Holme Valley Wheelers have attracted a top class field for their climb on Holme Moss near Holmfirth in West Yorkshire on Saturday, with former National Champion Dan Evans (Team Elite-Paul Bethell Electrical) the last man off.

The 1.3-mile climb, which has an average gradient of almost 10 per cent , will also be tackled by Matt Clinton (Mike Vaughan Cycles), Kieran Savage (Team B38-Underpin Racing), while Nathan Allatt (Royal Navy and Royal Marines CA) could well secure the junior prize, and may also clock a time to challenge the seniors.

Evans is also down to ride the Huddersfield Star Wheelers climb of Jackson Bridge earlier the same day, which takes place on a nearby 1,540-yard climb which has a similar gradient.

And on Sunday, Evans is among a big field for the Lancashire RC climb on The Rake, a 947-yard climb.

Others on the start sheet with the ability to do well include Lee Baldwin (Champion System), Richard Handley (One Pro Cycling) and Joe Clark (Envelopemaster), while former multiple national champion Jim Henderson (Southport CC) is down to ride.

Many riders – including both the men’s and women’s defending National Champions – have opted to ride the Catford CC and Bec CC hill-climbs on Sunday, which should provide the usual great spectacle.

Richard Bussell (AeroCoach) and Maryka Sennema (Paceline RT) are just some of the top names due to tackle the morning’s Catford CC event on the 660-yard Yorks Hill climb near Goathurst Common, while the afternoon sees Bec CC stage their climb of the 700-yard White Lane climb in Titsey.

Last year’s Bec CC winner, James Lowden (Team ASL360) returns to defend, and may also be targeting a win over Bussell who beat him in the Catford climb 12 months ago.

In-form Adam Kenway (Metaltek-Kuota) tackles the Bolsover and District CC climb at Palterton, while in Wiltshire Glyndwr Griffiths (73 Degrees Bicycles) is last man off in the Bath CC climb of Hinton Hill on Sunday.

Also on Hinton Hill, the Severn RC event on Saturday sees George Fowler (NFTO Pro Cycling) among the favourites for the half-mile ascent.