The 2024 National Circuit Series begins this year with the Otley Grand Prix on Wednesday 26 June. This brief explainer tells you what it is and how it works.
What is it?
The premier circuit race series in the UK, held every summer over June and July, and organised by British Cycling.
What are the races?
The 2024 National Circuit Series programme offers an expanded set of races compared with 2023, with the series incorporating seven rounds for the open category, and seven for the women (last year there were seven and six respectively).
The popular Newark Town Centre Races sadly disappear, but that is offset by the addition of the Beverley Grand Prix. In a progressive move, the Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix now includes a women’s race too.
Both the open and women’s series will open in Otley, which always plays host to a magnificent evening of racing, at the end of June, while the Beverley Grand Prix will crown the Series winners on 26 July.
Open calendar
Date
Round
Race
26 Jun
1
The Rayner Foundation GP
28 Jun
2
Lister Horsfall Open Grand Prix
3 Jul
3
The Cycle Exchange Guildford Open Grand Prix
12 Jul
4
Dudley Grand Prix
17 Jul
5
Sheffield Grand Prix
23 Jul
6
Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix
26 Jul
7
Beverley Grand Prix
Women’s calendar
Date
Round
Race
26 Jun
1
The Santini Otley Women’s Grand Prix
28 Jun
2
Ilkley Cycling Club Women’s Grand Prix
3 Jul
3
The Parcours Guildford Women’s Grand Prix
12 Jul
4
Dudley Grand Prix
17 Jul
5
Sheffield Grand Prix
23 Jul
6
Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix
26 Jul
7
Beverley Grand Prix
Rider gridding
In a progressive move, UCI Continental riders will no longer have priority over elite riders when it comes to gridding. Instead, gridding will primarily be based on merit i.e. it will be determined by the Series rankings. Gridding matters because the further back riders are positioned the harder it can be to ever see the front of the race, particularly on tight, technical circuits.
Riders will be positioned on the grid at the start of each event, in the following order: i. Current National Circuit Race Champion ii. The previous winner of the event iii. National Series Leader (from round 2 onwards). iv. Riders ranked in the top 20 of the Series standings, in order from 2nd to 20th place (from round 2 onwards).
Scoring
The scoring system remains the same as last year, with the top 40 riders in each race all accruing points.
British Cycling National Circuit Series points shall be awarded for finishing positions as below:
Pos
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Pts
50
48
46
44
42
40
38
36
34
32
30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
Pos
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
Pts
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
For the individual classification, the overall winner of the series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across each series respectively.
Only teams starting a race with three or more riders will be considered for the team classification in that race. The team classification for each race will be determined by the finishing position of the three best-placed riders in each team only. The classification will be calculated based on the sum total of the finishing positions for the first three riders of each team. Points will be assigned as per the individual standings (see above). The team that accumulates the most points at the end of the Series shall win the overall team classification.
Read more
Our explainer on the National Road Series is here.
The British Cycling pages on the National Circuit Series can be found here. The open series regulations can be accessed here, while the women’s series regulations are here.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
The 2024 National Circuit Series begins this year with the Otley Grand Prix on Wednesday 26 June. This brief explainer tells you what it is and how it works.
What is it?
The premier circuit race series in the UK, held every summer over June and July, and organised by British Cycling.
What are the races?
The 2024 National Circuit Series programme offers an expanded set of races compared with 2023, with the series incorporating seven rounds for the open category, and seven for the women (last year there were seven and six respectively).
The popular Newark Town Centre Races sadly disappear, but that is offset by the addition of the Beverley Grand Prix. In a progressive move, the Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix now includes a women’s race too.
Both the open and women’s series will open in Otley, which always plays host to a magnificent evening of racing, at the end of June, while the Beverley Grand Prix will crown the Series winners on 26 July.
Open calendar
Women’s calendar
Rider gridding
In a progressive move, UCI Continental riders will no longer have priority over elite riders when it comes to gridding. Instead, gridding will primarily be based on merit i.e. it will be determined by the Series rankings. Gridding matters because the further back riders are positioned the harder it can be to ever see the front of the race, particularly on tight, technical circuits.
Riders will be positioned on the grid at the start of each event, in the following order:
i. Current National Circuit Race Champion
ii. The previous winner of the event
iii. National Series Leader (from round 2 onwards).
iv. Riders ranked in the top 20 of the Series standings, in order from 2nd to 20th place (from round 2 onwards).
Scoring
The scoring system remains the same as last year, with the top 40 riders in each race all accruing points.
British Cycling National Circuit Series points shall be awarded for finishing positions as below:
For the individual classification, the overall winner of the series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across each series respectively.
Only teams starting a race with three or more riders will be considered for the team classification in that race. The team classification for each race will be determined by the finishing position of the three best-placed riders in each team only. The classification will be calculated based on the sum total of the finishing positions for the first three riders of each team. Points will be assigned as per the individual standings (see above). The team that accumulates the most points at the end of the Series shall win the overall team classification.
Read more
Our explainer on the National Road Series is here.
The British Cycling pages on the National Circuit Series can be found here. The open series regulations can be accessed here, while the women’s series regulations are here.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
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