Those of you who've raced the Alpe d'Huez Triathlon will know the importance of climbing. At 13.8km long and an average 8% gradient, plus those infamous 21 hairpins, it's not for the fainthearted. In fact, it's those who can manage the beating of their strong hearts that excel, finding the sweetspot between effort, intensity and speed.
The bike leg finishes atop this Alpine monster, but the skill of descending's required, too, when facing the rapid ride through the Oisans Valley. On a domestic level, if you can't ascend and descend, you'd better think again when it comes to the Brutal, Helvellyn and more.
Of course, that's solely in the racing amphitheatre. For all of us, whether we're competing at a pimply Perranporth Triathlon or a pancake-flat Dorney, many of our…