By kazimladimeji 
🔥 A Record-Breaking Ride on Bank Road
The 2025 British National Hill Climb Championships brought high drama to Matlock, Derbyshire, where Britain’s steep-road specialists battled up Bank Road’s 14% average gradient in front of a roaring crowd.
In a season defined by wattage, weight-saving and willpower, one rider rose above the rest — Harry MacFarlane.
🥇 The Winner: Harry MacFarlane
Riding for Rule 28 Outliers, Harry MacFarlane powered to victory in a blistering 2:14.7, setting a new course record and reclaiming his place at the top of the UK hill-climb hierarchy.
According to BikeRadar, MacFarlane’s setup was astonishingly light — just 4.8 kg — and his estimated power output hit around 9.9 W/kg for the short, brutal ascent. His bike, based on a Trek Émonda frameset, was stripped of every unnecessary gram in classic hill-climb fashion.
“It was a power PB by a long shot,” said MacFarlane post-race. “I can only pull something like that out of the bag once a year.”
It was the perfect combination of preparation, pacing, and precision equipment — a masterclass in short-form suffering.
🥈 The Challenger: Andrew Feather
Few names are as synonymous with British hill-climbing as Andrew Feather. The multiple national champion and perennial contender once again made the podium, finishing third in 2:20.4 — a typically smooth, powerful performance.
Feather’s consistency has become legendary; his presence at every major event raises the standard for everyone else. And while he didn’t reclaim the title in 2025, his experience and endurance remain a benchmark for the sport.
⚙️ A Glimpse at the Winning Tech
We’ll explore the engineering and equipment of these featherweight machines in more detail soon, but here’s a teaser of what defined 2025’s top bikes:
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Ultra-light builds – bikes hovering between 4.5–5.0 kg, thanks to carbon everything and minimalist setups.
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1x drivetrains – simple, reliable, and lighter than traditional road gearing.
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Custom cockpit and wheels – pared down to the bare essentials, often with prototype parts or even 3D-printed components.
This year, creativity was as important as conditioning. One look at the paddock and you could see the innovation bubbling under British cycling’s grassroots surface.
🎥 Watch the Race Highlights
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▶️ Top 20 Riders — Official Recap by BikeRadar
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▶️ On-the-Ground Experience — CycleTheNation Coverage (folksy, crowd-energy perspective)
Together, they capture both sides of what makes the UK’s hill-climb culture special — performance and passion.
📍 Planning to Visit or Race? Where to Stay
Whether you’re chasing the title or ringing a cowbell at the roadside, future hill-climb events are the perfect excuse for a cycling weekend away.
From the Peak District to Yorkshire, Devon, and Wales, the hill-climb calendar spans some of the UK’s most scenic (and challenging) terrain.
👉 Book early and find stays near event venues:
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Hotels.com – great for flexible bookings and cyclist-friendly stays
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Expedia – ideal for hotel + travel packages near key climbs
Tip: pick a central base and explore local climbs between races — many National Hill Climb routes are open to ride year-round.
🧗 Why the 2025 Championship Mattered
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Record pace: MacFarlane’s course-record 2:14.7 proved the limits of what’s possible on two wheels.
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Historic venue: Bank Road’s gradient and urban amphitheatre atmosphere make it one of the sport’s most iconic settings.
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Growing participation: Over 450 riders entered, showing the enduring strength of the UK hill-climb scene.
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Grassroots meets innovation: Every year, the event pushes both rider fitness and creative bike building to new heights.
🔗 Related Reading
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UK Hill Climb Season & Championship: History, Bikes & Legends
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Upcoming: The Tech Behind Britain’s Lightest Hill-Climb Bikes
🚴 Final Thoughts
The 2025 British National Hill Climb Championships proved once again why this discipline holds a special place in UK cycling — brutal, beautiful, and uniquely British.
Harry MacFarlane’s win will be remembered as one of the sport’s finest performances, while Andrew Feather’s ongoing excellence reinforces that this community blends rivalry with deep respect.
So whether you’re chasing seconds or spectating from the kerb, there’s no better way to experience British cycling’s purest form of competition.
Plan your next trip early and book your stay via Hotels.com or Expedia — then get ready for more hill-climb heroics in 2026.