“One Day in Dorset” A 97 Mile/150 km National A road race for Elite/1/2 category riders, supported by “Local Riders, Local Races” Dorset’s own cycling news site. Based in Milborne St Andrew, in the heart of rural Dorset, this new race on the calendar takes in Bulbarrow Hill above the picture postcard village of Milton Abbas. At 899ft the road across the top is the highest in the county, with the race route visiting the summit 9 times. The 5 mile drag up from Winterborne Whitechurch is never steep but, tackled twice will test the legs before a tough finale. A 9.5 mile finishing circuit will take the riders through Milton six times. The steep climb out of the village will see the strongest come to the front before the hilltop finish above the Blackmore Vale. The race date of Saturday May 24th 2014 is just four weeks before the National Road Race in Abergavenny and will be ideal preparation for the championship. “One Day in Dorset” has a minimum prize fund of £2000.

A total of 8651 ft of climbing in 97 miles promises to make "One Day in Dorset" one of the toughest races on the domestic calendar in 2014. Bulbarrow Hill is well known to local riders, with at least ten different routes up, it is a favourite on club runs, charity rides & sportifs. "One Day in Dorset" will visit the summit nine times and whoever triumphs next May will know they have been in a race! 

From the headquarters at Milborne St Andrew the course heads north-east on the A354.Taking the second left in Winterborne Whitechurch, the minor road is flat through the villages of Winterborne Clenston & Winterborne Stickland. One mile through Stickland, at Hedge End, a left turn starts the first climb of Bulbarrow, this three mile; “big ring” drag will do no more than offer good views as it gradually climbs the hill. Through the finish line for the first time at 9.9 miles, the descent to Ansty is uncomplicated; the left hand turn at the bottom will require attention though. A fast, rolling lane returns to Milborne and the A354. Again to Whitechurch but this time the first left at the Milton Arms starts a five mile ascent. The finger signpost at the public house says “6” but relax, it is only five. Like Hedge End, this long rise is never too steep with most staying in the 53 ring. However, the hill is exposed and if the wind blows, an attack on the steepest section above Milton Abbas could do some damage. The climb from Whitechurch is tackled twice before the race hits the six lap,9.6 mile finishing circuit. The historic village of Milton Abbas will provide the backdrop as the battle unfolds. Thirty six,identical, whitewashed thatched cottages stand to attention either side of the road, only a church, the old almshouses & the Hambro Arms interrupt the parade. The road rises through the village but it is only when the houses are behind that the tarmac starts to rear up. Under the trees is where it really hurts before emerging to meet the now familiar Whitechurch road, still three miles from the summit. 
“One Day in Dorset”
24/05/14