What is ahead of many a team facing The Hill in cold with life partner (5)
I believe the answer is:
climb
'what is ahead of many a team facing the hill' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this defines the answer.
'cold with life partner' is the wordplay.
'cold' becomes 'c' (eg on taps).
'with' means one lot of letters go next to another.
'life partner' becomes 'limb' (I can't explain this - if you can you should believe this answer much more).
'c'+'limb'='CLIMB'
'in' acts as a link.
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for climb that I've seen before include "Get higher" , "Rise to a higher level" , "Get a rise" , "Slope upwards" , "mountaineer's intent?" .)