News: Battle in the Bowl 2017 Entries Open

Paul Horta-Hopkins

Entries open for the 2017 Battle in the Bowl.

Early Bird discounts and a chance to win a pair of Challenge Limus Tyres are available for those quick enough. The Battle in the Bowl is a two hour cyclo-cross/gravel race, set in the Matterley Bowl near Winchester. Although aimed at ‘cross/gravel bikes, MTBs are welcome and there will be categories for all ages and bikes.

The Battle in the Bowl Super CX race had a large field in it’s first year. Get there early if you to be near the front of the grid!

Organisers the Cycle Events Organisation have been running MTB, road and CX sportives since 1990, so know a thing or two about two wheeled events. Seeing the popularity of ‘cross racing and their own CX Sportive events, they decided to mix the two and so the Battle in the Bowl Super CX was born.

2016’s inaugural event was a cracker, I rode it (report here) and loved the format. Matterley Bowl is a neat venue, you can see almost the whole course from the centre, which makes for easy spectating. The course has a mix of gravel and grass tracks that are wide and allow for easy overtaking. With a couple of short, fast ramps and a longer, sit down and grovel climb your legs will get a good workout. And of course what goes up has to come down. The descent through the trees was a real blast, a good place for passing, if you had the skill!

Next year the bottom section will be extended, even more tape to lay out!

First run off in June 2016, the organisers have moved the date back to the 21st May. Hopefully this will mean the grass in the centre, which was pretty high, will be shorter. Being shorter will make it easier to cut a longer taped section through the grass, to make us ‘crossers feel at home!

While the Super CX race is aimed at regular racers – with a ‘cross/gavel slant, but MTBs are welcome – the Open category race is for everyone and any bike. The Open category will also have separate classes for fat bikes and single speeders. There’s also a prize for the ‘bravest’ bike choice; unicycle anyone? Under 16’s and under 14’s will also get to strut their stuff and there will be podiums and prizes for the winners.

So if you fancy something a little different to add to your racing diary head over to the Battle in the Bowl website. Entries open Friday Nov 18th at 9:00pm. The first ten entries will be half price, the next fifty will be 15% off. Entries received by midnight on Sunday 20th will go into a draw to win a pair of Challenge Limus Tyres. Plenty of reasons to get yourself sorted for next year!

Battle in the Bowl

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