Battle in the Bowl 2018

Pau Horta-Hopkins

Less than One Month to go to Battle in the Bowl 2018!

I rode the first Battle in the Bowl back in 2016 and had a brilliant day out. I’ll be back again this year and am really looking forward to it. It’s a great circuit that encourages hard racing and there’s a friendly atmosphere as well; what could be better?

Get ready for 2018’s Battle in the Bowl

Organisers, The Cycle Events Organisation are real lovers of anything CX or gravel and run events all year. They get you out and about on your ‘cross/gravel bike, doing the kind of riding they’re designed for!

The Battle in the Bowl Super CX is, in their words, CX Racing on a grand scale. The Matterley Bowl circuit has everything a race needs; a long gravel track, tough climbs, a fast wooded descent and a mile of classic taped ‘cross circuit in the bottom of the Bowl.

Get ready for some CX race action!

Battle in the Bowl Super CX returns to Matterley Bowl, Winchester on May 20th. Ninety percent of the circuit is visible from the bottom. This makes Battle in the Bowl a visually inspiring experience for racers and spectators alike!

Supported by Kinesis UK, Lezyne and Four4th Lights, Battle in the Bowl features a full day’s programme of racing with something for all levels of rider. There are, senior open and senior club/elite races with age and gender categories in each, plus three junior races (U12, U14 and U16).

I rode the first Battle back in 2016

As an added incentive to push that bit harder, Battle in the Bowl has £1500 in cash prizes available! Add in sponsor prizes souvenirs and everyone should come away with something to remember the day; other than aching legs!

Battle in the Bowl also has Club/Team entry offers, so why not get your mates racing as well. These include a 10% Team Discount for four or more riders. There’s a Team Pit Area available for groups of six or more, so bring your flags and gazebo for that pro look! Get ten riders to race and you can have an extra one free.

Part of the circuit is a mile of taped off ‘cross craziness

So there you have it, a fantastic course that takes you through a series of varied sections; from the mile of flying gravel track around the perimeter of the bowl, onto the twisting, climbing and dipping taped grass track in the centre of the arena. The long climb around the lip of bowl (sixty metres above the gravel track right below you, with spectacular views across the arena!), and then the scorching wooded descent back the event village to start your next lap!

It’s a great course for spectators too, so bring family and friends to cheer you on! Matterley Bowl is a stunning place to venue to watch the race, and almost the entire circuit is visible from event village, where food stalls will be on hand to keep you refreshed.

Sign up now at the Battle in The Bowl website, and get full details on the event!