Tuesday, March 19, 2024

Andrew Feather – British Hill Climb Champion

-

HomeInterviewsAndrew Feather - British Hill Climb Champion

The British Hill Climb Championships is as close as you’ll get to a continental race atmosphere in the UK – Grand Tour visits apart – with this year’s joust with Sir Isaac Newton’s discovery taking place on Pea Royd Lane, Stocksbridge near Sheffield in South Yorkshire in front of a large, exuberant gallery.

Vocal assistance was much need on this day with competitors having to brave rain and hail squalls.

The original venue was Shelsey Wash in Worcestershire but was changed some four weeks before the big day.

This year’s edition fell to 33 year-old solicitor from Bath, Andrew Feather (BCR Racing); this was his 12th hill climb win this year off 15 starts so it’s fair to say his championship win double underlined his status as Britain’s number one anti-gravity specialist of the moment.

Andrew drives to the top. Photo©Ellen Isherwood

Congratulations, Andrew, coming in to the race you had 11 wins of 14 starts?

“Yes, and in the other three I was second, third and fourth so my season ends on 12 wins off 15 starts.”

The venue was changed not too long before the event took place, did that cause you any upset?

“I suppose it would have been better for me if it had been on the original choice, it’s closer to home and I wouldn’t have had to stay in a hotel but the organisers tried to replicate the original venue as best as possible in terms of length and grade.

“It was a really steep, short, sharp climb at 860 yards with a 14% average.

“The grade changes made it a tough climb; it was steep up to the bridge then there’s a false flat and it kicks again after that – a difficult climb to find a rhythm on.

“I’d done a few recce rides on it beforehand – when I was riding other hill climbs in the area I visited the climb on the way home to see what it was all about.”

Andrew Feather
Championship day was bright and dry. Photo©Gary Main

Tell us about your training/preparation please.

“Most of my training is done commuting to work – that’s a 40 miles round trip per day – and this year I went to the French Alps just before the hill climb season started at the end of August

“I did some of the famous Tour de France climbs and seemed to do quite well comparing myself to other riders on Strava:

Alpe d’Heuz – 9th out of 81,500 between Adam Yates and Ryder Hesjedal. I did the whole climb in 44 minutes.

Col de la Colombiere – 1st.

“But the Alpine climbs are very different to the short sharp climbs we have in the UK.”

Andrew Feather
Andrew enjoys having the crowd encouragement. Photo©Craig Zadoroznyj Photography

Last year when we spoke to the winner Dan Evans, he told us that he was very careful with his food coming in to the race.

“I’m not particularly strict, I had ice cream and chocolate brownie the Saturday night before the Nationals on Sunday.

“I keep to normal diet and had a decent breakfast pre-race; life’s too short.

“That said I was four kilos lighter than last year, 67 down to 63 kilos and that made a big difference. 

“In hill climbing your power to weight ratio is key.”

And you were an elite road rider previously?

“I raced for Saint Piran, the Cornish team, and held an Elite licence between 2014-2017.

“I finished road racing in 2017 but decided to do the hill climb season properly in 2018.

I found that the road races in my area were too flat, I actually used to race in Scotland (places like Ballater and Stirling) quite a bit because the courses suited me better.

“I got to know John Archibald quite well – and Fraser Martin rode with Saint Piran.”

Andrew Feather
Andrew powers his Supersix Evo to the win. Photo©John Smith

Tell us about the winning bike.

“It’s the new Cannondale Supersix Evo Hi Mod, weight 5.8 kilos, I run a single 44 tooth chainring with 11 to 28 on the rear.

“I have specialist hill climbing wheels by Hunt wheels. [a pair are sub one kilo and only for riders up to 78 kg. ed.]

“I didn’t bother taking the bar tape off to save 30 grams.

“I ran SRAM Red Etap on the bike; I changed gear maybe five or six times.

“The bike I used for the Nationals last year (2017) was considerably heavier – just under 8 kilos; the new lightweight machine made a really big difference.”

Andrew Feather
The low sun, no crash helmet and altitude can only mean one thing: hill climbing. Photo©Danny Lake

Tell us about your pacing strategy for the Nationals.

“I made sure I didn’t start too hard and immediately go into the red. 

“It’s a difficult climb to gauge as it’s very short with changes in gradient. 

“A hill climb cannot be won in the first 200 metres, but it can be lost. 

“The crowd carries you through at the end – it was a fantastic atmosphere. 

“You need to control your adrenaline – try to remain calm and focused throughout. 

“Any panicking or gripping the handlebars too hard is wasted energy.”

How was your recovery from the effort?

“Not too bad, there are folk at the top to ‘catch’ you and I was OK after a minute or two – it was cold up there though.

“I had no ill-effects next day.”

Andrew Feather
Andrew has shown exceptional hill climbing form this season. Photo©supplied

What’s still on the Andrew Feather ‘to do’ list?

“Next year will definitely be another year of hill climbing.

“It’s not been confirmed but I’ve heard that the championship will be in the south west on a longer climb, away from the short, sharp climbs of recent years.”

Andrew Feather
Photo©Gary Main

With thanks to Andrew – will we be talking to him next autumn as champion for a second year?

If his 2019 form replicates his 2018 season he’ll be hard to bet against.

Ed Hood
Ed Hood
Ed's been involved in cycling for over 50 years. In that time he's been a successful time triallist, a team manager and a sponsor of several teams and clubs. He's also a respected and successful coach and during the winter months was often working in the cabins at the Six Days for some of the world's top riders. Ed remains a massive fan of the sport and couples his extensive contacts with an inexhaustible enthusiasm for the minutiae and the history of our sport. In February 2023 however, our dear friend and beloved colleague Ed suffered a devastating stroke and faces an uncertain future; Ed has lost his ability to speak, to read, and has lost movement on the right side of his body. He's working with speech and physical therapists on rehabilitation, but all strokes are different and each patient responds differently, so unfortunately recovery is one day at a time. Ed ran his own business installing windows, and will probably not be able to work again. Please consider joining us to make a contribution to Ed's GoFundMe page to help stabilise and secure his future.

Related Articles

Al Hamilton – Eufemiano Fuentes and the View from Spain

Eufemiano Fuentes, Jesus Manzano, Operaciõn Puerto, Alejandro Valverde, Alberto Contador... and now Manuel Beltran. All Spanish, all hot topics - but what's the buzz in España? We turned to VeloVeritas Iberian correspondent Al Hamilton for the low down, and asked him some questions on just what the current Spanish perspective is.

Chris Wreghitt – British Cyclo-Cross Star of the ’80’s and Successful Businessman

The current state of British cyclo-cross is perhaps similar to how the road scene was before the days of Peter Keen, lottery money, 'the Plan,' David Brailsford and Sky came along. No real development system, just the odd talented individual who forces their way through but the rider who perhaps aroused the most excitement was a tall young man called Chris Wreghitt.

Gabriel Cullaigh – On leaving the GB Academy and joining SEG Racing

It was Mark Stewart suggested we have a word with this young man, Gabriel Cullaigh; he’s been riding strongly for the GB U23 Academy in Italy but recently decided to make his own way in the tough world of continental bike racing, joining strong Dutch Continental outfit, SEG Racing Academy. Here’s what Gabriel had to say to us just the other day...

Scott Thwaites – The Goal for 2013 is a First Pro Win

Scott Thwaites turned pro with Endura in 2010 on the strength of that title and exploded onto the British scene with a win in the hotly contested and highly sought after Lincoln GP in 2011. The rapid progress continued last year with a dazzling UK season; the high lights of which were the British Criterium Championship and the overall win in the Premier Calendar.

At Random

Cameron Mason – On the European u23 Cyclo-Cross Championship Podium

Cameron Mason is back in action for the 20/21 'cross season, recently scoring his best result to date – a bronze medal in the European u23 Championship in s’-Hertogenbosch in the Netherlands behind World Champion and ‘home boy’ Ryan Kamp and fellow Brit, Thomas Mein.

Le Tour de France 2016 – Stage 10; Escaldes-Engordany – Revel. Bling When You’re Winning

The sprinters are denied - but it's a sprinter who wins. It was big smiled Aussie, Michael Matthews (Orica) kicking to glory from Peter Sagan (Tinkoff) with Edvald Boasson Hagen (Dimension Data) in third spot – a podium of real quality from the big day-long breakaway. And whilst Sagan may not have taken the stage bouquet he took the stage by the scruff of the neck and thrust himself back into green – possible all the way to Paris, now.

Star of the Future: Christian Meier – Taking the Next Step

Christian Meier (Canada & Garmin) is a man for his stats. Monday's mountain stage breaks down like this: 4,600 metre of climbing, 5,000 kilo joules expended, that's the equivalent of 5,400 calories - that's one hard day at the office.

Danny Clark – the Six Day Legend has breakfast with us

My buddy, John Hardie is a 65 time Scottish grass track champion; his hero 'back in the day' was Danny Clark. When he heard that 'Six Day King' Danny Clark and me were breakfasting together at Copenhagen, it wasn't long before the email arrived with the questions he wanted me to ask the great man.