Speed with Guy Martin (2013)

S2E2 Pike's Peak

Guy travels to the United States with the ambition of triumphing in one of the nation’s oldest competitions: the Pike's Peak International Hill Climb. This annual event, dubbed The Race to the Clouds, challenges riders to navigate a demanding mountainside course that ascends over 4000 meters. To master the specialized techniques of hill climb racing, Guy trains at the sport's roots in Shelsley Walsh, Worcestershire, racing an F1-style vehicle. He discovers that not only power but also precision is essential. However, the thin air at Pike's Peak poses a significant challenge for both him and his bike. In addition to enhancing his homemade bike's power, Guy undergoes a high-altitude fitness assessment in a hypoxic chamber, realizing how altitude affects his body and cognition—critical for recalling the more than 150 twists in the road and avoiding perilous cliffs. After six months of preparation and a two-day journey across the country, his success hinges on his mechanical tuning and his skills