One Last Effort: Andy Feather at the 2026 National Hill Climb Championships

One season of preparation and one ultimate climb. There was just 1.2 seconds separating the top two Open Championship riders.

The 2026 British National Hill Climb Championships delivered another incredible day of racing, with HUNT athlete and four-time National Hill Climb Champion Andy Feather putting in a huge performance on Somerset's Porlock Toll Road.

Finishing third fastest overall and second in the Open Championship with a time of 14:33.3, Andy came within just 1.2 seconds of reclaiming the national title.

We followed Andy throughout race day, capturing the preparation, the atmosphere and the all-out effort that makes British hill climbing so special.

A Different Approach to Climbing

For the 2026 season, Andy took a different approach to his equipment and preparation.

Traditionally, hill climbing has been all about saving weight. But with Porlock Toll Road offering a longer, shallower and faster challenge than many traditional hill climbs, aerodynamics became a major focus.

Working with aerodynamic specialist Dr Xavier Disley of AeroCoach, Andy made significant changes to his riding position, opting for a lower, longer and narrower setup to reduce drag without compromising his ability to put down power.

His equipment choices followed the same thinking. Moving away from an ultra-lightweight, climbing-specific wheelset, Andy selected our HUNT 5AM Limitless wheels, prioritising aerodynamic performance for the demands of the course.

It was a change that challenged the traditional approach to hill climbing, where every gram has historically counted.

You can read more about Andy's bike setup and aerodynamic development in road.cc's feature on his 2026 hill climb bike.

Everything Comes Down to One Effort

As Andy explains in our latest film, the National Championships are the culmination of an entire season's work.

"The morning of the nationals is always a strange one. The whole season has been building up to this one day, but you might not even start until 3:00 in the afternoon."

After months of training, testing and preparation, there's little left to do but trust the process.

Once the clock starts, pacing becomes critical. Go too hard on the opening slopes and you risk running out of energy before the summit. But as the road rises and the crowds grow louder, holding anything back becomes increasingly difficult.

"You pass through this absolute wall of noise and you aren't thinking anymore. It's almost like an out of body experience."

With spectators lining the final stretches of Porlock Toll Road, Andy dug deep to deliver a time of 14:33.3, briefly taking the lead before Ed Laverack crossed the line just 1.2 seconds quicker.

Junior rider Ezra Bateman recorded the fastest time of the day with 14:31.8, completing an incredibly close contest between the three fastest riders.

More Than Just the Result

While narrowly missing out on another national title, Andy's performance was a strong demonstration of the preparation, equipment development and commitment that went into his 2026 season.

It also highlighted how aerodynamic efficiency can play an important role in hill climbing, particularly on faster courses where the balance between weight and drag becomes increasingly important.

But beyond the competition, it's the community that makes the National Hill Climb Championships such a special event.

"Everyone has a catch up and if you don't quite get the result you want, it's just an amazing community to be part of."

From the incredible roadside support to the shared sense of achievement at the finish line, the National Championships continue to represent some of the very best of British cycling.

And for Andy, it's that feeling that keeps him coming back year after year.