The National Road Championships reach their crescendo on Sunday as the nation’s best riders head to East Cleveland for the road races, four coveted jerseys up for grabs at the finish line atop the famous slopes of Saltburn Bank.
With the honour of wearing the jersey for the next twelve months, stacked fields are assembled for both the men’s and women’s races, with the U23 races being contested within them.
Last year’s championships were held on a similar circuit in blazing hot conditions, Fred Wright and Pfeiffer Georgi crowned champions on a brutal course with only a handful of finishers. This year’s circuit removes some of the climbing, making it almost identical to the one used in April’s East Cleveland Classic, a round of the National Road Series, where Saint Piran’s Rowan Baker took a stunning solo victory and will be hoping lightening can strike twice.
The races look to be a fascinating battle between the climbers and all-rounders, the question being if the course is tough enough for the pure climbers to make the difference, large bunches contesting the final ascent of Saltburn Bank in April’s dress rehearsal.
Who will claim victory on Sunday? The British Continental takes a look at the favourites, and some of the riders to watch out for on Sunday across the races.
Defending champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM-firmenich PostNL) heads the field with the number one dossard, the Londoner already twice champion at the age of only 23. Having enjoyed another strong classics campaign, including 4th at the Amstel Gold Race and a podium in Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Georgi demonstrated her form with a strong display at the Tour of Britain Women and is arguably the rider to beat in a strong field.
2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women – Stage 1: Welshpool to Llandudno, Wales – Pfeiffer Georgi of Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Former world road race champion Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) starts in pursuit of a fifth title, her last coming in 2017. There’s little the Yorkshire rider hasn’t won over her career; whether she still has the ability to win in a field with such depth at 35 is the question.
Claire Steels is another veteran with a shot at victory, the Movistar climber in good form following second place in Wednesday’s Time Trial. Second last year, the easier parcours won’t favour her, but there is still plenty of climbing for her to make the difference.
Time trial champion Anna Henderson (Visma-Lease A Bike) carries the form which saw her come close to overall victory in the Tour of Britain Women into this week, and should feature, having picked up a bronze medal last year. Behind her in 4th was Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility), the Olympic track champion, who showed her strength with third behind Henderson in a competitive time trial.
2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women – Stage 2: The Wrexham Stage, Wales – The leading pair of Anna Henderson of Great Britain National Team and Lotte Kopecky of Team SD Worx-Protime. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Lizzie Holden (UAE Team ADQ) recorded an 8th place finish last year, the former national time trial champion finishing one place behind Alex Morrice (Canyon//SRAM Racing). Guildford rider Morrice returned to racing in Wednesday’s time trial after two months out, and will be hoping to have found her race legs.
Elynor Backstedt (Lidl-Trek) is a rider still full of potential, the prodigious talent part of the Lidl-Trek squad for a number of years now. Alice Wood (Human Powered Health), the 2019 champion, will be hoping to go out on a high after she announced she will be retiring from the sport at the end of the season.
Continental and Elite Development Team Riders
Monica Greenwood made the move to Team Coop-Hitec Products over the winter, experiencing WorldTour classics for the first time in the Spring. At 35 she brings a wealth of experience, and a coach’s mindset to the race.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Circuit Race: Women – Darlington, County Durham, England – From left to right – Sophie Lewis of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK, Monica Greenwood of Team Coop-Repsol and Emma Jeffers of Liv AlUla Jayco. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting teams have both been at the forefront of women’s cycling in the UK for a number of years now, and bring strong squads eager to impress against WorldTour opposition. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK include Lucy Lee, who impressed to hold off the peloton with an audacious attack on stage 1 of the recent Tour of Britain Women, Tammy Miller, who took stage and GC honours at the Ronde van Wymeswold, and Lancaster GP winner Ruth Shier. Pro-Noctis include climber Lizi Brooke who rode an impressive race last year, as well as National Road Series leader Lucy Harris, who made an assured debut for the team at the Tour of Britain Women.
U23 outlook
Such is the strength of young riders in Britain today, a number of riders eligible for the U23 title will also be in contention for the elite crown. Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) stormed to victory in the circuit race and the 19-year-old sprinter will look to power away up Saltburn Bank should a group arrive together. U23 Time Trial champion Josie Nelson has had a good season thus far, including a stage win in the Tour of Normandie.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Individual Time Trial Championships – U23 Women – Catterick, North Yorkshire – Josie Nelson, Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Alice Towers (CANYON//SRAM) won the overall title two years ago as a 19-year-old and will look to repeat her success, the course suiting her capabilities in the hillier one-day races, a top ten in the WorldTour ranked Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race back in January her best result of the season.
Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck) is in her first season as a WorldTour rider, having impressed with a series of solid rides in the Ardennes Classics. The 20-year-old has the chance to be towards the sharp end of the race on similar terrain. Grace Lister (Hess Cycling Team) is another young rider with a lot of potential, having shown well in Belgian kermesses and the Lincoln GP last year, while Maddie Leech leads the charge for Lifeplus-Wahoo.
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) is perhaps the domestic rider in the best position to bring home the U23 title, having come back strongly from a nasty crash in Belgium last month to win a stage and the points classification at the Ronde van Wymeswold. Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) was second at both the CiCLE Classic and, crucially, the East Cleveland Classic earlier this season, seeing her take the lead in the National Road Series and cement her status as a contender at least for the U23 prize on Sunday.
2024 East Cleveland Classic – Redcar and Cleveland and Saltburn by the Sea – Robyn Clay of DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK climbs Saltburn Bank. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Lotty Dawson (Brother UK-On Form) is among the young domestic based riders looking to impress, second behind Clay in an uphill sprint last weekend, a demonstration of her capabilities.
Men’s Race
Potentially the strongest ever field to contest the men’s road race will assemble on Sunday afternoon, the eventual winner a worthy one with a host of WorldTour and Pro team riders being joined by the best domestic and amateur riders from the country, all desperate to make their mark on the big stage.
Last year’s race was dominated by the WorldTour riders, and although the modified course should nullify their raw power to some extent, the professionals are hot favourites to take the crown.
The WorldTour and ProTeam contingent
With defending champion Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) hinting on Instagram he is unlikely to take the start, the race looks a wide open affair with a host of talent looking to make the iconic jersey their own. It paves the way for Welshman Stevie Williams (Israel-PremierTech) to start as favourite, last year’s bronze medallist overcoming his injury troubles to enjoy an outstanding 2024, winning a rain soaked Fleche Wallonne and the Tour Down Under back in January. The course doesn’t suit him as much as last year, but there is enough climbing, particularly on the double digit gradients of Saltburn Bank, for Williams to find an advantage.
2024 Fleche Wallone – Stephen Williams, Israel Premier Tech, wins the 2024 Fleche Wallone. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Israel-PremierTech have another outstanding favourite in their ranks in Joe Blackmore, still eligible for the U23 title. Blackmore stepped up from the development team after an incredible start to the season, winning the Tour of Rwanda, Circuit des Ardennes, the Tour of Taiwan, Liege-Bastonge-Liege Espoirs and finishing 4th in the 1.Pro Brabantse Pijl. The former Mountain biker’s rise has been rapid, and the National road title is within his reach.
Both riders have teammates in Mason Hollyman and Jake Stewart, the latter having his classics campaign ravished by injury, with both likely to play a crucial supporting role.
Another climber likely to feature is James Knox (Soudal-Quick Step), who was second last year. More at home in the mountains, the Cumbrian may lack the punch needed on the course this year. Fellow Cumbrian Mark Donovan (Q36.5) went on the attack early last year and the climber, who has flourished in Doug Ryder’s outfit, will suit a more tactical affair this year.
Ineos Grenadiers have dominated previous editions of the championships, although they haven’t claimed victory since 2021, when Ben Swift successfully defended his title. The WorldTour powerhouse enters seven riders on a course that should suit Ethan Hayter perfectly, while Connor and Ben Swift will have their eye on another title.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Road Championships – Circuit Race: Open – Darlington, County Durham, England – The Leading trio, Sam Watson, Rob Scott and Lewis Askey. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Sam Watson has won the last two U23 championships, and now a senior will be looking to add that title to his collection. A rouleur with a fast finish, the course suits him. He will be amply backed up by Lewis Askey, who led a dominant Groupama-FDJ display in the circuit race with a stunning solo win. The Cannock classics specialist impressed during the Spring, and the Giro D’Italia has clearly done his legs no harm.
Sean Flynn (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has proven he can climb and sprint with the best this year, the all-rounder impressing with a second place on a stage of the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, outsprinting the likes of Benoît Cosnefroy in the finale. Another young talent is Visma-Lease A Bike’s Ben Tullett, a climber with the potential to tear the race apart.
James Shaw (EF Education-Easy Post) is no stranger to Saltburn Bank, having raced extensively in Britain as he aimed to regain his place in the WorldTour. An excellent climber with all round ability, GC specialist Shaw has every chance of being able to move with the strongest riders, as he demonstrated following Tadej Pogscar to 5th at the 2021 Tour of Slovenia in the colours of Ribble Weldtite.
Continental and Elite Development Team Riders
There are a host of riders from the sport’s third and amateur tiers who will be dreaming of glory, and looking for a chance to impress on Sunday, the televised race a rare chance to show the world what they’re capable of.
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 12/05/2024 – Cycling – British Cycling Open National Road Series 2024 – Rapha Men’s Lincoln Grand Prix – Alex Richardson of Saint Piran climbs Michaelgate
Alex Richardson is no stranger to the professional ranks, having spent two years as a teammate of Mathieu van der Poel, and he leads a thirteen strong Saint Piran line up in what is likely to be his last championship. A former bronze medallist, Richardson heads into the race with mixed form, a number of National B wins overshadowed by disqualification on his last two outings and his unforgettable premature celebration at the Lincoln GP.
The Cornish squad also have East Cleveland GP winner Rowan Baker – a contender for the U23 title – in their ranks, although consider him a marked man this time around after his solo escape led to victory in April, and third place that day James McKay.
Max Walker (Astana Qazaqstan Development) put in an excellent performance in Wednesday’s time trial, a sign his form is exactly where it needs to be as he looks to step into the pro ranks. The rouleur posted an excellent 2nd overall in the ZLM Tour earlier in the season.
Picture by Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com – 17/09/2023 – Cycling – British Cycling Men’s National Road Series Round 4 – 2023 Beaumont Trophy – Stamfordham, Northumberland, England – Max Walker of Trinity Racing Team
Max Stedman (BEYKOZ BELEDIYE SPOR TURKIYE) has been on the verge of a professional contract for a number of years now, the pure climber having previously courted Visma-Lease A Bike with his ability uphill, winning a number of UCI races. He will find the steep gradients of Saltburn Bank to his liking, although would have preferred the course to have remained unchanged
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have proved to be the Elite Development Team to beat over the past two seasons and they will be led by Scot Tim Shoreman, who was 4th in the circuit race on Friday and, crucially, second in the East Cleveland GP, winning a bunch sprint on the slopes of Saltburn Bank. With a squad containing climbers Tom Martin and Tom Armstrong, the team should stand out for more than just their bright green jerseys.
Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) is something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a WorldTour rider disguised as a privateer, his fairytale return to road racing at the Lincoln GP proving he still has what it takes to race at the highest level. Motivated and enjoying the sport, Saltburn Bank is an effort made for the Lancastrian, and he could well spring a surprise for his sponsors.
2024 Rapha Men’s Lincoln Grand Prix – Matthew Holmes wins The Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) has been in good form of late, finishing second to Holmes in the Lincoln GP and taking a commanding victory in the East Midlands Road Race Championships. 6th on GC at the Tour de Beauce in Canada on his latest outing suggests he is climbing well and his form is holding.
As always, a number of domestic based riders will be hoping to light up the race, Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons Trek-DAS) sure to go on the attack as he did last year, and in April’s East Cleveland GP. George Kimber‘s (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) never say die attitude led him to 4th place at the Lincoln GP, while Will Truelove and Tom Williams are having impressive seasons for Thriva-SRCT. Cycling Sheffield have hit a purple patch of form, David Hird, 6th in the Lincoln GP leads the line for Dave Coulson’s outfit, with Jack and James Hartley both taking National B wins recently.
U23 Outlook
There are a vast number of riders in contention for the U23 title, and to a greater extent than in the women’s race, we could see a race within a race, with the championship decided further down the field. With Joe Blackmore the outstanding favourite, who can challenge him?
Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) has risen to the status of one of the best time trialists in the world in just his second season as a professional, the National and European champion now looking towards the classics. A disappointing spring brought around a lot of lessons, and the U23 title would fill the Welshman with confidence as he develops into an all-round racer.
Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-Easy Post) has had an impressive start to his neo-pro season, finishing 4th in Eschborn-Frankfurt after a strong two years with Trinity Racing. The 20-year-old is a good climber and will look to attack the steeper slopes on the course. Finlay Pickering (Bahrain-Victorious) is another WorldTour neo-pro of Trinity alumni and also a gifted climber, 20th in the Tour de Suisse this month a sign not only of his natural ability but strong form.
Picture Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com – 19/06/2024 – Road Cycling – British Cycling 2024 Lloyds Bank National Individual Time Trial Championships – Elite and U23 Men – Catterick, North Yorkshire – Podium U23 – Tomos Pattinson, winner, Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development, Ben Wiggins, Hagens Berman Jayco CT and Groupama-FDJ La Conti’s Joshua Golliker
Away from the WorldTour, a host of riders on development teams will be vying for the title, chief amongst them Matty Brennan (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development), the first year U23 sprinter kicking off his debut season with the team with a number of impressive wins. He will be joined by teammates Tomos Pattinson, who won the U23 time trial on Wednesday at only 18, and Jed Smithson.
Noah Hobbs (Groupama-FDJ La Conti) is a rider in a similar mould to Brennan, a natural classics rider who has been at the sharp end of races like U23 Gent-Wevelgem and will be hoping for a sprint up Saltburn Bank. Teammate Josh Golliker is another handy climber and gives the team multiple options to attack the race.
Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco) is a strong classics rider, the first year U23 suited to the course, having put in a good performance to take second in Wednesday’s time trial. Josh Giddings (Lotto-Dstny Development) will make the step up to the professional ranks with the senior team following a good start to the season in Belgium, allowing him to slot into the ProTeam when needed. Oliver Stockwell (CTF Victorious) will be hoping to make the move himself, having produced some eye catching performances since joining the Bahrain-Victorious feeder team. A specialist in hilly races, he showed good form in the Ronde de l’Isard back in May, finishing 5th in an outstanding U23 field.
2024 Lloyds Bank National Individual Time Trial Championships – Elite and U23 Men – Catterick, North Yorkshire – Joshua Giddings of Lotto Dstny Development Team. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Bob Donaldson leads a strong Trinity Racing team, the 22-year-old sprinter catching the eye of the Ineos Grenadiers with some impressive performances such as 2nd at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs this year. Should he struggle over the hilly terrain, Trinity have a host of options, including Joe Pidcock and Josh Charlton, their track record of identifying talent speaking for itself.
Outside of the UCI teams, a number of riders head to Saltburn from France, the highly competitive amateur scene there a traditional route to the pro ranks. Adam Mitchell (Vendee U Pays de la Loire) had a standout season in 2023 winning a number of races, and will be hoping to feature on Sunday. AVC Aix-en-Provence bring four riders, including fast finishing Louis Sutton and last season’s breakthrough rider from the domestic scene Joe Brookes, who has experienced somewhat a baptism of fire so far.
Dexter Leeming-Sykes and Ben Chilton (Team U Charente-Maritime) have had strong debut seasons so far, as has CC Etupes rider Bjoern Koerdt, the trio hoping they return to the UK stronger riders than twelve months ago.
The National Road Championships reach their crescendo on Sunday as the nation’s best riders head to East Cleveland for the road races, four coveted jerseys up for grabs at the finish line atop the famous slopes of Saltburn Bank.
With the honour of wearing the jersey for the next twelve months, stacked fields are assembled for both the men’s and women’s races, with the U23 races being contested within them.
Last year’s championships were held on a similar circuit in blazing hot conditions, Fred Wright and Pfeiffer Georgi crowned champions on a brutal course with only a handful of finishers. This year’s circuit removes some of the climbing, making it almost identical to the one used in April’s East Cleveland Classic, a round of the National Road Series, where Saint Piran’s Rowan Baker took a stunning solo victory and will be hoping lightening can strike twice.
The races look to be a fascinating battle between the climbers and all-rounders, the question being if the course is tough enough for the pure climbers to make the difference, large bunches contesting the final ascent of Saltburn Bank in April’s dress rehearsal.
Who will claim victory on Sunday? The British Continental takes a look at the favourites, and some of the riders to watch out for on Sunday across the races.
Featured image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Women’s Race
The WorldTour contingent
Defending champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team DSM-firmenich PostNL) heads the field with the number one dossard, the Londoner already twice champion at the age of only 23. Having enjoyed another strong classics campaign, including 4th at the Amstel Gold Race and a podium in Paris-Roubaix Femmes, Georgi demonstrated her form with a strong display at the Tour of Britain Women and is arguably the rider to beat in a strong field.
Former world road race champion Lizzie Deignan (Lidl-Trek) starts in pursuit of a fifth title, her last coming in 2017. There’s little the Yorkshire rider hasn’t won over her career; whether she still has the ability to win in a field with such depth at 35 is the question.
Claire Steels is another veteran with a shot at victory, the Movistar climber in good form following second place in Wednesday’s Time Trial. Second last year, the easier parcours won’t favour her, but there is still plenty of climbing for her to make the difference.
Time trial champion Anna Henderson (Visma-Lease A Bike) carries the form which saw her come close to overall victory in the Tour of Britain Women into this week, and should feature, having picked up a bronze medal last year. Behind her in 4th was Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility), the Olympic track champion, who showed her strength with third behind Henderson in a competitive time trial.
Lizzie Holden (UAE Team ADQ) recorded an 8th place finish last year, the former national time trial champion finishing one place behind Alex Morrice (Canyon//SRAM Racing). Guildford rider Morrice returned to racing in Wednesday’s time trial after two months out, and will be hoping to have found her race legs.
Elynor Backstedt (Lidl-Trek) is a rider still full of potential, the prodigious talent part of the Lidl-Trek squad for a number of years now. Alice Wood (Human Powered Health), the 2019 champion, will be hoping to go out on a high after she announced she will be retiring from the sport at the end of the season.
Continental and Elite Development Team Riders
Monica Greenwood made the move to Team Coop-Hitec Products over the winter, experiencing WorldTour classics for the first time in the Spring. At 35 she brings a wealth of experience, and a coach’s mindset to the race.
The DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK and Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting teams have both been at the forefront of women’s cycling in the UK for a number of years now, and bring strong squads eager to impress against WorldTour opposition. DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK include Lucy Lee, who impressed to hold off the peloton with an audacious attack on stage 1 of the recent Tour of Britain Women, Tammy Miller, who took stage and GC honours at the Ronde van Wymeswold, and Lancaster GP winner Ruth Shier. Pro-Noctis include climber Lizi Brooke who rode an impressive race last year, as well as National Road Series leader Lucy Harris, who made an assured debut for the team at the Tour of Britain Women.
U23 outlook
Such is the strength of young riders in Britain today, a number of riders eligible for the U23 title will also be in contention for the elite crown. Emma Jeffers (Liv AlUla Jayco) stormed to victory in the circuit race and the 19-year-old sprinter will look to power away up Saltburn Bank should a group arrive together. U23 Time Trial champion Josie Nelson has had a good season thus far, including a stage win in the Tour of Normandie.
Alice Towers (CANYON//SRAM) won the overall title two years ago as a 19-year-old and will look to repeat her success, the course suiting her capabilities in the hillier one-day races, a top ten in the WorldTour ranked Deakin University Elite Women’s Road Race back in January her best result of the season.
Flora Perkins (Fenix-Deceuninck) is in her first season as a WorldTour rider, having impressed with a series of solid rides in the Ardennes Classics. The 20-year-old has the chance to be towards the sharp end of the race on similar terrain. Grace Lister (Hess Cycling Team) is another young rider with a lot of potential, having shown well in Belgian kermesses and the Lincoln GP last year, while Maddie Leech leads the charge for Lifeplus-Wahoo.
Robyn Clay (DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK) is perhaps the domestic rider in the best position to bring home the U23 title, having come back strongly from a nasty crash in Belgium last month to win a stage and the points classification at the Ronde van Wymeswold. Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) was second at both the CiCLE Classic and, crucially, the East Cleveland Classic earlier this season, seeing her take the lead in the National Road Series and cement her status as a contender at least for the U23 prize on Sunday.
Lotty Dawson (Brother UK-On Form) is among the young domestic based riders looking to impress, second behind Clay in an uphill sprint last weekend, a demonstration of her capabilities.
Men’s Race
Potentially the strongest ever field to contest the men’s road race will assemble on Sunday afternoon, the eventual winner a worthy one with a host of WorldTour and Pro team riders being joined by the best domestic and amateur riders from the country, all desperate to make their mark on the big stage.
Last year’s race was dominated by the WorldTour riders, and although the modified course should nullify their raw power to some extent, the professionals are hot favourites to take the crown.
The WorldTour and ProTeam contingent
With defending champion Fred Wright (Bahrain-Victorious) hinting on Instagram he is unlikely to take the start, the race looks a wide open affair with a host of talent looking to make the iconic jersey their own. It paves the way for Welshman Stevie Williams (Israel-PremierTech) to start as favourite, last year’s bronze medallist overcoming his injury troubles to enjoy an outstanding 2024, winning a rain soaked Fleche Wallonne and the Tour Down Under back in January. The course doesn’t suit him as much as last year, but there is enough climbing, particularly on the double digit gradients of Saltburn Bank, for Williams to find an advantage.
Israel-PremierTech have another outstanding favourite in their ranks in Joe Blackmore, still eligible for the U23 title. Blackmore stepped up from the development team after an incredible start to the season, winning the Tour of Rwanda, Circuit des Ardennes, the Tour of Taiwan, Liege-Bastonge-Liege Espoirs and finishing 4th in the 1.Pro Brabantse Pijl. The former Mountain biker’s rise has been rapid, and the National road title is within his reach.
Both riders have teammates in Mason Hollyman and Jake Stewart, the latter having his classics campaign ravished by injury, with both likely to play a crucial supporting role.
Another climber likely to feature is James Knox (Soudal-Quick Step), who was second last year. More at home in the mountains, the Cumbrian may lack the punch needed on the course this year. Fellow Cumbrian Mark Donovan (Q36.5) went on the attack early last year and the climber, who has flourished in Doug Ryder’s outfit, will suit a more tactical affair this year.
Ineos Grenadiers have dominated previous editions of the championships, although they haven’t claimed victory since 2021, when Ben Swift successfully defended his title. The WorldTour powerhouse enters seven riders on a course that should suit Ethan Hayter perfectly, while Connor and Ben Swift will have their eye on another title.
Sam Watson has won the last two U23 championships, and now a senior will be looking to add that title to his collection. A rouleur with a fast finish, the course suits him. He will be amply backed up by Lewis Askey, who led a dominant Groupama-FDJ display in the circuit race with a stunning solo win. The Cannock classics specialist impressed during the Spring, and the Giro D’Italia has clearly done his legs no harm.
Sean Flynn (Team DSM-Firmenich PostNL) has proven he can climb and sprint with the best this year, the all-rounder impressing with a second place on a stage of the Tour des Alpes-Maritimes, outsprinting the likes of Benoît Cosnefroy in the finale. Another young talent is Visma-Lease A Bike’s Ben Tullett, a climber with the potential to tear the race apart.
James Shaw (EF Education-Easy Post) is no stranger to Saltburn Bank, having raced extensively in Britain as he aimed to regain his place in the WorldTour. An excellent climber with all round ability, GC specialist Shaw has every chance of being able to move with the strongest riders, as he demonstrated following Tadej Pogscar to 5th at the 2021 Tour of Slovenia in the colours of Ribble Weldtite.
Continental and Elite Development Team Riders
There are a host of riders from the sport’s third and amateur tiers who will be dreaming of glory, and looking for a chance to impress on Sunday, the televised race a rare chance to show the world what they’re capable of.
Alex Richardson is no stranger to the professional ranks, having spent two years as a teammate of Mathieu van der Poel, and he leads a thirteen strong Saint Piran line up in what is likely to be his last championship. A former bronze medallist, Richardson heads into the race with mixed form, a number of National B wins overshadowed by disqualification on his last two outings and his unforgettable premature celebration at the Lincoln GP.
The Cornish squad also have East Cleveland GP winner Rowan Baker – a contender for the U23 title – in their ranks, although consider him a marked man this time around after his solo escape led to victory in April, and third place that day James McKay.
Max Walker (Astana Qazaqstan Development) put in an excellent performance in Wednesday’s time trial, a sign his form is exactly where it needs to be as he looks to step into the pro ranks. The rouleur posted an excellent 2nd overall in the ZLM Tour earlier in the season.
Max Stedman (BEYKOZ BELEDIYE SPOR TURKIYE) has been on the verge of a professional contract for a number of years now, the pure climber having previously courted Visma-Lease A Bike with his ability uphill, winning a number of UCI races. He will find the steep gradients of Saltburn Bank to his liking, although would have preferred the course to have remained unchanged
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli have proved to be the Elite Development Team to beat over the past two seasons and they will be led by Scot Tim Shoreman, who was 4th in the circuit race on Friday and, crucially, second in the East Cleveland GP, winning a bunch sprint on the slopes of Saltburn Bank. With a squad containing climbers Tom Martin and Tom Armstrong, the team should stand out for more than just their bright green jerseys.
Matt Holmes (One Good Thing Orientation Marketing) is something of a wolf in sheep’s clothing, a WorldTour rider disguised as a privateer, his fairytale return to road racing at the Lincoln GP proving he still has what it takes to race at the highest level. Motivated and enjoying the sport, Saltburn Bank is an effort made for the Lancastrian, and he could well spring a surprise for his sponsors.
Adam Lewis (Team Skyline) has been in good form of late, finishing second to Holmes in the Lincoln GP and taking a commanding victory in the East Midlands Road Race Championships. 6th on GC at the Tour de Beauce in Canada on his latest outing suggests he is climbing well and his form is holding.
As always, a number of domestic based riders will be hoping to light up the race, Conor McGoldrick (Richardsons Trek-DAS) sure to go on the attack as he did last year, and in April’s East Cleveland GP. George Kimber‘s (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) never say die attitude led him to 4th place at the Lincoln GP, while Will Truelove and Tom Williams are having impressive seasons for Thriva-SRCT. Cycling Sheffield have hit a purple patch of form, David Hird, 6th in the Lincoln GP leads the line for Dave Coulson’s outfit, with Jack and James Hartley both taking National B wins recently.
U23 Outlook
There are a vast number of riders in contention for the U23 title, and to a greater extent than in the women’s race, we could see a race within a race, with the championship decided further down the field. With Joe Blackmore the outstanding favourite, who can challenge him?
Josh Tarling (Ineos Grenadiers) has risen to the status of one of the best time trialists in the world in just his second season as a professional, the National and European champion now looking towards the classics. A disappointing spring brought around a lot of lessons, and the U23 title would fill the Welshman with confidence as he develops into an all-round racer.
Lukas Nerurkar (EF Education-Easy Post) has had an impressive start to his neo-pro season, finishing 4th in Eschborn-Frankfurt after a strong two years with Trinity Racing. The 20-year-old is a good climber and will look to attack the steeper slopes on the course. Finlay Pickering (Bahrain-Victorious) is another WorldTour neo-pro of Trinity alumni and also a gifted climber, 20th in the Tour de Suisse this month a sign not only of his natural ability but strong form.
Away from the WorldTour, a host of riders on development teams will be vying for the title, chief amongst them Matty Brennan (Team Visma-Lease a Bike Development), the first year U23 sprinter kicking off his debut season with the team with a number of impressive wins. He will be joined by teammates Tomos Pattinson, who won the U23 time trial on Wednesday at only 18, and Jed Smithson.
Noah Hobbs (Groupama-FDJ La Conti) is a rider in a similar mould to Brennan, a natural classics rider who has been at the sharp end of races like U23 Gent-Wevelgem and will be hoping for a sprint up Saltburn Bank. Teammate Josh Golliker is another handy climber and gives the team multiple options to attack the race.
Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco) is a strong classics rider, the first year U23 suited to the course, having put in a good performance to take second in Wednesday’s time trial. Josh Giddings (Lotto-Dstny Development) will make the step up to the professional ranks with the senior team following a good start to the season in Belgium, allowing him to slot into the ProTeam when needed. Oliver Stockwell (CTF Victorious) will be hoping to make the move himself, having produced some eye catching performances since joining the Bahrain-Victorious feeder team. A specialist in hilly races, he showed good form in the Ronde de l’Isard back in May, finishing 5th in an outstanding U23 field.
Bob Donaldson leads a strong Trinity Racing team, the 22-year-old sprinter catching the eye of the Ineos Grenadiers with some impressive performances such as 2nd at Paris-Roubaix Espoirs this year. Should he struggle over the hilly terrain, Trinity have a host of options, including Joe Pidcock and Josh Charlton, their track record of identifying talent speaking for itself.
Outside of the UCI teams, a number of riders head to Saltburn from France, the highly competitive amateur scene there a traditional route to the pro ranks. Adam Mitchell (Vendee U Pays de la Loire) had a standout season in 2023 winning a number of races, and will be hoping to feature on Sunday. AVC Aix-en-Provence bring four riders, including fast finishing Louis Sutton and last season’s breakthrough rider from the domestic scene Joe Brookes, who has experienced somewhat a baptism of fire so far.
Dexter Leeming-Sykes and Ben Chilton (Team U Charente-Maritime) have had strong debut seasons so far, as has CC Etupes rider Bjoern Koerdt, the trio hoping they return to the UK stronger riders than twelve months ago.
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