Revolve24 – The 24 Hour Cycling Challenge at Brands Hatch
Revolve24 returns to host another closed-circuit 24-hour endurance event at Brands Hatch on 10-11 September 2016. The challenge offers the perfect combination of smooth asphalt, arduous climbs, exhilarating descents and a supportive festival atmosphere, designated pit garages, along with the thrill of riding on a world-class motor circuit.
Revolve 24 was launched with great success in 2015 by triple Olympic and World Championship cyclist Jason Kenny OBE and has since seen participant numbers soar. The 24hr event is open to soloists, duos and teams of four, six and eight riders. The 6-hour relay returns. New for 2016 is the track-based 12hr “Dusk ‘til Dawn’ challenge.
Jason Kenny says: “Brands Hatch is the best course for this event as you don’t have any of the dangers of the road. It has a lot of interesting undulations, especially as you get out into the forest. It’ll be a real challenge for people as they ride through the night, lighting their own way.”
Whether riders are after an unforgettable challenge for charity or a competitive race against their peers, the Brands Hatch circuit, while being the safest out there, demands physical and mental endurance. Each 3.8km (2.4 miles) lap has 64m (210 feet) of climbing, with gradients up to 9%. In 2015 the fastest teams cycled up to 833km (518 miles) and climbed 13.6km (44,500 feet) in 24 hours. That is just short of ascending Everest and Mount Kilimanjaro in a day.
This year, 24hr riders can also test their mettle against the pros, as HR Owen Maserati RT will be competing. So too is Team Baum, whose riders include Leon van Bon – previous winner of the HEW Cyclassics and two stages of the Tour de France.
The free Revolve24 smartphone app (iOS/Android), powered by Map My Tracks, complements the weekend. Available to all participants prior to the event, it can link with the most popular cycling apps and GPS devices to record training sessions. The app then feeds the data into a race grid so that competitors can compete for pole position ahead of the Grand Start in the 24hr relay.
Over the weekend, the Revolve24 App will provide team captains and spectators with real-time tracking of riders. There’ll be a host of other competitions too: King and Queen of the Mountains, fastest lap, sprints and rider categories.
Revolve24’s Race Director, Simon Lillistone is a former pro cyclist, two-times Olympian and delivered the cycling events at the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympics Games. He says: “Revolve24 offers the ultimate challenge in world-class racing circuits around the world. The riding can be as challenging, as competitive, or simply as fun as you want it to be.”
2015 Soloist Male Champion Julian Rider cycled 175 laps, riding a total of 427 miles and climbing 36,575ft last year. He says: “I call Revolve24 the F1 of cycling events. It’s the best event out there. You’re on a smooth racing circuit and you get to experience the thrill of life in the pit lane. Coming downhill past the pits feels like you’re flying. You need savage power to get up the hills but then you get your wings back, it feels like you’re hitting G-force.
“My ultimate highlight was reaching 400 miles coming up to the pit straight. I could hear the commentator announcing it on the sound system. Everyone came to the pit wall and cheered and clapped. That’s when I welled up.”
Several participants are using the 24hr event to qualify for Race Across America 2017, or the 24-, 12- and 6-hour event which are qualifiers for the 2016 Ultra Marathon Cycling Association World Series.
Last year’s competitors ranged from 14 to 70 years of age. This year, Juniors aged 16+ can enter the 24hr challenge for £40 in whatever team size they wish (Under 16’s will be considered on a case by case basis and need to contact R24).
Revolve24 offers a team-matching service to put individuals and smaller groups together into bigger squads. Camping is available for riders and spectators the whole weekend. Winnebago’s and camper vans can also be accommodated with hard standing and electricity.
Entry fee includes track time, professional timing system with live race tracking, British Cycling Insurance, shared use of a pit garage, two nights’ camping and parking, 24hr access to tea, coffee, water and snacks, access to shower facilities, WiFi and charging points for lights and devices.
Join Revolve24 at www.revolve24.com, on Twitter @Revolve24 and on search on Facebook for Revolve24
