ROUTE UPDATED JUNE 2023 TO AVOID ROAD CLOSURES ON A592 KIRKSTONE PASS (CHANGES IN RED)
ULTRA X BIKE : ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT OPEN ROAD OUT AND BACK 2 LOOPS
DISTANCE : 112 MILES (180 km)
ELEVATION GAIN : 13,300ft (4,054 m)
START T1 - WATERHEAD - AMBLESIDE
FINISH T2 - WATERHEAD - AMBLESIDE
THE FULL X AND THE ULTRA X ARE RUN IN CONJUNCTION. COMPETITORS FROM BOTH RACES START TOGETHER IN THE SWIM AND COMPLETE THE SAME BIKE ROUTE UNTIL ESKDALE GREEN CHECKPOINT.
ULTRA X BIKE MAP
The bike section is entirely on tarmac roads however, some sections of the route are on poorly maintained B roads. As organisers we warn riders of the worst potholes on route and publish a map to highlight the worst areas. We strongly recommend entrants make themselves familiar with the route before the race.
KIRKSTONE LOOP - WATERHEAD - KIRKSTONE PASS - WATERHEAD
Lap 1: From Transition (T1) head North through the village of Ambleside before bearing North-West FOLLOW THE A591 OUT AND BACK TO GRASMERE. on returning to Ambleside take the first ascent of Kirtksone Pass (K1). 5.6 km with a maximum gradient of 25%, cumulating in the infamous ‘Struggle’ a short but sharp series of hairpin switchbacks just below the summit of 1,500m. TURN AROUND AT THE TOP OF KIRKSTON AND DESCEND BACK TO TRANSITION VIA KIRKSTON PASS. (THE A592 TO TROUTBECK IS CLOSED). Competitors must re-enter the timing area before continuing onto the Eskdale Loop.
ESKDALE LOOP - WATERHEAD - ESKDALE GREEN -WATERHEAD
Lap 1: From Transition (T1A) head West through the Great Langdale Valley to Dungeon Ghyll before the short but steep Blea Tarn pass with a maximum gradient of 25% and onto Little Langdale. Sharp right turn onto the first ascent of the twin passes of Wrynose (W1) and Hardknott (H1) at 3km 25% and 2km 33% respectively. After descending Hardknott, continue West along the flat Eskdale valley to the Eskdale Green Checkpoint turnaround (E1).
RACE UPDATE ULTRA X – FULL X SPLIT Competitors reaching the Eskdale Checkpoint before the E1 cut off time have the option to continue with the ULTRA X bike route or change to the FULL X (lower level) bike route to complete the race.
From Eskdale checkpoint competitors retrace the route back to Transition via Hardknott (H2) Western slope; 5k 33%; Wrynose (W2) Western Slope; 3km 20%; Blea Tarn; Great Langdale and to Transition (T1B). Competitors must re-enter the timing area before repeating the second leg.
KIRKSTONE LOOP - WATERHEAD - KIRKSTONE PASS - WATERHEAD
Lap 2: From Transition (T1) head North through the village of Ambleside before bearing North-West FOLLOW THE A591 OUT AND BACK TO GRASMERE. on returning to Ambleside take the first ascent of Kirtksone Pass (K1). 5.6 km with a maximum gradient of 25%, cumulating in the infamous ‘Struggle’ a short but sharp series of hairpin switchbacks just below the summit of 1,500m. TURN AROUND AT THE TOP OF KIRKSTON AND DESCEND BACK TO TRANSITION VIA KIRKSTON PASS. (THE A592 TO TROUTBECK IS CLOSED). Competitors must re-enter the timing area before continuing onto the Eskdale Loop.
ESKDALE LOOP - WATERHEAD - ESKDALE GREEN -WATERHEAD
Lap 2: From Transition (T1C) head West through the Great Langdale Valley to Dungeon Ghyll before the short but steep Blea Tarn pass with a maximum gradient of 25% and onto Little Langdale. Sharp right turn onto the first ascent of the twin passes of Wrynose (W3) and Hardknott (H3) at 3km 25% and 2km 33% respectively. After descending Hardknott, continue West along the flat Eskdale valley to the Eskdale Green Checkpoint turnaround (E2). Retracing the route back to Transition via Hardknott (H4) Western slope; 5k 33%; Wrynose (W4) Western Slope; 3km 20%; Blea Tarn; Great Langdale and to Transition (T2). turning around and repeating the Eskdale Loop detailed above; Great Langdale; Wrynose East (W3); Hardknott East (H3); Eskdale Green Turnaround (E2); Hardknott West (H4) Wrynose West (W4); Great Langdale and returning to Transition (T2) to run.
BE WARNED this is the hardest bike section of any Full Iron Distance Triathlon anywhere.
K1 KIRKSTONE (25%) - T1A TRANSITION TIMING STATION
K2 KIRKSTONE (25%) - T1B TRANSITION TIMING STATION
W1 WYRNOSE (25%)
H1 HARDKNOTT (33%) - E1 ESKDALE GREEN TURNAROUND
H2 HARDKNOTT (33%)
W2 WRYNOSE (20%) - T1C TRANSITION TIMING STATION
W3 WRYNOSE (25%)
H3 HARKDNOTT (33%) -E2 ESKDALE GREEN TURNAROUND
H4 HARDKNOTT (33%)
W4 WRYNOSE (20%) - T2 TRANSITION TIMING STATION
112 MILE OPEN ROAD CYCLE. THE ULTRAX BIKE LEG IS THE TOUGHEST OF ANY FULL 'IRON MAN' RACE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD.
THE FULL X AND THE ULTRA X ARE RUN IN CONJUNCTION. COMPETITORS FROM BOTH RACES START TOGETHER IN THE SWIM AND COMPLETE THE SAME BIKE ROUTE UNTIL ESKDALE GREEN CHECKPOINT.
GPX FILE
