One big hill, three ways up it - How to make one of Britain's toughest climbs even harder

Some of the best climbs in the UK and Europe have three roads up them - the challenge: To do them all in one day

Britain's best rides the Bwlch three ways
(Image credit: Andy Jones)

A few years ago, inspired by the challenge of riding Mont Ventoux three times in a day to claim membership of the Club des Cinglés I set about searching for roads in the UK where a similar challenge could be attempted. Of course there’s nothing on our island that comes remotely close to the mighty Giant of Provence but we have plenty of decent climbs and some are fortunate enough to provide three different paths to the summit. 

My first location for such a challenge was the Bwlch in South Wales, a ride that accumulated 1,815 meters of altitude over a gruelling 85km kilometres without a single bit of flat road to tick off its three ascents.

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