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Illi Gardner won the women’s 2026 British National Hill-Climb championship on Porlock Toll Road in Somerset, securing her fourth title. She finished the 6.6-kilometre climb in 17:33, 40 seconds ahead of Maria Holdcroft, despite cold, difficult weather and a pacing plan that went awry.
Illi Gardner won her fourth British National Hill-Climb title on Sunday, completing the women’s race on Porlock Toll Road in Somerset in 17:33 despite cold conditions and strong headwinds on the upper section. The Cardiff Ajax CC rider finished 40 seconds ahead of Maria Holdcroft of Cowley Road Condors CC.
The women’s championship covered a 6.6-kilometre climb towards the shoulders of Exmoor. Gardner’s winning time was 17 minutes, 33 seconds. Holdcroft took second, while the final podium position went to Karolina Zydelyte of Dulwich Paragon CC after provisional results around third place changed.
Rebekah Hendrickse of EMC Cycling was initially listed in third place, but was later shown as disqualified in provisional results. The report said the apparent reason was a failure to sign on properly; the final podium place was then assigned to Zydelyte. The available account does not provide further detail on the ruling.
Gardner said the weather unsettled her and that she did not follow her planned pacing strategy. She had intended to hold some energy for the upper part of the climb, where riders had been warned of headwinds, but started too hard and found the later section difficult. Even so, her time secured the title by a substantial margin over the runner-up.
Gardner Extends Her Hill-Climb Record
The result gives Gardner her fourth national hill-climb crown and shows she was able to turn a difficult race into a clear win. The 40-second gap over Holdcroft is a useful measure of the margin on this course, though it does not by itself explain how competitors’ performances compared with earlier championships.
The victory also comes after Gardner defended her Everesting World Championship title earlier in the month, according to the report. That event, she said, had shaped her preparation: it lasted about 14 hours and occupied much of her training focus. Her account offers a direct explanation for why she had completed fewer hill-climb efforts than planned before the national race.
For readers following British racing, the women’s result is clear, while the men’s event also drew attention to the distinction between the fastest time and the senior title. The overall fastest rider was a junior, so the headline time did not determine the senior men’s champion.
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Porlock Toll Road and the Race
The National Hill-Climb championships were held on Porlock Toll Road in Somerset, with the women’s course measuring 6.6 kilometres. The route climbs towards Exmoor, and Gardner said the upper section was exposed to headwinds. The report described the race-day weather as poor, with chilly temperatures adding to the discomfort for riders racing in lightweight clothing.
Gardner, 27, races in the colours of Cardiff Ajax CC. She told Cycling Weekly that she had been working on riding hard efforts in unpleasant weather during training, which she felt helped her cope on race day. She also said she had not done as many hill climbs in the lead-up as she had hoped because she had been preparing for the Everesting World Championships.
In the men’s race, Ed Laverack of Assos UK Race Team won the senior title. Sixteen-year-old Ezra Bateman of Decathlon CMA CGM Juniors recorded the fastest time of the day, 14:31, beating Laverack’s time by 0.2 seconds, but was awarded the junior title rather than the senior crown.
“On the day I kind of freaked out a bit, and didn’t handle it very well.”
— Illi Gardner, speaking to Cycling Weekly
Third Place and Results Status
The report says Hendrickse was initially placed third and then appeared as disqualified in provisional results, apparently over a sign-on issue. It does not give a full account of the officials’ decision or confirm whether a later final-results notice changed the listing. Zydelyte was identified as taking the last podium place in the reported results.
The account also does not provide detailed weather measurements, such as wind speed or temperature at the course, or comparative times from previous editions. Gardner’s comments describe her experience and race strategy; they do not establish how each weather factor affected other riders.
Final Results and Season Ahead
The immediate point to watch is whether the provisional placing involving Hendrickse and Zydelyte is reflected in a final official results record, and whether organisers publish additional information about the disqualification. No further ruling or appeal is described in the available report.
Gardner’s fourth title is established by the reported championship result. The source material does not set out her next race or provide a schedule for the remainder of her season, so those plans remain unconfirmed.
Key Questions
Who won the 2026 British women’s National Hill-Climb championship?
Illi Gardner won the women’s title, her fourth, on Porlock Toll Road in Somerset.
What was Gardner’s winning time?
Gardner completed the 6.6-kilometre course in 17:33.
Who finished second and third?
Maria Holdcroft finished second, 40 seconds behind Gardner. Karolina Zydelyte was listed as third after Rebekah Hendrickse was shown as disqualified in provisional results.
What did Gardner say about the weather and her pacing?
Gardner said she was unsettled by the conditions and started harder than planned. She had meant to save energy for the upper section but said she struggled into the headwind there.
Who was the fastest rider in the men’s race?
Ezra Bateman, 16, recorded 14:31, 0.2 seconds faster than senior winner Ed Laverack. Bateman received the junior title, while Laverack won the senior men’s championship.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
