With just two weeks until the National Hill-Climb Championships, the main contenders for the titles are spreading their talents across the country as they hone their preparations.

Last year’s runner-up and the 2020 national champion, Andrew Feather takes on the Team Tor 2000 climb on Westfield Lane near Rodney Stoke, Somerset, on Saturday before heading to nearby Smitham Hill in East Harptree for Sunday’s Chew Valley CC climb.

In both events the Bath-based rider will be joined by 2019 national champion Ed Laverack (Backpedal), while at the Chew Valley event the improving Illi Gardner (Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col) is expected to win the women’s prize and continue her title tilt having placed fourth in last season’s National Championships.

Reigning men’s national champion Tom Bell (High North Performance) rides the Lancashire Road Club climb on Carr Street in Ramsbottom on Sunday, while reigning women’s champion Bithja Jones (Pankhurst Cycles) riders Saturday’s Beachy Head CC climb on Butts Lane, Willingdon, as well as the Berkhamsted CC climb of Tom Hill Road in Aldbury on Sunday.

In County Durham there is a good field for the Houghton CC climb of Quarrington Hill on Sunday.

Having won last weekend’s Cestria CC climb of Peth Bank, RAF CA’s Nick Munro will be hoping to make it two in a row with a win in the Houghton CC event, and national ranking system Spindata thinks he will take victory.

Others in the mix include Hugo Storey (Muckle CC), Marcel Schubert (Darlington CC) and Noel Stoddart (Blaydon CC).

The women’s field includes Team Boompods rider Hannah Farran and Sarah Wilkinson (Blaydon CC), as well as Joanne Rea (Team Kirkley Cycles).

In Lancashire, while national champion Tom Bell is expected to take a relatively easy win on Carr Street, the battle for the rest of the placings is expected to be much tighter with Chris Mann (Velotik RT), Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) and Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) all in the mix as well as Alex Raynard (Velo Bavarian) and Nicholas Latimer (Team Lifting Gear Products).

It is also expected to be close between Frances Owen (Wahoo Endurance Zone p/b Le Col) and Rebecca Richardson (Team Brother UK).

In Cornwall Saint Piran are holding two events near Bissoe on Sunday with riders tackling Mount Wellington in the morning and Long Hill in the afternoon. At both, Spindata suggests it’ll be a battle between Felix Whetter (Mid-Devon CC) and Oliver Wade (Wheal Velocity).

Elsewhere Farnham Road Club are holding an event on Holybourne Hill in Hampshire, while in Scotland Edinburgh Road Club have a 1.2-kilometre event up the iconic Arthur’s Seat.

In Yorkshire former national champion Adam Kenway (Team Brother UK) is top of the startsheet for the Vive le Velo climb near Flixton in East Yorkshire on Sunday, while in West Yorkshire the Drighlington BC climb on Scotchman Lane near Batley has Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase CabTech) as favourite according to Spindata.

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