee of just £53.