Stolen Goat to sponsor new South Downs Hill Climb Series

This autumn sees the launch of the South Downs Hill Climb Series, six hill climbs set in England's South Downs.

Five Sussex cycling clubs have banded together for the series, with Brighton Mitre CC, Sussex CA, East Sussex CA, Beachy Head CC and Sussex Nomads CC uniting in search of a King and Queen of the South Downs.

The series is sponsored by apparel brand Stolen Goat and climbs will include Firle Beacon, Steyning Bostal and Ditchling Beacon - as featured in the National Hill Climb Championships (1995), the Tour of Britain (2014) and the Tour de France (1994).

Ditchling Beacon has featured in the Tour de France and in 2014's Tour of Britain.

Event organiser Peter Levenspiel said: "Over the years, each of these six events has gathered a following because of the quality and quantity of entrants, the fantastic, challenging locations, and the camaraderie on the day.

"But they have sparked a debate between local clubs over who is the best hill climber. We're hoping we can settle this argument and find a King and Queen of the Downs!"

Eoghan takes on the Beacon in the 2020 hill climb.

The series takes place over six rounds. The competition kicks off on 2 October at Steyning Bostal, and finishes on 7 November with a closed-road time trial on Ditchling Beacon.

A leaderboard will be published after each round at hillclimb.southdowns.cc.

Each event will have prizes awarded by the organising club, but additionally, Stolen Goat are sponsoring cash prizes for the following categories: