100 climbs in 13 days

Steve Benton, 100 Climbs

Midnight finishes, kamikaze sheep on the road, careless drivers and even heart problems couldn't stop Steve Benton from completing Simon Warren's 100 Greatest Cycling Climbs in a mere thirteen days - without putting a foot down, naturally.



Seven months ago the idea of tacking the country's toughest and most famous ascents came to the Hampshire-based sports conditioning consultant: "I thought ‘sod it, why don't I just do them one after another?'" he recalls.

The other spur was fundraising for the Richard Burns Foundation, in memory of the world champion rally car driver he befriended and trained before his death in 2005 from a brain tumour. The toughest climbs for former bunch sprinter Benton were the Lake District's Hardknott Pass and Park Rash in Yorkshire Dales. "[After the latter] I slumped in the car, not sure if I could do this," he recalls. "But on an hourly basis, I'd be up, down, then mediocre. It was always changing."

Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access

Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription

Join now for unlimited access

Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1

Founded in 1891, Cycling Weekly and its team of expert journalists brings cyclists in-depth reviews, extensive coverage of both professional and domestic racing, as well as fitness advice and 'brew a cuppa and put your feet up' features. Cycling Weekly serves its audience across a range of platforms, from good old-fashioned print to online journalism, and video.