Heading south from Brands Hatch motor racing circuit sees you quickly into Kent’s lanes. These country roads are incredibly quiet, even when we previewed the route on a Wednesday in early September. An early Sunday morning will be quieter still. They’re picturesque, too. As you drop off the North Downs, the views south over the Weald of Kent are stunning, although admittedly it may not be as green and pleasant in February. The first clue as to the severity of this route is Carter’s Hill. The steepest section goes on for just under a kilometre (there’s a little bit of respite in the middle), include the long approach and it’s twice as long. This is the first part of the ‘M’ shaped section in the route that includes one other climb and leaves you feeling like you haven’t managed to get very far. Dropping down towards Chiddingstone Causeway we were still a good distance from the southernmost point of the route, and we’d been riding for a lot longer than we’d planned. The miles would tick by faster in a group on event day, but it was becoming clear that I’d underestimated the ride. From here the road heads due south and out to the farthest point at the top of the Ashdown Forest. At last you feel like you’re getting somewhere, although there’s no let-up in the climbing through Penshurst and Fordcombe — at least the climbs in this area are more gradual than the climbs on the North Downs. The turn for home can’t come soon enough, but be warned, if you meet a headwind here you’re in for a seriously tough day. The northward stretch does at least start with a long descent through Chuck Hatch, but it’s not long before you’re climbing again. It’s fair to say there are few flat roads through Hartfield and Cowden on the way back to Bough Beech reservoir, and the roads are rough too. The next big test is Ide Hill, just after the reservoir, which marks the beginning of the toughest part of the route where the hills hit your tired legs in quick succession. Soon after crossing the M25 you hit the slow grind up Sundridge Hill. This may be the worst of the final three climbs, but as the fatigue in your legs increases they feel progressively harder. Rowdow Lane and Tinker Pot Lane are the final two climbs after Otford, neither of which you’re able to carry any speed into. This final 13-mile stretch is surely where the well-deserved ‘Killer’ tagline comes from. https://www.gsavanti.co.uk/kentish-killer/cycling-weeklys-insider-guide-to-the-kentish-killer/