The reigning men’s and women’s national champions, Tom Bell and Bithja Jones are tackling two events this weekend as their build-up to title defences continues to gather pace.

Bell (High North Performance) is last man off at the Protech Velo climb of Paradise Bank near Shadforth in County Durham, a climb of just under a mile.

He then heads down to South Yorkshire for the following day’s climb of New Mill Bank near Ewden, a climb of just 810 yards organised by Geared Up-C and N Cycles.

And the reigning women’s champion Bithja Jones (Pankhurst Cycles) tackles the Velocinno Squadra Donne climb of Bison Hill near Whipsnade before heading to Princes Risborough for the following day’s Whiteleaf Hill climb promoted by Watford Velo Sport.

Both courses are less than a mile and ideal for Jones, who is favourite to take comfortable wins at both.

Elsewhere Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase-CabTech) is favourite for the win at the GS Metro climb of Hedley on the Hill in Northumberland on Sunday, with Joanne Rea (Blaydon CC) is favourite to finish as fastest female.

Slightly further south, the Ferryhill Wheelers are hosting a climb on Quarrington Hill in County Durham with Tom Harcourt (Team Bikestop Tyrekey) and Darlington CC vet Marcel Schubert expected to be pushing for the win.

Minehead CC have two hill-climbs on Sunday with former national champions down to ride.

The first is on Porlock Hill in Somerset, where Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheel.com) and Ed Laverack (Backpedal) are expected to battle it out. Later that morning they have another climb on Porlock Toll Road, a 4.2-mile course which has Laverack as the pre-race favourite.

The women’s prize at both events is expected to be taken by the in-form Illi Gardner (Wahoo Endurance Zone).

Sunday’s VC Venta hill-climb takes place on Old Winchester Hill near Warnford, and the field includes Brother UK rider Madeline Verdegaal as well as Emma O’Toole (Nopinz Motip RT), while of the men Felix Tuck (Meudon Pedal Heaven) is Spindata’s favourite.

There are still some quality time trials taking place, and leading the way on Sunday is the North Lancs TTA 50-Mile Championships near Braithwaite in Cumbria.

National ranking system Spindata has Jack Levick (Rose RT) down for the win, while not far behind is Dougie Watson (GTR-Return to Life) with Deborah Moss (Springfield Financial RT) expected to top the women’s times.

The VTTA London & Home Counties 25 also has some quality riders, with reigning national 10 and 50-mile champion Kate Allan (Team Bottrill) expected to take victory.

Of the men, Ollie Hucks (Saint Piran) and Paul Burton (Paceline RT) are among the fastest on paper along with Twickenham CC’s Liam Maybank.

There are a weekend of events on the picturesque Isle of Bute, with a hill-climb on Serpentine hill in Rothesay taking place on Saturday before a 20-mile two-up time trial. And Sunday sees a 10-mile time trial from Port Bannatyne to Colintraive and back. And for those with some ‘go’ still in their legs, there are road races round the island too.

Sunday is also a great chance to see multiple national champion Chris Fennell in action, as The Independent Pedaler is down to ride the West Kent RC 25 near Molash, with his brother Nic Fennell (Thanet RC) also due to ride.

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