After Wednesday’s time trials, the National Road Championships juggernaut rolls onto Friday’s circuit races, with two jerseys up for grabs in the men’s and women’s circuit races on a flat and technical 1.3km course in Darlington.
The championships have a stellar list of winners including Chris Lawless, Tom Pidcock and Anna Henderson, riders often using the race as a a stepping stone to joining the professional ranks. Since 2021 the race has slotted in between the time trial and road race championships, attracting more WorldTour entrants, Ethan Hayter taking a memorable victory in the colours of the Ineos Grenadiers on a cold night in Lincoln three years ago from a star studded break.
With no National A circuit races prior to the championships, riders are in for a change of pace from the lengthy road races they’ve been used to; any advantage domestic based riders once enjoyed over their WorldTour counterparts in this race somewhat nullified by the calendar change. However, with the chance to wear the stripes during the upcoming National Circuit Series, riders on domestic teams will be eager to put in a performance.
Ahead of Friday’s races, The British Continental takes a look at who is likely to be in the mix to take the crowns.
The 67 strong women’s field promises to produce a fascinating race, with a number of riders with proven track records returning to action, taking on riders who have been in excellent form this season.
The favourites
Defending champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) returns for her first race outside of the velodrome this year, the 26-year-old world track champion with one eye fully on the Paris Olympic Games. With her form unknown, the likes of Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) will be looking to capitslise, the teenager already with two UCI wins to her name this season, her fearsome sprint a trump card should it come down to a bunch finish.
2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Women’s Circuit Race – Megan Barker, wins, Cat Ferguson 2nd, Maddie Leech 3rd. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) kicked off her championships with second place defending her U23 time trial crown, as she added to her bronze from this event last year. In good form, she should be in the mix on Friday night.
Monica Greenwood may be at the other end of her career, but having joined Team Coop-Repsol over the winter is likely to be back in the mix on home roads, having shown her circuit racing prowess with a fine win in the Sheffield GP last year as well as a kermesse victory in Herentals.
The specialists
With races lasting under an hour on technical circuits at break neck speed, circuit races attract a number of specialist riders who excel in the discipline.
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) rose to prominence during last year’s National Circuit Series, taking a number of top ten finishes including a fine second place in Dudley, impressing with her raw power. The Banbury based rider hasn’t ridden in a competitive race this season and enters the championships as an unknown quantity. Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) may have taken 4th in the CiCLE Classic back in March, but has built a reputation as a fine criterium rider, impressing during the Tour Series in 2022 and reaching the podium in Ilkley and her home round of Newark in last year’s National Circuit Series. Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd) also falls into the camp of wily circuit racer who could thrive on the technical circuit.
2023 The Dudley Grand Prix, Women’s National Circuit Series – Emily Proud of Le Col Race Team. Image: Oliver Brookwell/SWpix.com
Keep an eye on…
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) returned to racing following a nasty crash at the Ronde van Wymeswold last weekend, taking a stage win and the points classification, indication that the former Lincoln GP winner could feature at the sharp end. She is backed up by a strong team including Lucy Lee, who was in fine form at the Tour of Britain Women and took at podium in the Dudley GP last season.
Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) is an interesting entry, the cyclocross specialist at home in races lasting under an hour, having been racing on the road in Belgium recently. Charlotte Broughton (KDM-Pack Cycling Team) has been racing in Belgium with her new team this season after a difficult 2023 left her searching for a ride. She enters the championships with her form somewhat unknown, although a win in the Otley GP two years ago shows what she is capable of.
2023 The Dudley Grand Prix, Women’s National Circuit Series – corrine Side of Pro-Noctis – Heidi Kjeldsen – 200 Degrees Coffee. Image: Oliver Brookwell/SWpix.com
Corinne Side (Unattached) was the model of consistency as she took the overall title in last season’s National Circuit Series, although has only a solitary National B top ten to her name this season as she searches for form. Can the familiar surroundings of a circuit race kick start her year?
Men’s Race
With a full 70 riders field set to take the start in Darlington, the race looks set for a titanic tussle between teams at three very distinct levels. WorldTour outfit Groupama-FDJ enter three riders to take on standout British UCI Continental team Saint Piran, who have dominated racing in the UK for the past eighteen months. A host of Elite Development Teams and solo riders also take the start, hoping to cause an upset in a race that promises to be an agressive affair run at a flat out pace.
The favourites
UCI Continental outfit Saint Piran make the journey from Cornwall with no less than ten riders, led by defending champion Ollie Wood, who took victory last year with an incredible solo attack early in the race. Their line up includes a number of potential winners, including former silver medallist Harry Tanfield, Harry Birchill, and strong rouleurs Tyler Hannay and Dylan Hicks. With the strength in numbers the squad has, the race is likely to be aggressive as the men in black look to make their numerical advantage count.
Picture by Zac Williams/SWpix.com- 23/06/2023 – Cycling – 2023 British National Road Championships – Redcar, North Yorkshire, England – Men’s Circuit Race – Ollie Wood.
Groupama-FDJ bring three riders from their WorldTour team, with Sam Watson, classics specialist Lewis Askey and sprinter Matt Walls leading the line for the French outfit, the trio backed up by Noah Hobbs and Ben Askey from their U23 Continental team. Lewis Askey formed part of a star studded break in Lincoln the first time the championships were held in the same week as the time trial and road race, while Watson was second in the 2022 championships, and expect the team to be agressive throughout as they seek to neutralise Saint Piran and set up one of Watson, Walls or Hobbs, should it come to a sprint finish.
Tim Shoreman took a surprise bronze medal last year and the Aberdeenshire rider heads a strong Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team who are looking to continue their outstanding circuit race form from 2023. Shoreman boasts an excellent turn of speed and has been in good form this season, winning the bunch sprint up Saltburn Bank for second in the East Cleveland Classic and he will be backed up by Tom Martin and Joseph and Jacob Smith, who will look to neutralise Saint Piran, as they did in aggressive fashion at the Lincoln GP.
Picture by Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 25/07/2023 – British Cycling – Men’s National Circuit Series – Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix, Colne, England – Tim Shoreman of Wheelbase CabTech Castelli wins
The specialists
The Ribble Rebellion duo of Jim Brown and former champion Matt Bostock are in with an excellent chance of taking victory away from the big teams. With their team set up specifically to take on the criterium scene on both sides of the Atlantic, both riders have raced the Speedweek series in America this season, and have the speed and race craft to take the race to the likes of Groupama-FDJ and Saint Piran, with both riders staples of UCI teams in the past.
Ben Chilton (Team U Charente-Maritime) took overall victory in the National Circuit Series last year, battling hard against Wheelbase CabTech Castelli in a tense final round in Newark after a virtuoso solo win in Guildford set him up for the victory. He has been in excellent form in France this season and looks to have taken a step up. Does a national title beckon for the towering rider from Derby?
2022 Manx Telecom International Stage Race. Isle of Man Stage 1 Kermesse – Matt Bostock of Team WIV Sungod taking the victory. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Alec Briggs (Tekkerz CC) makes no secret of his desire to win the title and took a major step forward last year when he won the Newark GP. The Londoner has been in good form on the track in recent weeks and will look to leave his mark on an event he loves.
Keep an eye on…
There are plenty of riders from the Elite Development Teams who will have an eye on victory including Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield), a fast finisher who has hit a purple patch of form in recent weeks, George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) and Will Truelove (Thriva-SRCT).
Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC) enjoyed a brilliant 2022 season, taking one of many victories at the Colne GP, and dominated the Belgian kermesse scene last year during his fortnight there last September, taking four wins. With his form a mystery having only had two race days in the USA this year, a win would go some way to helping Scott back into the UCI ranks.
After Wednesday’s time trials, the National Road Championships juggernaut rolls onto Friday’s circuit races, with two jerseys up for grabs in the men’s and women’s circuit races on a flat and technical 1.3km course in Darlington.
The championships have a stellar list of winners including Chris Lawless, Tom Pidcock and Anna Henderson, riders often using the race as a a stepping stone to joining the professional ranks. Since 2021 the race has slotted in between the time trial and road race championships, attracting more WorldTour entrants, Ethan Hayter taking a memorable victory in the colours of the Ineos Grenadiers on a cold night in Lincoln three years ago from a star studded break.
With no National A circuit races prior to the championships, riders are in for a change of pace from the lengthy road races they’ve been used to; any advantage domestic based riders once enjoyed over their WorldTour counterparts in this race somewhat nullified by the calendar change. However, with the chance to wear the stripes during the upcoming National Circuit Series, riders on domestic teams will be eager to put in a performance.
Ahead of Friday’s races, The British Continental takes a look at who is likely to be in the mix to take the crowns.
Women’s Race
The 67 strong women’s field promises to produce a fascinating race, with a number of riders with proven track records returning to action, taking on riders who have been in excellent form this season.
The favourites
Defending champion Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC) returns for her first race outside of the velodrome this year, the 26-year-old world track champion with one eye fully on the Paris Olympic Games. With her form unknown, the likes of Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) will be looking to capitslise, the teenager already with two UCI wins to her name this season, her fearsome sprint a trump card should it come down to a bunch finish.
Maddie Leech (Lifeplus-Wahoo) kicked off her championships with second place defending her U23 time trial crown, as she added to her bronze from this event last year. In good form, she should be in the mix on Friday night.
Monica Greenwood may be at the other end of her career, but having joined Team Coop-Repsol over the winter is likely to be back in the mix on home roads, having shown her circuit racing prowess with a fine win in the Sheffield GP last year as well as a kermesse victory in Herentals.
The specialists
With races lasting under an hour on technical circuits at break neck speed, circuit races attract a number of specialist riders who excel in the discipline.
Emily Proud (Le Col RT) rose to prominence during last year’s National Circuit Series, taking a number of top ten finishes including a fine second place in Dudley, impressing with her raw power. The Banbury based rider hasn’t ridden in a competitive race this season and enters the championships as an unknown quantity. Isabel Darvill (Doltcini-O’Shea) may have taken 4th in the CiCLE Classic back in March, but has built a reputation as a fine criterium rider, impressing during the Tour Series in 2022 and reaching the podium in Ilkley and her home round of Newark in last year’s National Circuit Series. Amy Gornall (Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd) also falls into the camp of wily circuit racer who could thrive on the technical circuit.
Keep an eye on…
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) returned to racing following a nasty crash at the Ronde van Wymeswold last weekend, taking a stage win and the points classification, indication that the former Lincoln GP winner could feature at the sharp end. She is backed up by a strong team including Lucy Lee, who was in fine form at the Tour of Britain Women and took at podium in the Dudley GP last season.
Anna Kay (Cyclocross Reds) is an interesting entry, the cyclocross specialist at home in races lasting under an hour, having been racing on the road in Belgium recently. Charlotte Broughton (KDM-Pack Cycling Team) has been racing in Belgium with her new team this season after a difficult 2023 left her searching for a ride. She enters the championships with her form somewhat unknown, although a win in the Otley GP two years ago shows what she is capable of.
Corinne Side (Unattached) was the model of consistency as she took the overall title in last season’s National Circuit Series, although has only a solitary National B top ten to her name this season as she searches for form. Can the familiar surroundings of a circuit race kick start her year?
Men’s Race
With a full 70 riders field set to take the start in Darlington, the race looks set for a titanic tussle between teams at three very distinct levels. WorldTour outfit Groupama-FDJ enter three riders to take on standout British UCI Continental team Saint Piran, who have dominated racing in the UK for the past eighteen months. A host of Elite Development Teams and solo riders also take the start, hoping to cause an upset in a race that promises to be an agressive affair run at a flat out pace.
The favourites
UCI Continental outfit Saint Piran make the journey from Cornwall with no less than ten riders, led by defending champion Ollie Wood, who took victory last year with an incredible solo attack early in the race. Their line up includes a number of potential winners, including former silver medallist Harry Tanfield, Harry Birchill, and strong rouleurs Tyler Hannay and Dylan Hicks. With the strength in numbers the squad has, the race is likely to be aggressive as the men in black look to make their numerical advantage count.
Groupama-FDJ bring three riders from their WorldTour team, with Sam Watson, classics specialist Lewis Askey and sprinter Matt Walls leading the line for the French outfit, the trio backed up by Noah Hobbs and Ben Askey from their U23 Continental team. Lewis Askey formed part of a star studded break in Lincoln the first time the championships were held in the same week as the time trial and road race, while Watson was second in the 2022 championships, and expect the team to be agressive throughout as they seek to neutralise Saint Piran and set up one of Watson, Walls or Hobbs, should it come to a sprint finish.
Tim Shoreman took a surprise bronze medal last year and the Aberdeenshire rider heads a strong Wheelbase CabTech Castelli team who are looking to continue their outstanding circuit race form from 2023. Shoreman boasts an excellent turn of speed and has been in good form this season, winning the bunch sprint up Saltburn Bank for second in the East Cleveland Classic and he will be backed up by Tom Martin and Joseph and Jacob Smith, who will look to neutralise Saint Piran, as they did in aggressive fashion at the Lincoln GP.
The specialists
The Ribble Rebellion duo of Jim Brown and former champion Matt Bostock are in with an excellent chance of taking victory away from the big teams. With their team set up specifically to take on the criterium scene on both sides of the Atlantic, both riders have raced the Speedweek series in America this season, and have the speed and race craft to take the race to the likes of Groupama-FDJ and Saint Piran, with both riders staples of UCI teams in the past.
Ben Chilton (Team U Charente-Maritime) took overall victory in the National Circuit Series last year, battling hard against Wheelbase CabTech Castelli in a tense final round in Newark after a virtuoso solo win in Guildford set him up for the victory. He has been in excellent form in France this season and looks to have taken a step up. Does a national title beckon for the towering rider from Derby?
Alec Briggs (Tekkerz CC) makes no secret of his desire to win the title and took a major step forward last year when he won the Newark GP. The Londoner has been in good form on the track in recent weeks and will look to leave his mark on an event he loves.
Keep an eye on…
There are plenty of riders from the Elite Development Teams who will have an eye on victory including Jack Hartley (Cycling Sheffield), a fast finisher who has hit a purple patch of form in recent weeks, George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) and Will Truelove (Thriva-SRCT).
Rob Scott (Tekkerz CC) enjoyed a brilliant 2022 season, taking one of many victories at the Colne GP, and dominated the Belgian kermesse scene last year during his fortnight there last September, taking four wins. With his form a mystery having only had two race days in the USA this year, a win would go some way to helping Scott back into the UCI ranks.
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