Our notorious King of the Downs super sportive is back as part of the RideIt! series. Harder and longer than the usual sportive ride, the King of the Downs will test your strength and endurance to the max! Entries are now open and as ever the event is filling up fast so get in quick and be part of this testing but enjoyable ride!
Taking place on Sunday the 22nd of May, the 113 mile challenge takes in over 10 killer climbs in the South East’s iconic road cycling areas totaling over 9,000 feet over the North Downs, the Surrey Hills, Ashdown Forest and the hills scattered through East Surrey and Kent.
View Evans Cycles King of the Downs – 23rd May in a larger map
If you’re up for the challenge but fancy a shorter ride there’s the 56 mile half sportive option which takes you round the Western loop of the route. I decided to head out around this sector (which also forms part of the 2012 Olympic road race course) earlier in the week with Balint driving the van along to get some pictures and video footage of the course.
Heading North West from the start which is at the front of our offices (RH10 9TZ) the route takes you around the airport perimeter, through Charlwood and into Newdigate. From here you then head into the Surrey Hills before tackling the North Downs. The loop features some exhilarating descents and 4,800ft of climbing taking you up and over the following climbs, broken up by the twisting, scenic, undulating roads:
• Leith Hill (451ft climbing in 2.1 miles)
• Pitch Hill (559ft climbing in 2.1 miles)
• Combe Bottom (422ft climbing in 2 miles)
• Ranmore Common West (271ft climbing in 1.5 miles)
• Box Hill (567ft climbing 2.6 miles)
Western Loop
The full sportivers then head on to the Eastern loop which we’re going to head out on next Monday and meet up with our Super Sportiver, James Berresford. The Eastern part takes you into the Ashdown forest before tracking north to the North Downs – it’s here that you’ll tackle two of the toughest hill climbs including the famous Yorks Hill. This sector climbs a total of 4,200ft and takes in the following climbs:
• Tulleys Farm (252ft climbing in 1.8 miles)
• Weir Wood Reservoir (342ft climbing in 1.3 miles)
• The Wall (406ft climbing in 0.9 miles)
• Yorks Hill (394ft climbing in 1.1 miles)
• Titsey – Bec CC Hill Climb (386ft climbing in 0.8 miles)
Eastern Loop
With only 1,200 places available King of the Downs 2011 is already half full and sure to sell out, proving its popularity so enter now to avoid disappointment! Already entered? RSVP on Facebook and share your experiences, tips and advice! Entry is £25 and all riders will receive a goody bag worth £12.
Keep up to date with our blog and check back for the next post when we catch up with our Super Sportiver, James Berresford who tells us how his season so far has gone, event preparation, and what he’s looking forward to or even dreading on the day!
Gareth, this is 2011 and we’re in Europe.
The King of the Downs looks great, but:
Please use metric measurements, climbs should be in metres – this matches all modern mapping, and distances should be in Km, the standard for European cycling, if not totally employed in this country.
Still for cycling events such as cyclosportives, audaxes, races etc Km are universally used.
Quoting measurements in imperial units makes most people have to think twice while doing a mental conversion to metric. Please save us the bother.
Hi Robert, sorry it was a bit confusing and to bring this inline 113 miles is 182km, climbing a total of 2,743m. The Western loop would be 90km with 1,463m of climbs whilst the Eastern loop makes up the remaining 92km and takes in 1,280m of climbing as follows:
Western
• Leith Hill (137m climbing in 3.4km)
• Pitch Hill (170m climbing in 3.4km)
• Combe Bottom (129m climbing in 3.2km)
• Ranmore Common West (83m climbing in 2.4km)
• Box Hill (173m climbing in 4.2km)
Eastern
• Tulleys Farm (77m in 2.9km)
• Weir Wood Reservoir (104m climbing in 2.1km)
• The Wall (124m climbing in 1.4km)
• Yorks Hill (120m climbing in 1.8km)
• Titsey – Bec CC Hill Climb (118m climbing in 1.3km)
Hope this helps clarify things and I’ll remember for next time. Cheers and enjoy the ride!
Hi
Will a gps file be available for download before the 22nd?
Thanks
Hi Steve.
GPS routes will be available from Friday night after we have put the course out and are sure it’s correct.
Ta
Dean
I have not entered but would have been interested in half route. Note you have limited on day entries but as half route registration opens later I can envisage all the entries being gone even if I turn up at start at 7:30am.If you are able to confirm that I am unlikely to get a place on the day it will save me a trip. Thanks.
Hi Greg
I’d find it highly unlikely that you will get a place.
Sorry.
Dean