Thursday 19th July, 2012.

Full details of sponsors, prizes and how to enter will follow soon!

Limited edition screen-print, featuring a specially-commissioned artwork by award-winning illustrator Henry Obasi, based on his cover design for the 2011 UHC programme.

PRODUCT DETAILS:

• A3 poster size (420 x 297mm)
• Screen-printed on high-quality paper (GF SMITH MOHAWK SUPERFINE 270GSM), perfect for mounting and framing
•  The name of every rider who took part in the 2011 UHC event appears on the poster
• Exclusive artwork by Henry Obasi
• Limited edition run of 50

PRICE: £25 plus p&p

TO ORDER or for more details, please email enquiries@speakmedia.co.uk (subject: ‘UHC poster’) or telephone 020 7375 1253

As last year interest was high, despite the rain, with hundreds of spectators lining the 800m climb to cheer on the full field of 120 riders (senior events sold out in four minutes after entries were released)

For 2011 Rollapaluza made a couple of changes to the traditional hill climb format, introducing digital timing and knockout semi finals and finals for the fastest riders meaning the top four overall had to climb the hill three times before taking their podium places.

In the overall event 2010′s first and second placed riders Chris Metcalfe and 2010 winner of the BEC Hill climb 16 year old Germain Burton returned with Germain (also riding as a youth) beating the hill record with 1m 29.61 seconds early in the evening, an improvement of over 3 seconds on Chris’s winning time from 2010. However this time was not to stand as Team Corley Cycles had sent two of their top riders to the event Michael Smith and Richard Cartland, with Michael setting the new record with 1m 26.92 seconds.

Germain sets a temporary record

These four progressed to the knockout rounds, Germain beating Richard and Michael beating Chris. The minor final for 3rd and fourth place was a real cat and mouse affair with some very close racing and switching between Chris and Richard but Chris just edged it on the line. In the Final Germain attacked hard from the gun and it looked like it might pay off but the esperienced Michael had the measure of him and after sitting on his wheel, attacked on the steepest section to forge ahead for the win.

Chris Metcalfe wins his semi final

Michael Smith wins

In the female category last year’s winner Claire Beaumont of Condor cycles was only good enough for fourth and the top three were entirely different from 2010 with the top two spots going to the team from popular London cycle cafe and workshop Look Mum No Hands!…with Louise Moriarty the winner.

Louise and podium boy

Germain Burton won the youth category with promising performances from Alex Cozens in second and Daniel Mateus (riding fixed) in 3rd.

Aside from Germain, John Storms was the only other rider to retain his title, in the Vets category improving his time by 3 seconds. Beatrice Windsor won the female youth category.

For the second year the Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb was free to enter and aimed at inclusion of all cyclists, indeed there were riders on  Bromptons and one rider, Leo Tong even competed on a Boris bike and he actually beat seven riders on road bikes!

Leo and Boris

The whole event was filmed by a professional TV crew and a highlights video will apppear soon on this site soon.

Here is a selection of galleries from the 2011 Urban Hill Climb.

David Rowe, Monkey Mark, Nick Calverey, Callotype, LondonCycleSport, AR Beecroft, Tyre 44

1. Michael Smith

bt

2. Germain Burton

Minor Final

3. Chris Metcalfe

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4. Richad Cartland

Semi Final 1

Michael Smith

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Richard Cartland

Semi Final 2

Germain Burton

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Chris Metcalfe Women

1. Lousie Moriarty 1.54.87

2. Lydia Boylan 2.01.00

3. Kirsten Halliday 2.08.17

4. Claire Beaumont 2.12.66

5. Astrid Wingler 2.13.02

Veteran Male

1. John Storms 1.39.02

2. Paul O’Sullivan 1.42.11

3. Neil Manning 1.47.83

Youth Male

1. Germain Burton 1.29.61

2. Alex Cozens 1.51.41

3. Daniel Mateus 1.58.16

Youth Female

1. Beatrice Windsor 2.42.97

All Times

AnaNichoola Female Cycling clothing and accessories

Swrve Urban Cycling Gear

Black Rainbow Project Courier bags and accessories

Germain Burton, Chris Metcalfe, Dave Clarke. pics courtesy of Andy Waterman

The Inaugural Rollapaluza Urban Hill Climb was a huge success, despite the heavy rain showers early on in the evening which mimicked the conditions encountered on the Tourmalet in the Tour de France earlier on in the day, a huge crowd gathered to cheer on over 100 competitors in London’s first ever closed-road hill climb.

Women’s winner Claire Beaumont of Condor Cycles. pics courtesy of Andy Waterman

The Urban hill climb inspired 120 cyclists to get out and race up the fantastic Swains lane, a tough little climb hidden away in the centre of london. Simon Warren’s book “100 greatest cycling climbs“ features this road and another 99 hills all over Britain that are just waiting to be discovered. Racing in the event Simon set an early fast time of 1m 42.09 seconds, however spectators were stunned when only 38 racers in to the event 15 year old Germain Burton set a blistering time of 1m 33.70seconds, seven seconds faster than the quickest adult time at that point. Racers  from commuters on folding bikes through veteran cycle couriers, first-time racers, club riders were unable to beat this time and it wasn’t ’til the elite cyclists and top hill-climbing talent took to the hill over an hour later that Germain’s time was threatened. Londoner Matt Theobalds, elite cyclists Justin Hoy and Dave Clarke came close but only Chris Metcalfe of Matlock CC was able to beat the youngster.

100 greatest cycling climbs author Simon Warren takes the start. pics courtesy of Andy Waterman

Claire Beaumont rode stongly in the women’s category to win by over 6 seconds from Alexandra Marzec and Veteran John Storms rounded out the top 10 overall to take the Vets category 8 seconds faster than comeback rider Don Wiley.

Generous prizes were provided by Condor Cycles with cash prizes from Rollapaluza.

Above pic from: Trulli