Isla Short is tackling one of the toughest, most iconic off-road events in the UK: the 3 Peaks Cyclo-Cross. In this interview, Isla and I discuss her upcoming debut, what finally pushed her to enter, and how she is channeling years of high-level racing history into the legendary Yorkshire Dales course.
From translating elite mountain bike skills to brutal hike-a-bike sections, Isla breaks down her mindset, preparation, and hopes heading into race day.
An amazing person to chat to and the biggest name woman cyclist to debut in the race for some time.
Islas’s incredible substack article here is WELL WORTH a read and a great insight into the mind of one of our most gifted and hard-working cyclists.
Ahead of her debut at the legendary Three Peaks Cyclocross, former national cross-country mountain bike champion Isla Short sat down with Dave Haygarth—a 25-time Three Peaks finisher and long-running event blogger—for a candid pre-race interview. The resulting conversation spans career pivots, equipment dilemmas, mountain weather, and the unique allure of tackling one of off-road cycling’s most punishing events.
A New Chapter and a Fresh Challenge
After making a significant shift away from full-time Cross Country (XCO) World Cup racing in 2024, Isla was eager to pursue longer-distance events and fresh challenges that simply never fitted into her previous schedule. While marathon-format racing has always been a genuine preference, the intense demands of 10 to 12 major international World Cup rounds per season left zero capacity to explore iconic fixtures like the Three Peaks.
The decision to take the plunge came quite spontaneously following an off-hand suggestion from her partner over the summer, and Isla immediately felt it was an obvious fit. The true appeal lay in feeling like a “total beginner” again—entering a discipline where she holds no established identity or competitive history. Rather than feeling daunting, she described the prospect as utterly exciting. Having committed only a few months out from race day, Isla remains pragmatic and grounded about managing her expectations around preparation.
A Race Like No Other: Dave’s Perspective
With 25 finishes to his name and over 20 years spent documenting the race on his blog, Dave brought a wealth of practical wisdom and historical context to the table. He gently challenged Isla’s initial perception that the Three Peaks isn’t a “mountain bike race”, arguing that it is arguably the only event where riders literally carry and race their bikes over mountains—a defining trait that makes it completely unique.
Dave emphasised that the event retains the authentic feel of a proper race rather than just a timed challenge, with many finishers left genuinely astonished by its severity. Reflecting on past national champions who have tackled the course—including Louise Robinson and Isla Rowntree—Dave noted that elite national cyclocross and mountain bike riders entering the field carry rich precedent, making Isla’s entry as a former national XCO champion a particularly exciting prospect.
Course Intel, Training, and Overcoming the Hype
Starting almost from scratch two months prior, Isla has been actively researching and building a mental roadmap of the course, seeking counsel from experienced veterans Nick Craig and Louise Robinson. A key insight she gathered is that the race becomes progressively more rideable across its three peaks. Ingleborough poses the most grueling physical test upfront, whereas the subsequent mountains offer far more opportunities to make progress on the bike.
To prepare for the brutal hike-a-bike sections, Isla supplemented her strong cycling base with dedicated running and hiking training, mindful of explicit advice that the steep climbs require hiking rather than running. Navigating the sheer volume of online advice—often contradictory—proved one of her biggest prep challenges, but she confirmed plans for a full course recce in the Yorkshire Dales just ahead of race day.
Competitive Ambition Meets an Unfamiliar Field
When asked about her competitive outlook, Isla was refreshingly transparent: while driven by a competitive nature to aim for a win, she holds realistic respect for three-time defending champion Bryony Halcro, who holds a massive route experience advantage. Having spent 15 years racing against the exact same field in XCO, Isla finds the unfamiliarity of the Three Peaks field exhilarating. Not knowing everyone’s form keeps her sharp and strips away predictable competition.
Though she shares a loose regional connection through her mother (who is from Sheffield), Isla acknowledges she is relatively unfamiliar with the specific terrain. She remains clear-eyed that seasoned multi-time finishers will hold a distinct edge in route selection, making smart pacing and restraint vital early on.
Kit Choices: Carbon Wheels, Tyre Drama, and Mountain Winds
Equipment decisions formed a major talking point. Isla selected Schwalbe’s new G1 RX gravel tyres in a 38–40mm width—the maximum allowable size under race rules. Her original plan to run the popular Schwalbe G1 All-Round was scuppered when the tyre was discontinued, necessitating a late switch. With her new race bike arriving just the day after the interview, testing the setup on terrain was top of her agenda.
Addressing the debate surrounding wheel material, Isla opted for carbon wheels over alloy. At a bodyweight of 50kg, she reasoned that the structural risk calculus differs greatly compared to heavier riders (a contrast Dave acknowledged against his own ~84kg weight). Furthermore, she deliberately chose shallow-section rims to prevent exposed mountain ridge winds from catching the wheels like sails while carrying the bike over her shoulder.
Golden Rules, Atmosphere, and What Lies Ahead
Dave offered crucial practical advice grounded in decades of experience: ride with restraint on descents to protect tyres and rims, don’t let the brutal nature of Ingleborough dishearten you for the rest of the race, and filter the noise of conflicting advice with basic common sense suited to individual rider weight and handling skills.
Beyond the physical grind, both highlighted the special atmosphere surrounding the event, which Dave described as feeling like “the biggest village.” Even with 25 starts under his belt, Dave admitted to still feeling start-line nerves, preferring quiet focus before the race commences.
