← All events3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross
The legendary hardest cyclocross race in the world: ~61km over the three Yorkshire peaks (Ingleborough, Whernside, Pen-y-ghent) on CX bikes, with brutal hike-a-bike carries up rocky fells. Ballot entry, capped at ~400. Date approximate (est. 26 Sep 2027).
The one they call the hardest cyclocross race in the world. Not for the pedalling, but for the carrying: you shoulder a cyclocross bike and hike it up three rocky Yorkshire fells.
Roughly 61km and 1,500m of climbing links Ingleborough, Whernside and Pen-y-ghent. Farm lanes join the peaks, then bog, scree and steep grass send the bike onto your shoulder.
It is as much fell race as bike race. Strict cutoffs, an enforced mountain kit list, savage descents on skinny tyres. Entry is a ballot, capped near 400: getting in is the first fight.
Is 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross for you?
- Runners who ride. Fell fitness decides this race, and strong hikers with bike handling often beat pure cyclists on the long climbs.
- Cyclists happy off the bike. Big sections are carried on foot, so shouldering and hiking uphill has to feel natural, not like a penalty.
- Confident, nervy descenders. The drops off each summit are fast and rough on 33mm tyres, rewarding handling and grip when your forearms are shot.
- Riders who respect a mountain. Cutoffs, severe summit weather and an enforced kit list make this a hill day, not a park race.
Training plan for 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross
A training plan for 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross isn't a generic base build. Beina reads the event's exact demands, looks at your specific profile and the time you actually have, and maps a highly adapted plan to the start line.
- Long hike-a-bike carries, shouldering the bike up rocky, boggy fell for extended sections
- Three summit ascents run and hiked, not ridden: Ingleborough, Whernside, Pen-y-ghent
- Fast, rough descents on skinny CX tyres where grip and forearms fail before the legs
- Strict cutoffs and a broom wagon on exposed, weather-hit summits
- Fell carry reps: 4 to 8 carries up a steep hill hiking back down, plus one sustained 20 to 40 min long carry
- Hill running reps and rough off-road runs to build fell fitness and ankle robustness
- Rough descent practice and CX skills: mounts, dismounts and line choice on the bike
- Brick sessions: ride to a hill, carry up, run down, repeat, backed by posterior-chain and grip strength
- Built from your current fitness and the time you actually have
- Adapts every week as Beina learns how you respond
- Syncs your sessions straight to Garmin and Wahoo
- One clear next session, never a wall of spreadsheet
