Arguably the jewel of division 8 cobble schedule, Dun Cow Trophy race takes place on cobbled streets of historic Durham. This technical course, nicknamed the ‘Hell of the North East’, features tough cobbled sectors, steep cobbled climbs and narrow medieval streets with many sharp corners.
The peloton starts at the city center, known as the Bailey, against the backdrop of gorgeous Durham Cathedral and Castle, a UNE...
Read moreArguably the jewel of division 8 cobble schedule, Dun Cow Trophy race takes place on cobbled streets of historic Durham. This technical course, nicknamed the ‘Hell of the North East’, features tough cobbled sectors, steep cobbled climbs and narrow medieval streets with many sharp corners.
The peloton starts at the city center, known as the Bailey, against the backdrop of gorgeous Durham Cathedral and Castle, a UNESCO World Heritage site. Midway through the course circuit, the riders approach the infamous cobbled climb of South Street (400 m at 5%) that splits up the pack.
Typically a small group contests the final sprint. It drags slightly uphill and emphasizes freshness after a brutal day in the saddle, rather than raw speed. The winner will receive the Dun Cow Trophy. Legend has it that when monks were traveling with the body of St. Cuthbert, the cart suddenly stopped. The dead saint demanded to be taken to a place called ‘Dun Holm’, but nobody knew where it was. Eventually a milkmaid came by, looking for a lost brown cow. The monks decided to follow the cowgirl and the coffin moved easily in that direction. They settled on a hilly island of Durham, where the peloton started in the morning.
