ABOVE: The route profile.

 

 

This route has been designed to provide a genuine challenge, and at the same time to take you through some classic English countryside.  Since the route winds its way over downland, you can expect some testing climbs, no less than 20 in all, adding up to 7847 ft (2390m) of climbing/descending. The first miles are downhill or fairly flat to get the legs nicely loose and warmed up.The stiffest climb is probably the ascent of Watership Down at the northern turn of the course. It looks forbidding from a distance, but it won't have you walking.

 

For 2008, we are retaining the long course exactly as used last year, but with changes to the feed stations. We are now calling this the HHH Super Max, measured at almost exactly 100 miles. As this course has a 'bulge': looping beyond the Meon Valley, we now offer riders the choice of cutting this off to complete the 87-mile HHH Midi. Both routes now go over Watership Down at the northern end of the course, and all the main hills except for the Bat & Ball-to-Teglease Down section. Midi riders now ride the same roads as the Super Max riders for all but 0.35 miles, and when they turn at Exton to climb Beacon Hill (78.5 miles) they will find themselves in front of some of the faster riders again. The decision whether to go for the Midi or the Super Max is now made at 78 miles (Corhampton roundabout), where you have to decide whether it's another 9 miles or 22!

 

Starting this year from a new point on the course - New Alresford - the route goes north over rolling countryside to turn onto the first serious hill at Northington. Next, it tacks across to Micheldever Station, and then north, forging up and over White Hill and swooping down into Overton. Beyond, lies more downland, and it's mainly uphill to Hannington, followed by a plummetting descent from the viewing point on White Hill (another one!)to the outskirts of Highclere. From here, the route turns west until, at Ecchinswell, it gets level with Watership Down. Here, it turns south and takes on the snaking climb. Over the ridge, Nuthanger Down stretches out. Can you keep the pressure on, or do you need to soft-pedal down the dip slope? That's one of the questions this course asks of you. Either way, there's a short 'dig' awaiting you a few miles on at Cole Henley - which won't pose problems if you have come to the event in good condition, but if you're still getting there it'll be another little strength sapper. The route continues southward, running for a spell alongside the idyllic River Test, where you might catch glimpses of weirs and watercress beds. There are further small climbs to come at Barton Stacey and Windmill Hill, and a tougher one at Ashley Down. The route deftly skirts Winchester. After the wooded climb to Owslebury the route by-passes Bishop's Waltham, launches up and over Beeches Hill and east to Corhampton. Looping beyond the Meon Valley, the route winds up from the famous Bat & Ball pub (where they invented a sport called cricket) to return over the exposed Teglease Down. The 1.65-mile steady climb up Beacon Hill affords some superb views. The worst is now over, but the run-in to Arlesford is, shall we say, interesting!

 

Safety is our highest priority.  We use roads with very light traffic.The course runs anti-clockwise, so that most of the turns are left-handers. Participants are reminded that they ride at their own risk, also that they must comply with traffic signs and generally with the traffic laws. The course negotiates plenty of narrow lanes (the sort with a centre-strip of grass!)as well as twisting climbs where single-file riding should be adopted. Corners should never be taken wide. There are very few crossroads/T-junctions around the course but extreme caution should be taken negotiating them.There is jusst one set of traffic lights encountered at Twyford. Don't jump them! We emphasise that a few seconds either way makes no difference in a cyclosportive event.