The Changue Challenge 2026: David Millar takes the King of the Mountain crown
Sunday 23rd August saw the final hill climb event of the Club Championship, the Changue Challenge, take over the Skares Road in Cumnock…And by the end of the day wasn't a set of lungs among the field of riders that participated that hadn't had a proper working over.
Ten riders turned out to tackle the climb three times each, with the best combined time across all three attempts deciding the final standings for the day. Conditions were kind enough, grey and overcast with a gentle wind, and crucially dry underfoot, though the road itself had other ideas about making life easy. The lower section is lovely new tarmac, a fair opening drag from the start before swinging left and rising again, but it roughens up from there. By the halfway point, over the bridge and through the dip, things get properly rough, before a long false flat, deceptively uphill the whole way, drags riders up by the old school house. Just when legs think they're home, there's a final right-hander and a nasty little kicker up to the finish near the Garlaff waste recycling plant entrance, guaranteed to empty whatever was left in the tank. Then, for the brave or the slightly unhinged, it was back down to the bottom to do the whole thing again. Twice.
Top honours, and the overall win, went to David Millar, who put together three superb efforts of 8:20, 8:35 and 8:42 for a combined time of 25:37, comfortably the fastest on the day and a serious benchmark for anyone hoping to chase him down next year. Billy Ramsay was a strong second in 27:00, with Dougie Watson and Davie Mackie locked in an absolute ding-dong for third, separated by just one second after three attempts each (28:16 and 28:17). Dougie Ferguson, Steven Milligan, Mark Flanagan, Mark Kerr and Kevin Owens all rounded out the field with times between 29 and 31 minutes, every one of them earning their tea and cake afterwards.
Special mention to Caroline Millar, who made the trip up to take on the climb in the ladies' championship, banking a combined time of 43:46 and putting valuable points on the board for the season.
The Changue is never an easy day out, but that's rather the point. Whatever your times, well done to everyone who turned up and had a go, and here's hoping for an even bigger turnout next year to chase David off the top step.
