With just one weekend of action left before the National Hill-Climb Championships, the riders have their last chance to perfect their ascending abilities ahead of the title race in Derbyshire on October 30.

 

And this weekend’s action includes a double-header promoted by the Matlock CC – including a climb of Bank Road which will host the National Championships seven days later.

 

While defending men’s national champion Richard Bussell (AeroCoach) has decided not to ride this week as he prepares for the title race, defending women’s champion Maryka Sennema (Paceline RT) is riding both legs of the Matlock CC climbs on Sunday.

 

With the first rider off at 10am, the first of their two climbs is on the1.2-kilometre Riber climb.

 

While Sennema is the star name in the 14-strong list of female entries, the men’s startsheet boast several of the top contenders for the men’s national crown.

 

Joseph Clark (Envelopemaster-Giant Sheffield) is the last man off as last year’s Riber winner. The man he beat 12 months ago, Adam Kenway (Metaltek-Kuota) is also on the startsheet but indicated he may not ride to enable him to hit the National Championship in peak form.

 

The afternoon’s climb of Bank Road has attracted a similar field of riders for the shorter 700-yard climb, but with a few more names as people get a practice run in for the following week’s title race.

 

 But not all the top riders are heading to Matlock for their final preparations.

 

The Bristol South CC climb of Burrington Combe, a two-mile climb near Blagdon, has attracted former national champion Tejvan Pettinger (Sri Chinmoy CT), while other big name riders include George Fowler (NFTO Pro Cycling).

 

Huddersfield Road Club stage a hill-climb on the 1,420-kilometre climb of Ripponden Bank in West Yorkshire.

 

National junior champion and University champion Kieran Savage (Team B38-Underpin Racing) is the last man off there, while his team-mate Archie Cross could also push for a podium finish as well as Manchester BC’s Chris Dyke.

 

The day before, Team Tor 2000 stage a climb on West Close Hill near Priddy in Somerset, tackling a 1,979-metre climb.

 

And Brighton Mitre are promoting a 25-mile time trial on Sunday morning.