When we caught up with both Dan Evans and Jessica Evans (5X Welsh Hill Climb Champion) after the savage hill climb, both riders were keen to emphasise the standard of competition that took part on the day and also the complete brutality of the ascent. The Assos Equipe UK rider, Jessica Evans, who achieved a remarkable second position, said: “I knew the competition was going to be fierce as there [were] a lot of talented riders competing at the event. I knew it would be very close between myself, Rebecca and Lucy and it was: there was only four seconds between all three of us”.
Dan Evans added: “There [was] some real talent [competing at the event]; some real short hill specialists. People like Calum Brown, he is an animal – big, strong guy and he’s made for this short, steep effort. Me as more of a traditional hill climber, I’m really happy with third – that was a good result for me.”
Ffordd Pen Llech certainly earned its title as the Guinness World Records’ World’s Steepest Street by putting the climbers through their paces. However, they definitely brought the answers on the day by giving it their all and produced some blisteringly quick times. Jess Evans commented: “It was hard to stand up afterwards because it is such an intense effort that when you stop so suddenly at the top, your legs sort of go from beneath you and you almost get a bit dizzy”.
Sheer determination and grit proved the name of the game for the pair as Dan Evans noted: “The climb is just absolutely brutal. I don’t really remember much of it. It was one of those sort of climbs where you just put your head down and pedal as hard as you can and just hang on until the end”.
When asked about how he attacked the climb, the Double British Hill Climb Champion emphasised how crucial a part tactics played in the pair’s success. Dan Evans said: “I tried not to go too hard at the bottom but it is such a short climb that you’ve got to give it everything from the off. Line choice was quite important to keep your speed up because after that first steep bend it can almost stop you, so you’ve got to pick the right line, try to keep some momentum and hang on until the end”.
The roar of encouragement from all the spectators who lined the climb did not go unnoticed. Whilst being hugely complimentary of the support, Dan Evans highlighted the fantastic atmosphere that the crowd brought to the event, as he said: “The crowds were a big thing during the climb, they were brilliant cheering you on. It really lifts you and gets you over the line at the end”.
It is without a doubt that the pair had a very successful opening to the hill climb season on a very special hill.
