Giles Drake vs. Lachlan Morton. Respect Between Rivals.

 

Watch Giles Drake, Lachlan Morton, Isla Short and more in action at the 2026 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross.

 

The 62nd edition of the 3 Peaks Cyclocross took place beneath dark skies, with strong winds across the Yorkshire Dales adding another layer of difficulty to an already demanding race.

For Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli’s Giles Drake, the goal was simple: return to the top step of the podium. After a disappointing fourth-place finish in 2025, the two-time champion arrived determined to rediscover the form that had brought him victory in both 2023 and 2024.

Giles made his intentions clear immediately. Leading the way up Simon Fell.

 

Standing in his way was a stacked field of challengers. Defending champion Jenson Young was absent, but one name stood out above the rest. Returning for a third attempt at the race was EF Education rider Lachlan Morton, one of the world’s most accomplished endurance cyclists and a rider who had become deeply invested in the unique challenge of the 3 Peaks.

Foreshadowing how the rest of the day would play out Lachlan Morton was hot on Giles’ heels.

 

From the moment the riders hit the steep slopes of Simon Fell it became clear that Drake and Morton were the strongest men in the race. Chased by Jack Lucas, the pair quickly established themselves at the front and began a battle that would continue uninterrupted for the next 38 miles. As the race reached the lower slopes of Whernside, Drake appeared to have a slight advantage whenever the riders were forced off their bikes. Carrying his bike on his shoulder, he repeatedly lifted the pace and opened small gaps on Morton.

Jack Lucas looked strong and was chasing, not far from Giles and Lachlan.

 

At the steepest section of the ascent, Drake continued to run strongly up the jagged stone steps while Morton settled into a steadier hiking rhythm. However, the Australian never looked concerned. Experience had taught him to climb at his own pace confident he could claw back any losses across the exposed summit and on the fast descent towards Ribblehead.

Lachlan Morton and Giles Drake were inseparable, swapping the lead multiple times.

 

By the time the leaders swept through the pit area at Ribblehead, Morton had rejoined Drake and, for a brief period, Jack Lucas was able to bridge back to the leading pair as well. A block headwind on the road section towards Pen-y-Ghent encouraged a temporary truce. Knowing the final climb would likely decide the race, the leaders sensibly shared the workload before launching their next attacks on the lower slopes of the final peak.

Giles came in the 3 Peaks with some great form, having recently taken the 40-44 Gravel National Champion title.

 

Unlike Ingleborough and Whernside, the lower section of Pen-y-Ghent offers riders more opportunities to remain on the bike, and both Morton and Drake looked keen to exploit that fact. Each attempted to establish a decisive advantage, but neither could shake the other. While Lucas eventually dropped away, the leading duo remained locked together as they headed towards Helwith Bridge.

Coming off the descent of Pen-Y-Ghent Giles and Lachlan were still locked together in a two-way battle for the win.

 

As the pair approached the finish side-by-side, spectators realised they were about to witness a rare sprint finish for the win. After negotiating the loose gravel and tight turns that define the final approach, both riders emerged upright and shoulder-to-shoulder. What followed was a full-gas sprint to the line, with Morton edging ahead by little more than half a wheel length to take victory after more than three hours of racing.

For Drake, the disappointment was obvious. After such a faultless performance, he had come agonisingly close to adding a third title to his impressive record. Yet the overwhelming feeling after the race was one of mutual respect.

After 38 miles and 7,064ft of elevation over the three infamous peaks it came down to half a wheel in the sprint for the line.

Credit for this photo – Dan Monaghan

 

During post-race interviews, both riders paid tribute to one another after spending almost the entire race locked in battle. Having raced wheel-to-wheel across the three infamous peaks and 38 miles of Yorkshire terrain, both knew that the day’s outcome could easily have gone the other way. While we would, of course, have loved to see Giles take the victory, we were equally pleased to see Morton finally achieve his long-standing goal. On his third attempt at the race, he delivered a performance worthy of the occasion and claimed a hugely popular victory. Over recent years he has won over riders, organisers, volunteers and spectators alike, while helping shine a global spotlight on one of cycling’s most unique events.

Jack Lucas 3rd, Giles Drake 2nd, Lachlan Morton 1st.

Bryony Halcrow vs. Isla Short. Records are broken.

The women’s race arrived with plenty of anticipation. Bryony Halcrow came into the 2026 edition as the favourite, having won each of the previous three editions. However, this year a new generation of challengers had arrived, including international mountain bike racer Isla Short.

After three successive wins Bryony Halcrow was back to defend her title.

 

A longtime competitor on the UCI Cross Country World Cup circuit and a multiple-time Great Britain representative, Short possessed the aerobic capacity and technical skills required to excel at the 3 Peaks. The question was whether she could match Halcrow on the sections where riders are forced to shoulder their bikes and climb on foot.

Likewise, could Halcrow stay competitive on the descents against a rider whose career had been built racing some of the most technical mountain bike courses in the world? The early signs suggested she could.

Isla Short made her debut at this year’s 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross and what a debut it would turn out to be.

 

Halcrow immediately put her fell-running strength to good use, leading the race up the steep slopes of Simon Fell and opening a small advantage on her debutant rival. But much like Morton in the men’s race, Short remained calm. Rather than responding to every acceleration, she rode her own race and trusted her strengths.

As the race unfolded, the contrast between the two riders became increasingly clear. Halcrow remained formidable on the steep climbing sections, carefully picking her way over rough terrain and maximising every opportunity to gain time on foot. By the summit of Whernside she still held an advantage, but Short remained firmly in contention.

Madeline Moorhouse-Smith rode strongly throughout the race to take the last step on the podium.

 

Attention then turned to Pen-y-Ghent. Many riders believe the final climb favours cyclists more than runners thanks to its more rideable lower slopes, and those conditions began to play directly into Short’s hands. Staying mounted for longer than her rival, she gradually started to edge away and establish a gap that finally appeared significant.

Isla’s depth of strength, gained from years of international mountain bike racing, paid off in the latter half of the race.

 

What perhaps surprised observers most was that Halcrow continued to pressure Short on the technical descents. Afterwards, Short admitted she was still adapting to drop-bar bikes after spending most of her career racing mountain bikes, meaning the defending champion was never far away.

Bryony was locked in a two-way battle with Isla, but who would come out on top?

 

Ultimately, however, Short’s combination of climbing strength, endurance and technical ability proved decisive. Emerging from Pen-y-Ghent with an advantage, she continued to extend her lead on the road section to the finish, eventually crossing the line just over two minutes ahead of Halcrow to claim a remarkable victory on debut.

The emotion at the finish was impossible to miss. Relief, joy and disbelief all poured out as Short realised she had won one of cycling’s toughest races at the first attempt. In post-race interviews she spoke openly about what the achievement meant to her, while Halcrow reflected positively on a race that had pushed her harder than any edition in recent years.

Isla Short made her move late into the race on Pen-Y-Ghent and would go on to win by over two minutes.

 

The results revealed just how extraordinary the women’s race had been. Isla Short claimed victory on her first attempt at the 3 Peaks Cyclocross while setting a new women’s course record. Such was the pace at the front that Bryony Halcrow’s runner-up time also bettered the previous mark, underlining the level of competition between the pair. For Short, it capped one of the most impressive debut performances in the event’s history.

Isla Short took the win and broke the women’s record for the fastest time around the course. 2nd placed Bryony would also beat the record.

All photos unless stated otherwise by Joel Jameson Check out some more great photos below.

Full 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross Photo Album HERE

 

Three Peaks legend Rob Jebb took a fantastic 4th place. With 13 victories to his name he continues to be at the sharp end of racing.

 

The steep gradients of Simon Fell are relentless. 

 

Will Weatherill took a fantastic 6th place overall and also took the parent/son win with his Dad Ian Weatherill.

 

Joel Hurt took a brilliant 7th place overall and also won the Under 23 category.

 

Trail running superstar and winner of the UTMB Tom Evans took 21st place. He vowed to work on his bike handling skills before returning to the race.

 

Experienced Three Peaks competitor took 11th on the Vet 50 category.

 

Charlotte Lissaman made her Three Peaks debut and took 1st place in the Female Junior category.

 

Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli rider Dave Haygarth for his 26th race around the Peaks.

 

Georgia Stevens racing for Ratio Technology.

 

Robb Jebb looked strong throughout the race to eventually finish just off the podium in 4th place.

 

It was great to see big name athletes from other sports taking on the Three Peaks. Tom Evans joked it was tougher than the UTMB.

 

Rob Jebb knows every twist and turn of the course and can steal time on the technical descents.

 

Previous podium finisher Oli Dawson had another strong ride finishing in an excellent 5th place.

 

Tom Simpson, another previous podium finisher, placed 12th despite racing the grueling Three Shires fell race the day before.

 

Late into the race the third peak of Pen-Y-Ghent tests fatigued riders.

 

Multiple Elite podium finisher Helen Jackson had some bad luck and battled injury to finish the race and take the FV40 win.

 

Feeling deflated that it’s over for another year? The 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross will be back in 2027.