Frome’s most eccentric sporting tradition is back. On 14 September, Catherine Hill once again transforms into the stage for the Cobble Wobble—a cycle sprint like no other. The challenge? Just 179 yards, but up a steep, uneven cobbled climb lined with hundreds of roaring spectators pressed tight against 17th-century architecture.

What began in 2009 as a quirky local race dreamed up by Andrew Denham has since grown into a world-famous spectacle. The Cobble Wobble has inspired imitators from Germany’s Cobble Hoppel to Red Bull’s Hill Chasers series, but there’s still nothing quite like the original. Each year it attracts a heady mix: international pro cyclists, mountain bikers, road racers, weekend warriors and kids on bikes that have seen better days.

The atmosphere is as much carnival as competition. Fancy dress isn’t unusual, nor is a pint in hand before pedalling. Yet for those at the sharp end, the stakes are high. Category winners and the 20 fastest overall riders qualify for the evening finale—the aptly named King of the Cobbles. Under the floodlights, the best of the best face off in a showdown that blends pure athletic grit with theatrical drama.