GREENHOW HILL

PATELEY BRIDGE, HARROGATE

On this hill the pain comes in bursts over four distinct stretches of tough climbing, with brief respites in between. Attack each hard section, get your breath back, spin the legs, and then attack the next. The climb starts on the flat through Pateley Bridge. Heading west, the road rears up viciously past The Royal Oak pub and out of town. Rising at 18%, this opening stretch is the shortest of the hard sections. The road then plateaus slightly before hitting the second at 16%. Drag yourself through the woods to reach the third and longest section of hard climbing. Ever so slightly easier at 15%, it alleviates when you pass some farm buildings, but it still keeps coming at you. The fourth and final ramp delivers you to the top of the moor. As the gradient relaxes, you can see the rest of the climb before you, bending over the brow and rounding to the left where you finish just past the quarry at the sign for Greenhow village.