Ones to Watch

3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross 2026, Yorkshire Dales. 27th September 2026

The 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross is unlike any other race on the calendar. Part bike race, part fell race and a test of pure resilience. To win competitors need to possess a rare combination of fitness, great technical bike handling skills and be efficient at covering ground at pace when shouldering their bikes.

This year’s edition promises to be one of the most compelling in recent memory. Defending champions return with targets firmly on their backs, established 3 Peaks specialists are hunting for another place in the history books, and a host of high-profile newcomers from the worlds of triathlon, mountain biking and ultra-running are set to test themselves against one of cycling’s toughest challenges.

We’ve looked at the riders we believe are most likely to shape the race at the sharp end of the field. From proven winners and perennial podium contenders to exciting wild cards with all the ingredients to cause an upset, here are our Ones to Watch for the 2026 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross.

Giles Drake

  • Total Raced: 7
  • Podiums: 1st Place 2023, 2024
  • Race Prediction: Win
  • Pre-race Insight: The 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross rewards strength, endurance, bike-handling skill and, above all, experience. Giles has all four in abundance and, after narrowly missing the podium in 2025, he’s fully focused on returning to his best. Nothing less than victory will do.

 

Lachlan Morton

  • Total Raced: 2
  • Podiums: 2nd Place 2025
  • Race Prediction: 2nd Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Lachlan has brought worldwide attention to the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross while winning over riders, organisers, volunteers and fans alike. While we’re of course backing our man Giles, we’d also love to see Morton deliver another outstanding race.

 

Alistair Brownlee

  • Total Raced: 0
  • Podiums: N/A
  • Race Prediction: 3rd Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Multiple Olympic Triathlon medallist Alistair Brownlee combines elite cycling strength with serious fell-running credentials. After taking 3rd at the Yorkshire 3 Peaks Running Race in 2025, we think he can do the same on his 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross debut. The only question is whether he has the off-road bike handling skills to match.

 

Tom Evans

  • Total Raced: 0
  • Podiums: N/A
  • Race Prediction: 4th Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Western States 100, UTMB and Yorkshire Three Peaks Running Race winner Tom Evans has the engine to excel at the 3 Peaks. The unknown is whether his off-road bike handling skills and lack of race-specific experience will hold him back on debut.

 

Rob Jebb

  • Total Raced: 26
  • Podiums: 13x Winner
  • Race Prediction: 5th Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Thirteen-time winner Rob Jebb remains one of the most feared riders in the field. Now racing in the V50 category, his unrivalled 3 Peaks experience, fell-running pedigree and strength on the bike still make him a serious threat at the sharp end of the overall race.

 

Dave Haygarth

  • Total Raced: 25
  • Race Prediction: Top 20 V50
  • Pre-race Insight: Few riders embody the spirit of the 3 Peaks quite like Dave Haygarth. A 25-time finisher, his passion for the race extends far beyond race day, helping to tell the stories, celebrate the characters and keep the event’s unique culture thriving. With daughter Elsie also racing, the Haygarths remain a special part of the 3 Peaks community.

 

Bryony Halcrow

  • Total Raced: 4
  • Podiums: 1st Place 2023, 2024, 2025 / 2nd Place 2022
  • Race Prediction: Winner
  • Pre-race Insight: Three-time defending champion Bryony Halcrow is the clear favourite for victory. Like Rob Jebb, she combines elite fell-running ability with exceptional bike-handling skills, making her equally comfortable on the steep climbs as the technical descents. It’s hard to look beyond Halcrow for a fourth consecutive win.

 

Helen Jackson

  • Total Raced: 6
  • Podiums: 2nd Place 2000, 2023, 2024, 2025 / 3rd Place 2019
  • Race Prediction: 2nd Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Helen Jackson’s record speaks for itself. A multiple-time podium finisher and perennial contender, she continues to take the fight to riders half a generation younger. It would take something special to beat Halcrow, but if anyone can spring a surprise, it’s Helen.

 

Nichola Jackson

  • Total Raced: 0
  • Podiums: N/A
  • Race Prediction: 3rd Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Yorkshire Three Peaks Running Race winner Nichola Jackson has all the strength and mountain-running pedigree needed to thrive at the 3 Peaks. The question is how she’ll handle the bike, particularly on the technical descents and long road sections. If everything clicks, she could be this year’s surprise podium contender.

Isla Short

  • Total Raced: 0
  • Podiums: N/A
  • Race Prediction: 4th Place
  • Pre-race Insight: Isla Short’s elite mountain bike pedigree makes her one of the strongest technical riders in the field. The descents should play to her strengths, but the unknown is how her running will compare to the race’s fell-running specialists. If she stays in touch on the climbs, expect her to come on strong as the race unfolds.

 

3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross 2026, Yorkshire Dales. 27th September 2026