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

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

(Two Laps) From T1 head North through the village of Ambleside before bearing North West and to the first ascent of Kirtksone Pass (K1). At 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. Descending back to Transition via the village of Troutbeck and the A591

Competitors must re-enter the timing area before turning around and repeating the same Kirkstone (K2) Loop as detailed above, returning to Transition (T1B) 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; Great Langdale and to Transition (T1C).

Competitors must re-enter the timing area before 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 Ultra 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 ULTRA BIKE LEG IS THE TOUGHEST OF ANY ULTRA 'IRON MAN' RACE ANY WHERE IN THE WORLD.