Skip to content
TIER 2 ROAD

Struggle Dales

Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England · 2026: May 24

VERDICT Struggle Dales is one of the UK's most challenging and prestigious sportives, offering ambitious road cyclists an unforgettable test of endurance across the stunning Yorkshire Dales.

77
LAB SCORE
—
RIDER SCORE · RATE IT →
[05]

The Ratings

Course verdict

Struggle Dales is one of the UK's hardest sportives, set in the beautiful but brutal Yorkshire Dales landscape.[1]

Course Profile ratings for this race. Select a point for its explanation. LOGISTICS4/5LENGTH4/5TECHNICAL3/5ELEVATION4/5CLIMATE3/5ALTITUDE5/5ADVENTURE4/5 27/35
Course Profile
How the scoring works →
Custom plan

Train for Struggle Dales

A training plan for Struggle Dales—shaped to your fitness and the hours you have.

START MY CUSTOM PLAN → $15 / WEEK
[01]

Course Overview

109 mi
Distance
9,430 ft
Elevation
Harrogate, North Yorkshire, England
Location
May 24, 2026
Date
Field Size
--
Entry Cost
+ Google Calendar Download .ics
MORE IN ENGLAND: Dirty Reiver · Dartmoor Legend Ultra Sportive · Étape du Dales
[03]

The Course

Struggle Dales is one of the UK's hardest sportives, set in the beautiful but brutal Yorkshire Dales landscape. The event takes riders over stunning yet unforgiving terrain through the Yorkshire Dales National Park, featuring seven iconic climbing challenges that have earned the route cult status among ambitious road cyclists nationwide.

Signature challenge: Park Rash stands as the most renowned climb on the route, recognized as a defining feature of the Struggle Dales experience and a bucket-list challenge for serious road cyclists.

SURFACE COMPOSITION
Course
paved 100%
paved 100%gravel 0%other 0%
?
MILE
Park Rash
?
MILE
Greenhow Hill
?
MILE
Malham Cove
?
MILE
Trapping Hill
RACER

Racer Reviews

Raced Struggle Dales? Be the first to rate it.
[07]

Training

May 24, 2026 STRUGGLE DALES
[08]

Train for Struggle Dales

RACE DEMAND PROFILE

Durability
6
Climbing
8
VO2 Power
7
Threshold
8
Technical
6
Heat
0
Altitude
10
Race Specificity
10
FREE

GET THE STRUGGLE DALES PREP KIT

12-week training timeline, race-day checklists, packing list, and personalized fueling calculator — unlocked instantly.

No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.

[09]

Race Logistics

Parking
Free ample parking is available at the venue.
OFFICIAL SITE
NEWS

Latest Coverage

[—]

Similar Races

T2 Tour of the Peak Bakewell, Derbyshire, England · 113 mi · 77/100 T2 Étape du Dales Settle, North Yorkshire, England · 106 mi · 79/100 T2 La Vaujany Cyclosportive Vaujany, Isère, France · 106 mi · 74/100 T2 Sierra Nevada Límite Gran Fondo Cenes de la Vega, Granada, Spain · 91 mi · 77/100 T2 Flandrien Ride Oudenaarde, Belgium · 99 mi · 79/100 T2 The Rift Hvolsvöllur, Southern Iceland · 124 mi · 79/100
[—]

Frequently Asked Questions

Held on 24th May 2026 in Harrogate, the late-spring weather exposes riders to unpredictable Yorkshire conditions amid the open Dales landscape.[2]

Free ample parking at Army Foundation College on Penny Pot Lane provides easy access, just a short cycle from Harrogate town centre.[1][2]

Riders tackle seven iconic climbs like Park Rash and Malham Cove across the Yorkshire Dales National Park, drawing cyclists from hundreds of miles nationwide year after year.[1][2]

Simon Warren of 100 Climbs praises Struggle Dales as an iconic must-ride with epic climbs like Trapping Hill, earning nationwide cult status.[2]

[11]

Sources & Citations

Research sources used to build this race profile. Always verify details with official race sources before making travel or registration decisions.

  1. Other Sources Britishcyclingwww.britishcycling.org.uk/events/details/275508/Struggle-...
  2. Official Official Websiteridethestruggle.com/products/struggle-dales-hardest-sport...
  3. Other Sources Racebestracebest.com/races/awv78
  4. Official Official Websiteridethestruggle.com
  5. Other Sources Granfondoguidewww.granfondoguide.com/Events/Index/6292/struggle-dales

Last updated September 2026