Stage two: Hinckley to Bedford (118.5km) – Thursday May 8, 2014
The heavily ‘stepped’ Kilworth Climb, reached after 45km of stage two, is another 700m test, but unlike the Spratton Climb, gains in elevation as it unfolds, becoming significantly steeper as the summit nears. Julie Treacy tops Strava’s women’s leaderboard in advance of the race with a time of 1.31, achieved at an average speed of 28.9km and with an average power output of 240 watts.
A little over 20km later, and the riders will hit the slopes of Brixworth Climb, a 1km ascent that unfolds at a more even rate than it predecessor and which tops out at 100m after 43m of climbing at an average gradient of four per cent. Elizabeth M, QOM for the Spratton Climb on stage one, again tops the leaderboard with a time of 2.53, representing an average power output of 217 watts and an average speed of 21.8kmh.
