This year’s National Road Championships get underway on Wednesday with four jerseys up for grabs in the time trial, with riders racing against the clock on a sporting 30km course starting and finishing at the Bourlon Barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
The depth of the field across the four races is impressive, enhanced by a sprinkling of WorldTour stardust, with the fight for the podium in every race guaranteed to be fierce.
The British Continental runs the rule over the riders likely to feature in the battle for the titles.
With 13 riders likely to take the start following Kate Richardson’s horror training accident at the start of the month, the field is perhaps the strongest we’ve ever seen for the U23 women’s race, with a host of riders from the sport’s top tier.
The favourites
Defending champion Maddie Leech dominated this race twelve months ago, and the Lifeplus Wahoo rider begins as favourite in a strong field, with a pursuit background on the track and strong time trial pedigree from her junior days standing her in good stead. Bronze medallist from twelve months ago Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck) also takes the start, and at only 20-years-old will return a stronger rider. Josie Nelson made the step up to WorldTour level this season, joining Abi Smith, who has finished 5th in the previous two championships at Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, with both riders capable of pushing for victory.
2023 British National Road Championships – Croft Circuit, Darlington, England – Women’s U23 Time Trial – Madelaine Leech of Lifeplus Wahoo wins with Lucy Gadd of Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime in second and Flora Perkins of Fenix-Deceuninck Development Team in third on the podium. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Keep an eye on…
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) was 4th last year, only a second behind Perkins and despite a nasty crash in May leaving her with multiple injuries, she successfully returned to competition at the weekend’s Ronde Van Wymeswold, picking up a stage win and the points classification. 2022 National Road Race Champion Alice Towers (Canyon/SRAM Racing) hasn’t previously entered the time trial championships, although an impressive top ten in the Tour de L’Avenir test last season demonstrated her ability against the clock. Ellie Parry (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team), who was 6th last year, showed good form in the Tour de Feminin time trial back in May, finishing just outside the top ten, is another podium hope.
Elite Women
A number of WorldTour riders make the trip home to contest the championship in a stellar 30 rider field.
2023 British National Road Championships – Croft Circuit, Darlington, England – Elite Women’s Time Trial – Elizabeth Holden, UAE Team ADQ. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
The favourites
Lizzie Holden (UAE Team ADQ) is the last rider off as the defending champion, with a number of riders looking to take the jersey off her shoulders.Anna Henderson (Team Visma Lease A Bike) is chief among those, having finished 4th at last year’s World Championships and demonstrated her stellar form with second place at the Tour of Britain Women. Elynor Backstedt (Lidl Trek) has been in the top ten of time trials twice already this season, while Olympic track champion Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility) returns following her bronze medal last year. Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has yet to race against the clock this year, although was in brilliant form at the Tour of Britain Women and will hope to step onto the podium after narrowly missing out last year. With a large amount of WorldTour talent taking to the start, the race is one of the most open for many years.
2023 British National Road Championships – Croft Circuit, Darlington, England – Elite Women’s Time Trial – Lizzie Holden, UAE Team ADQ wins ahead of Anna Morris in 2nd and Elinor Barker of Uno-X in 3rd. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Keep an eye on…
It may be close to a decade since Hayley Simmonds (Doltcini-O’Shea) won her two national titles in the discipline, but the time trial specialist is always a threat against the clock. Tamsin Miller (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) broke into the top ten in the time trial at the Tour de Feminin last month and dominated the test at the Ronde van Wymeswold to set herself up for victory last weekend, although admitted she prefers road bike time trials. Anna Morris (WardPerformanceUK) has enjoyed a rapid rise in the sport, becoming a track world champion last year. 2nd in this race twelve months ago, the time trial specialist hasn’t raced against the clock this year and comes into the championships with her form unknown.
Elite Men
30 riders also appear on the start sheet for the men’s race, with a good contrast between WorldTour riders and those racing in the UK hoping to test themselves against the best.
2023 UEC Road European Championships – Emmen, Drenthe, Netherlands – Men’s Elite Individual Time Trial – Josh Tarling of Great Britain wins Gold. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The favourites
On paper the elite men’s race is a race for second, with Josh Tarling, in only his second season as a professional, hot favourite to defend his title. A prodigious talent, the 20-year-old Welshman has quickly developed into one of the foremost time trialists in the world, becoming European Champion last year. The Ineos Grenadiers could make it a podium clean sweep with former champion Ethan Hayter and bronze medallist from last year Connor Swift set to start, as well as Leo Hayter, a former U23 champion also on the start list for the team. Among the riders hoping to disrupt the Ineos Grenadiers domination is Charlie Tanfield (Saint Piran), who just missed out on the podium last year, taking full advantage of his track pedigree and aerodynamic advantage.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 21/06/2023 – Cycling – 2023 British National Road Championships – Croft Circuit, Darlington, England – Men’s Elite Time Trial – Charlie Tanfield of Saint Piran
Keep an eye on…
Max Walker (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) has been on scintillating form against the clock this year, winning in the Tour of Japan and taking fourth in the ZLM Tour prologue. The Richardsons Trek-DAS pairing of Alex Pritchard and Michael Gill both come from CTT backgrounds, the former winning a stage of the Rás last month, with Gill finishing 8th in last year’s championships. Both riders will be aiming for at least a top ten again. Ben Pease (Moonglu RT) built his Ronde van Wymeswold win at the weekend on an excellent time trial and will look to test himself against the best after taking his second National B victory. John Archibald (HUUB Wattshop) will find the course to his liking, and having had a successful 2024 on the road, the Scot returns to his first love and has a realistic shot at a first national time trial title.
U23 Men
One of the most competitive races of the championships, the U23 field sees a host of riders straight out the junior ranks ready to compete with riders aiming to become professional for the title, testament to the wide range of talent the UK continues to produce.
The favourites
Josh Charlton returns in his new TRINITY Racing colours as defending champion and starts as favourite, having won the National ‘10’ last year and finishing 6th in the U23 World Championship. He will face stiff competition from a host of strong first year U23 riders however – junior national champion Jacob Bush (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) and the impressive Matthew Brennan (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development) – recent Giro NextGen stage winner – are all capable of victory. Josh Giddings (Lotto Dstny Development Team) will become Britain’s latest professional cyclist after agreeing to step up to Lotto-Destny’s senior team, testimony to his strength, while Josh Golliker (Groupama-FDJ La Conti) has enjoyed good results against the clock in both the junior and U23 ranks.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 08/08/2023 – Road Cycling – 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships – Glasgow, Scotland – Team Time Trial Mixed Relay – Josh Charlton of Great Britain.
Keep an eye on…
Jack Brough (AVC Aix en Provence) is the penultimate rider to take to the start, having finished 6th last year at only 19. Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) has been very impressive in winning a number of CTT events this year, as has Manxman Tyler Hannay. Hannay’s Saint Piran teammate Rowan Baker, winner of the East Cleveland Classic, also has the power to reach the podium in what promises to be a high competitive race.
This year’s National Road Championships get underway on Wednesday with four jerseys up for grabs in the time trial, with riders racing against the clock on a sporting 30km course starting and finishing at the Bourlon Barracks in Catterick, North Yorkshire.
The depth of the field across the four races is impressive, enhanced by a sprinkling of WorldTour stardust, with the fight for the podium in every race guaranteed to be fierce.
The British Continental runs the rule over the riders likely to feature in the battle for the titles.
U23 Women
With 13 riders likely to take the start following Kate Richardson’s horror training accident at the start of the month, the field is perhaps the strongest we’ve ever seen for the U23 women’s race, with a host of riders from the sport’s top tier.
The favourites
Defending champion Maddie Leech dominated this race twelve months ago, and the Lifeplus Wahoo rider begins as favourite in a strong field, with a pursuit background on the track and strong time trial pedigree from her junior days standing her in good stead. Bronze medallist from twelve months ago Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck) also takes the start, and at only 20-years-old will return a stronger rider. Josie Nelson made the step up to WorldTour level this season,
joining Abi Smith, who has finished 5th in the previous two championships at Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL, with both riders capable of pushing for victory.Keep an eye on…
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) was 4th last year, only a second behind Perkins and despite a nasty crash in May leaving her with multiple injuries, she successfully returned to competition at the weekend’s Ronde Van Wymeswold, picking up a stage win and the points classification. 2022 National Road Race Champion Alice Towers (Canyon/SRAM Racing) hasn’t previously entered the time trial championships, although an impressive top ten in the Tour de L’Avenir test last season demonstrated her ability against the clock. Ellie Parry (Grouwels-Watersley R&D Road Team), who was 6th last year, showed good form in the Tour de Feminin time trial back in May, finishing just outside the top ten, is another podium hope.Elite Women
A number of WorldTour riders make the trip home to contest the championship in a stellar 30 rider field.
The favourites
Lizzie Holden (UAE Team ADQ) is the last rider off as the defending champion, with a number of riders looking to take the jersey off her shoulders.Anna Henderson (Team Visma Lease A Bike) is chief among those, having finished 4th at last year’s World Championships and demonstrated her stellar form with second place at the Tour of Britain Women. Elynor Backstedt (Lidl Trek) has been in the top ten of time trials twice already this season, while Olympic track champion Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility) returns following her bronze medal last year. Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has yet to race against the clock this year, although was in brilliant form at the Tour of Britain Women and will hope to step onto the podium after narrowly missing out last year. With a large amount of WorldTour talent taking to the start, the race is one of the most open for many years.Keep an eye on…
It may be close to a decade since Hayley Simmonds (Doltcini-O’Shea) won her two national titles in the discipline, but the time trial specialist is always a threat against the clock. Tamsin Miller (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) broke into the top ten in the time trial at the Tour de Feminin last month and dominated the test at the Ronde van Wymeswold to set herself up for victory last weekend, although admitted she prefers road bike time trials. Anna Morris (WardPerformanceUK) has enjoyed a rapid rise in the sport, becoming a track world champion last year. 2nd in this race twelve months ago, the time trial specialist hasn’t raced against the clock this year and comes into the championships with her form unknown.
Elite Men
30 riders also appear on the start sheet for the men’s race, with a good contrast between WorldTour riders and those racing in the UK hoping to test themselves against the best.
The favourites
On paper the elite men’s race is a race for second, with Josh Tarling, in only his second season as a professional, hot favourite to defend his title. A prodigious talent, the 20-year-old Welshman has quickly developed into one of the foremost time trialists in the world, becoming European Champion last year. The Ineos Grenadiers could make it a podium clean sweep with former champion Ethan Hayter and bronze medallist from last year Connor Swift set to start, as well as Leo Hayter, a former U23 champion also on the start list for the team. Among the riders hoping to disrupt the Ineos Grenadiers domination is Charlie Tanfield (Saint Piran), who just missed out on the podium last year, taking full advantage of his track pedigree and aerodynamic advantage.
Keep an eye on…
Max Walker (Astana Qazaqstan Development Team) has been on scintillating form against the clock this year, winning in the Tour of Japan and taking fourth in the ZLM Tour prologue. The Richardsons Trek-DAS pairing of Alex Pritchard and Michael Gill both come from CTT backgrounds, the former winning a stage of the Rás last month, with Gill finishing 8th in last year’s championships. Both riders will be aiming for at least a top ten again. Ben Pease (Moonglu RT) built his Ronde van Wymeswold win at the weekend on an excellent time trial and will look to test himself against the best after taking his second National B victory. John Archibald (HUUB Wattshop) will find the course to his liking, and having had a successful 2024 on the road, the Scot returns to his first love and has a realistic shot at a first national time trial title.
U23 Men
One of the most competitive races of the championships, the U23 field sees a host of riders straight out the junior ranks ready to compete with riders aiming to become professional for the title, testament to the wide range of talent the UK continues to produce.
The favourites
Josh Charlton returns in his new TRINITY Racing colours as defending champion and starts as favourite, having won the National ‘10’ last year and finishing 6th in the U23 World Championship. He will face stiff competition from a host of strong first year U23 riders however – junior national champion
Jacob Bush (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL), Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) and the impressive Matthew Brennan (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development) – recent Giro NextGen stage winner – are all capable of victory. Josh Giddings (Lotto Dstny Development Team) will become Britain’s latest professional cyclist after agreeing to step up to Lotto-Destny’s senior team, testimony to his strength, while Josh Golliker (Groupama-FDJ La Conti) has enjoyed good results against the clock in both the junior and U23 ranks.Keep an eye on…
Jack Brough (AVC Aix en Provence) is the penultimate rider to take to the start, having finished 6th last year at only 19. Jamie Whitcher (BmthCycleworks VitecFire FordCE) has been very impressive in winning a number of CTT events this year, as has Manxman Tyler Hannay. Hannay’s Saint Piran teammate Rowan Baker, winner of the East Cleveland Classic, also has the power to reach the podium in what promises to be a high competitive race.
Featured image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
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