ROUTE UPDATED JUNE 2023 TO AVOID ROAD CLOSURES ON A592 KIRKSTONE PASS (CHANGES IN RED)
HALF X BIKE : ENGLISH LAKE DISTRICT, OPEN ROAD
DISTANCE : 56 MILES (90km)
ELEVATION GAIN 6604 ft (2013m)
START : T1 WATERHEAD, AMBLESIDE
FINISH : T2 WATERHEAD, AMBLESIDE
HALF 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
(Two Laps) From T1B 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 turnaround (E1).
Retracing the route back to Transition via Hardknott (H2) Western slope; 5k 33%; Wrynose (W2) Western Slope; 3km 20%; Blea Tarn UPDATED 2023; Great Langdale and to Transition (T1C).
BE WARNED this is the hardest bike section of any Half Iron Distance Triathlon anywhere.
K1 KIRKSTONE (25%) - T1A TRANSITION TIMING STATION
W1 WYRNOSE (25%)
H1 HARDKNOTT (33%) - E1 ESKDALE GREEN TURNAROUND
H2 HARDKNOTT (33%)
W2 WRYNOSE (20%) - T2 TRANSITION TIMING STATION
58 MILE OPEN ROAD CYCLE. THE HALF X BIKE LEG IS THE TOUGHEST OF ANY HALF 'IRON MAN' RACE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD.
GPX FILE
HALF X BIKE MAP
