THE organisers of this year's first ever Cycle Derby Sportive have told how they strived to make it challenging as they wanted people to see the best the Derbyshire hills had to offer.
And riders among the 1,000 that took on the tricky ascents said they thoroughly enjoyed the 25, 50, and 100-mile rides.
Mr Taylor, from Activate Management, which helped Cycle Derby run the event, said: "We wanted to make it something to remember.
"The 100-mile race especially had some big climbs.
"Some people may have had a surprise at how difficult it was but we wanted people to see the best of Derbyshire and that involves a few hills."
Samantha Thirlwell, 38, from Derby, said the 50-mile run was also tough as there was a difficult ascent up Sandy Lane at the end.
She said: "It was brilliant but we thought the hills had finished and there was another one.
"The food and drinks stations were great and there were lots of signs though we had a few mishaps when we missed a few and had to go back."
Mrs Thirlwell completed the 50-mile race in four-and-a-half hours, with her father, Nigel Shelley, 63, of Portsmouth, completing it in a similar time.
He said: "The toughest part was up the hill at Whatstandwell. There was about 3,500 ft of ascent on the 50-mile race.
"You can try and find hills to train on in Hampshire but there isn't anything as large as there is in Derbyshire so it was hard work.
"But it was great fun and I'd certainly consider doing it again."
And he could be in luck after Mr Taylor said Cycle Derby would run it again.
He said: "There were people who still wanted to sign up after entries had closed so hopefully we can increase the numbers next year as well."
Mr Taylor said that the winners of the three races this year finished in just under five hours in the 160km challenge; two hours, 40 minutes, in the 80km; and one hour, 30 minutes in the 40km.
The fastest time in the 160km ride was Lee Fearn, from team Fletcher's Flyers, but the names of the fastest in the other rides were not available last night.
Mr Taylor said there had been no serious accidents on the route.
Riders cycled out of the city led by cars through five miles of closed roads before riding on open roads for the rest of the day.
Road closures ran through the city centre from 6am to 9.30am on Sunday, with both lanes closed for the duration of that time.
The 160km route went via Kedleston, Carsington, Whatstandwell, Alstonefield, Longnor, Tideswell, Hathersage, Grindleford, Calver, Chatsworth, Beeley Moor, Riber, and Crich.
Like the other challenges, it started and finished at the soon-to-be-completed Derby Arena, on Pride Park.
The event raised money for Macmillan Cancer Care.
