The Magnificent 7 Road Bike Race

The Magnificent Seven is a unique cycling event in Sheffield. Not for the fainthearted, the race is a cross between a sportive and a hill climb that invites participants to face seven of the city’s toughest hills. Taking place on Sunday 24th March, the 2019 event will feature five new climbs. The full route is just over 23 miles long, presenting each rider with over 4,200ft of climbing, with inclines ranging from 9 to 23 per cent. Entries for The Magnificent Seven will open at 10am on Monday 4 February but be quick, as the veterans category sold out in less than a day last year. This is now the fourth running of this unique event and to cope with demand the field has been increased to 150 cyclists, (60 veteran, 60 senior and 30 women places) with the minimum age being 16 to enter. So how does it work? Cyclists ride with motorbike escorts and lead cars between each of the seven hills, where the riders then gather at the bottom of each climb before racing for points to the summit. This year, all riders will receive points depending on their finishing position on the climb which count towards the grand prize of being crowned King or Queen of the Mountains, for which the winners receive a trophy. Both men and women are encouraged to ride with equal prize money for both categories and there’s also a prize and trophy for the over 40 year old riders, as the fastest veterans are awarded points and battle for a separate prize list. Each of the seven climbs will be subject to a full road closure managed by Sheffield City Council, giving the competitors the unique chance to race up traffic-free closed roads, something only professional riders normally have the opportunity to do. New for 2018 is a bonus climb, climb 8 will be run off on a handicapped basis with a separate prize list and positions won’t count towards the riders totals. The ride is aimed at local amateur club riders and all entrants will receive refreshments before and after the ride, culminating with a prize-giving presentation at the end of the event. Each rider will also receive a free cycling buff for their efforts. The event will once again start and finish in Bradfield – a picturesque Peak District village which sits within the Sheffield boundary just seven miles outside of the city centre. The Magnificent Climbs Start at Bradfield Village Hall at 09:00am Climb 1 Stoneface Hill (Storrs Lane) Men Start at 9:15am Women & Vets Start at 9:16am Strava: Men 3:05 Women 4:08 Leave at 9:30am 20 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 2 Hagg Hill Men Start at 9:50am Women & Vets Start at 9:51 Strava: Men 3:34 Women 4:59 Leave at 10:00am 5 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 3 Ranmoor Crecsent Men Start at 10:05am Vets Start at 10:06am Women Start at 10:07am Strava: Men 1:13 secs Women 2:04 secs Leave at 10:15am 9 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 4 Harcourt & Spring Hill Men Start at 10:24am Vets Start at 10:25am Women Start at 10:26am Strava: Men 1:16 secs Women 1:48 secs Leave at 10:38am 3 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 5 Blake Street Men Start at 10:41am Vets Start at 10:43am Women Start at 10:45am Strava: Men 25 secs Women 43 secs Leave at 10:55am 9 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 6 Waller Road Men Start at 11:04am Women & Vets Start at 11:05am Strava: Men: 1:37 Women: 3:01 Leave at: 11:18am 13 minute social ride in between climbs Climb 7 Long Lane Men Start at 11:31am Women & Vets Start at 11:32am Strava: Men 1:13 Women 2:04 Leave at: 11:44am 20 minute social back to Bradfield HQ. Bonus Climb – 8 Cote de Bradfield Handicapped start at 12:20pm Strava: Men 5:55 Women 9:52 Finish at: 12:30pm. The full route is here The Magnificent Points All of the seven climbs will have the same number of points on offer and points gained over all of the climbs will go towards a final total to determine the winner and placings. Points will be awarded in order of crossing the finishing line at the summit of each climb. This will be the same for the women and veteran riders. The top 5 in each category will receive prizes (see below). In the event of a points tie, the winner will be decided by the number of highest placed finishes over the seven classified climbs. The Magnificent Prizes There will be a King of the Mountain and Queen of the Mountain Trophy awarded to the rider with the most points in both categories. There will also be prizes awarded for the top 5 and one spot prize per climb. These will be presented at the end of the ride at the HQ approximately 1:00pm. Please stay around you may win a prize! Minimum provisional prize list for both men and women riders. Vets prizes will also be the same. 1st – £100.00 plus KOM / QOM Trophy 2nd – £50.00 3rd – £40.00 4th – £30.00 5th – £20.00 Trek Sheffield Spot Prizes on all of the 7 classified climbs The Magnificent Refreshments There will be hot drinks and pastries before the event and hot drinks and past pots after the event. There will also be a bar at the Village Hall. PAST WINNERS Senior Men – King of the Mountains 2016 Kieran Wynne-Cattanach Rhos on Sea Cycling Club 2017 Andy Nichols B38 Underpin Racing 2018 Kieran Savage Cycling Sheffield Women – Queen of the Mountains 2016 Natalie Creswick Cannondale Girls 2017 Lizzy Banks Sunsport Velo 2018 Rebecca Goodson Fusion RT Veloperformance Veteran Men 2017 Richard Stevenson Rutland CC 2018 James Allen Sheffrec CC