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2024 Under-23 Open National Road Series narrows to four rounds

The Under-23 Open National Road Series has been reduced to four rounds after the cancellation of the JToW Under-23 GP

The Under-23 Open National Road Series, created in 2022 to increase the number of available racing opportunities for talented young riders, has been reduced to four rounds for 2024.

In December 2023, British Cycling unveiled a six-round series beginning with the Stars of the South West road race on 7 April and slated to conclude with a ‘to-be-confirmed’ final round.

The 2022 and 2023 editions of the series were both curtailed as a result of race cancellations. Both had been billed as five-round series, but 2022’s series was reduced to just two rounds, while only three rounds went ahead in 2023.

DateRoundRace
7 Apr1Stars of the South West
21 Apr2PB Performance Espoirs Road Race
5 May3Yorkshire Under-23 Classic
25-26 May4360cycling Under-23 North West Tour
9 Jun5JToW Under-23 GP
TBC6TBC-TBC
Initial Under-23 Open National Road Series calendar

The 2024 edition of the series promised to be the most ambitious yet, with the addition of a stage race for the first time – the new 360cycling Under-23 North West Tour, a two-day event in late May – and six rounds.

However, a recent announcement from British Cycling on May 10th has led to a significant alteration in the series’ length. The planned fifth round, the JToW Under-23 GP in Brecon, Powys, set for June 9th, has been cancelled.

Furthermore, with British Cycling saying in its announcement that the JToW race would have been the final round, the implication is that the ‘to-be-confirmed’ round, intended to be the series’ concluding race, will not take place either. We have asked British Cycling for clarification on this and are awaiting a response.

This development positions the 360cycling Under-23 North West Tour happening on May 25-26, as the unexpected finale of this year’s series.

The change has also adjusted the scoring dynamics for the series, with riders now needing to accumulate their best results from three of the four events to vie for the series championship.

In response to the schedule shift and to accommodate athletes and teams affected by the sudden change, British Cycling has extended entries for the Northwest Tour until 15 May.

PB Performance Espoirs road race winner Archie Peet (Reflex Racing) is the current leader of the series.

PosRiderAgeTeamPts
1 Archie PeetU23Reflex Racing76
2 Rowan BakerU23Saint Piran52
3 Dylan HicksU23Saint Piran50
4 David HirdU23Cycling Sheffield48
5 William TrueloveU23THRIVA-SRCT46
6 Joseph SmithU23Wheelbase CabTech Castelli40
7 Ben PierceU23Bridgnorth Cycling Club36
8 Luke BrennanU23HUUB BCC Race Team35
9 Benjamin TuchnerU23TEKKERZ CC32
Under-23 Open National Road Series standings after the Under-23 Yorkshire Classic

Featured image: Emma Wilcock


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