Walbury Hill Climb 2026 - Registration is via our TT Events Page
Sunday 20th September 2026 8am to 4pm (timings are approximate)
An Historic Tradition Meets Modern Inclusion
Each autumn, Newbury Velo members and cycling enthusiasts from across the region climb aboard their super‑light climbing bikes to take part in one of cycling’s most cherished spectacles – our annual Walbury Hill Climb. As the seasons shift and golden leaves settle across Berkshire’s lanes, this quintessentially British race format brings our community together in celebration of grit, determination, and the simple joy of defying gravity.
While hill climbs have changed little since their beginnings in 1886, Newbury Velo has proudly carried the tradition forward on Walbury Hill, the highest natural point in Southeast England. Our event honours the heritage of this unique discipline while adding our own local character to the challenge. With gradients that test even the strongest legs and most determined minds, the Walbury Hill Climb has become a must‑do autumn fixture for riders across the Home Counties.
For those new to the sport, a hill climb is a short uphill time trial that demands everything from its participants. Walbury may not hit the 25% ramps of some northern climbs, but its steady, unforgiving ascent requires perfect pacing and rewards every rider who gives it their all.
Something for Everyone
Full Course – 1.1 miles The classic Walbury Hill Climb, now entered exclusively via CTT. A pure test of power‑to‑weight, pacing, and mental fortitude.
Short Course – approx. 400 metres A welcoming introduction to hill climbing, ideal for newer riders, younger cyclists, and those using adapted equipment.
Medium Course – approx. 700 metres A stepping‑stone challenge offering a taste of the full climb without the full distance.
Returning for 2026, our British Cycling Limitless category continues to champion inclusive cycle sport, giving less‑able riders the freedom to take on any of the three course lengths — short, medium, or the full climb — using whatever equipment suits their needs. The same open choice applies to our ever‑popular Silly Category, where choppers, shoppers, cruisers, Grifters and all manner of wonderfully impractical machines are welcome to tackle whichever distance they fancy. With the full course now unified under CTT, the 2026 Club Championships will be decided by the fastest male and female riders to take on the full Walbury Hill course, with champions recognised at the annual awards in January 2027.
Short Course approx 400 metres | Medium Course approx 700 metres | Full Course 1.1 miles
Building on a Groundbreaking 2025
The 2025 edition was the first of its kind in the UK, combining an Open CTT event, a British Cycling Club event, and short and medium course options designed to welcome less‑able cyclists. It was a bold step forward for inclusive cycle sport, and we learned a huge amount from delivering such a pioneering format.
For 2026, the event retains its three‑course structure, but with refinements shaped by last year’s experience. We are working closely with CTT and British Cycling to streamline the full‑course entry into a single CTT‑managed category, ensuring a smoother process for riders while maintaining the competitive integrity of the climb. The short and medium courses return unchanged, continuing to offer accessible and confidence‑building options for riders of all abilities.
This year we anticipate an even bigger and better event, pushing the boundaries of what an inclusive hill climb can be.
For 2026, the Walbury Hill Climb brings together everything we learned from last year’s groundbreaking format. In 2025 we became the first event in the UK to combine an Open CTT hill climb, a British Cycling club event, and short and medium courses designed to welcome less‑able riders. Building on that success, this year the full course will run as a single CTT‑managed entry, simplifying the process for riders while retaining the competitive edge of the classic climb. Alongside it, the British Cycling Go‑Ride event returns with the familiar club hill climb, short and medium course options, the Limitless disability‑friendly category, and our always‑popular novelty bikes are welcome on any of the courses. It’s an inclusive, community‑focused format that welcomes juniors, first‑timers, experienced racers, and adapted‑equipment riders alike, and as ever, young riders can choose whichever distance suits their confidence and ability. 2026 promises to be bigger, smoother, and even more inclusive as we continue pushing the boundaries of what a modern hill climb can be.
A Festival Atmosphere
More than just a race, our Hill Climb has evolved into a community cycling festival. Spectators will line the route to cheer on participants from elite racers to first-timers, creating the unique atmosphere that makes hill climbing special.
Food vendors, mechanical support, and cycling exhibitors will be on site throughout the day, making this a perfect day out for families and cycling enthusiasts alike.
Join the Challenge
Whether you're chasing a personal best, introducing your children to competitive cycling in a supportive environment, participating in the Limitless event, or simply wanting to tackle Walbury Hill on a chopper just for laughs, this event celebrates the joy of cycling in all its forms.
Registration opens soon. Follow Newbury Velo's social media channels for updates and early bird entry opportunities!
The Pain and the Glory - it’s not actually that bad!
The pride of conquering Walbury Hill is etched on every rider's face as they reach the summit. Year after year, Newbury Velo members and visitors alike push themselves to new limits on this challenging ascent, with each grimace telling its own story of determination.
What makes our hill climb truly special is the incredible atmosphere created by the Newbury Velo community. Club members, families, and local cycling enthusiasts line the steepest sections of Walbury Hill, creating a corridor of encouragement that's become legendary in Berkshire's cycling scene. The distinctive sound of cowbells echoes across the hillside as spectators cheer on every participant, from course record contenders to first-timers, creating that wall of sound that can give tired legs the extra push they need.
The pre-race ritual of bike preparation has become something of a spectacle itself at our event. Newbury Velo's most dedicated hill climbers can be spotted removing every non-essential component—water bottle cages, unnecessary bar tape, all to shave those precious seconds off their time. Some have been known to spend the weeks before the event calculating the perfect weight-to-power ratio, debating tire pressures, and planning their optimal line up Walbury's testing slopes!
Check out the full Course
The course is officially called HCC020a - catchy, don’t you think! QWe/ve ceated a user friendly Ride with GPS course for thiose that want to downloadit, try it, or train on it.
