THE TOUGHEST 100 2025
BIGGER THEN EVER, THE BAND OF CLIMBERS TOUGHEST 100 IS BACK FOR 2025 WITH A FAMILY FRIENDLY WEEKEND OF EVENTS, RACES, AND A BRAND NEW XXL ROUTE TO PUSH THE MIND AND BODY TO A WHOLE NEW LEVEL OF PAIN. THE TOUGHEST 100 IS THE UK'S HARDEST SPORTIVE, THERE'S NO FLAT, AND NO RECOVERY.
500 PLACES AVAILABLE
JOIN THE TOUGHEST 100 FESTIVAL OF CLIMBING
16TH + 17TH AUGUST 2025
The Band of Climbers Toughest 100 is the UK's hilliest and toughest sportive that will take place on the weekend of 16th and 17th August 2025 in Sheffield and the Peak District.
In 2024 we had double the entries over the first edition in 2023, and so the 2025 edition is set to be our biggest yet, with more riders, more events, more food and drinks, and an all new camping festival too.
Make a weekend of it with a fun hill climb race and a social ride on the Saturday afternoon, and then face the UK's toughest Sportive on Sunday 17th, with a new XXL route option with an eye watering amount of climbing.
The famous original route is just over 100km in length (62miles), and is the hardest UK Sportive of its kind you may ever ride. What it lacks in distance, it makes up for in elevation. Over 3200m (10,500ft) of climbing awaits, over 22 steep and savage climbs.
For perspective, The Toughest 100 has 65% more elevation per mile than the the Fred Whitton.
'The Fred' has 85ft of elevation per mile. The Toughest 100 has 154ft of climbing per mile. That's 29m of elevation per km, compared to 17.5m per km on 'The Fred'.
We've stripped out the flat roads, deliberately. No rest, no recovery, just climb after climb.
3 ROUTE OPTIONS
Whichever route you choose, you're in for a big day on the bike. Go for the Original 100 Route, or, go big, and dare to take on the XL. For the extremists, we bring you the ultimate test, a new XXL Route which will test your mental will power as much as your legs.
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The original is the hardest ride of it's kind in the UK. At just over 100km, it's relatively short, but punishingly steep. No flat roads, no recovery.
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The XL route is just a giant. It equates to riding 100 miles at an average gradient of 3%. Sounds easy? Take it on, all 35 climbs of it.
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The XXL is no joke. First, you must complete the Original Route. Then, turn around and ride the same route, in reverse. The will power required for this is huge.
WHERE AND WHEN?
MORE THAN A SPORTIVE
The Toughest 100 Festival will feature a hill climb race, a free social ride, camping, food, drinks and music all on Saturday 16th August. Then, it's the big one, the Toughest 100 Sportive on Sunday 17th. Make a weekend of it with on site camping at the start and finish venue.
500 PLACES AVAILABLE
WHAT'S INCLUDED?
The Toughest 100 is owned and organised by Band of Climbers and BoC Escapes. We've designed it to be a seriously challenging ride, but, we're here to support you with:
CHIP TIMING + GPX FILES + FULLY SIGNED ROUTES + FEED STATIONS + EVENT PHOTOS + BEER AT THE FINISH LINE + RIDER PACK FROM BAND OF CLIMBERS + FREE PARKING + THE SATISFACTION OF COMPLETING THE TOUGHEST EVENT IN THE UK
FESTIVAL WEEKEND SCHEDULE
SATURDAY MORNING HILL CLIMB RACE
New for 2025, we're opening the weekend with a fun, fast hill climb race. Open to everyone, pin on a number and go hard for a 1 mile climb. Equal prizes for men, women, juniors and age groupers too. Entry details will be released in 2025. (Separate entry to the sportive)
SATURDAY AFTERNOON SOCIAL RIDES
Also new for 2025, we're running a couple of absolutely free, no drop social rides to warm up the legs before the Toughest 100 the following morning. We'll take on a few of the climbs from the Sportive and give everyone a little taste of what's to come. Sign up is free and details will be released in 2025.
Camping, Music, Food and Drinks
Join us at the start and finish venue for overnight camping with a relaxed and chilled atmosphere. Take in the views of Sheffield and enjoy food and drinks from many of Sheffield's favourite street food producers. Camping will be available to book
The Toughest 100
The big one. The BoC Toughest 100 takes place on Sunday 17th August 2025. After a weekend of fun, it's time to hit the steep and relentless gradients of Sheffield and the Peak District. 500 riders will take the roads across 3 brutal routes.
WOMEN'S ENTRIES ARE GROWING
We grew Women's entries from just 5 in 2023 to over 30 in 2024, which was over 10% of riders being female. We'd love more female participation and we'll ensure at least 25% of spaces are reserved for women as we work towards a true 50/50 split one day. Women, we want you to get involved!