Inside Scotland’s new stage race: the Mennock Pass
Scotland’s road racing calendar is set for a shake-up with the debut of the Mennock Pass Stage Race this June. Get the inside line on how this new event came to life.
We’ve already teased it. Now, the details are in. The Mennock Pass Stage Race promises to be the showpiece event of Scotland’s 2025 road racing calendar. More than that, it represents a bold leap forward for the sport north of the border. Organised by Torvelo Racing, the race will take place on 14th and 15th June in the stunning surroundings of Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway. As the first stage race ever to feature in the Alba Road Series, it marks a significant milestone for Scottish racing, offering a platform for domestic riders to test themselves against terrain as formidable as it is beautiful.
We recognised that a stage race is something that is a rare sight in Scotland and always proves popular with the local racers
Stage racing is a rarity in Scotland, and even more so in the modern road calendar. For Torvelo Racing, the decision to organise such an event was driven by a desire to deliver something distinctive and ambitious. “We have organised a number of highly successful one-day races in the past, both as standalone events and as part of the Scottish race series for both open and women categories,” explains Liam White, the lead organiser. “We wanted to take on a bigger challenge than we have done previously, and we recognised that a stage race is something that is a rare sight in Scotland and always proves popular with the local racers.”
The Mennock Pass Stage Race will also draw on its setting to create a truly memorable weekend of racing. “Bringing that format of racing into the Scottish Alba Series in a location which can attract both the usual Scottish talents as well as riders from North of England and further afield was a real driver for our choice of event. We are hopeful that the location itself will make for a genuinely epic race weekend.”
Image: supplied
The race will unfold over three stages across two days, beginning with a prologue time trial on Saturday morning. “The prologue TT features a short climb,” White shares. “Saturday afternoon’s stage will be a rolling road race.”
The event’s Queen Stage, taking place on Sunday, will feature “three laps and 136km of a demanding circuit passing through the town centre of Sanquhar, Wanlockhead as Scotland’s highest village, with a summit finish on the Mennock Pass itself.” The final climb is challenging but not especially steep, creating potential for tactical surprises. “It could potentially be favourable for a rouleur too—it depends on who turns up and how the race is ridden,” White adds.
The weekend will include prizes for general classification, stage wins, and intermediate sprints and KOMs.
We have never run an event of this scale before, so proving it is viable and sustainable is first and foremost
The format is packed with intrigue: a general classification, stage wins, intermediate prizes, and a team competition ensure there’s plenty to race for.
Alongside the open stage race, Torvelo will host a women’s one-day race on the Saturday, part of the Scotia Race Series. The race will use the same rolling circuit as Stage 1 of the open event.
This is uncharted territory for Torvelo Racing, but the team is determined to make the event a success. “We have never run an event of this scale before, so proving it is viable and sustainable is first and foremost. If we can achieve that with strong entry numbers, we have every intention of making this a regular feature and hopefully a true calendar highlight of those that want to race it,” White explains.
B797 in Mennock Pass.Image: Alan O’Dowd
The team’s long-term vision also includes growing women’s racing in Scotland. “We hope that we can add this [a women’s stage race] to the Scotia women’s race series calendar for 2026.”
We wanted to deliver an event that felt genuinely epic to race and something different from the usual flavour of Scottish road racing
As with any major event, challenges abound. “The race format itself took some work. We want to deliver an event that felt genuinely epic to race and something different from the usual flavour of Scottish road racing. The combination of a stage race format and using the Wanlockhead circuit as the highlight has involved a lot of work to get right for a National B level event.”
Support from Police Scotland has been crucial for overcoming logistical hurdles, particularly around Sanquhar town centre. Securing a headline sponsor will help mitigate financial pressures, but the hardest task may still lie ahead. “I think, like so many events, the biggest challenge is yet to come in the form of gathering the volunteers needed to make it happen.”
Image: Torvelo Bike Repair
The inclusion of the Mennock Pass Stage Race in the Alba Road Series is a an important moment for Scottish racing, a sign that the domestic scene continues to evolve despite the challenges facing organisers nationwide. The race offers a platform for Scotland’s best riders to shine, while also luring talent from the North of England and further afield.
We’re just a bunch of people that love racing bikes
For Torvelo Racing, it’s a labour of love. “We’re just a bunch of people that love racing bikes,” White says. “This is my first outing as the lead organiser, and I’m incredibly lucky to have a passionate team around me to make it happen.”
With its mix of stunning landscapes, a challenging summit finish, and a carefully planned format, the Mennock Pass Stage Race is set to be an exciting addition to the Scottish road racing calendar. For riders and organisers alike, the inaugural event in June 2025 will be an opportunity to test themselves and set the stage for what could become a key fixture in the domestic racing scene.
Featured image: Colin Kinnear. Morning mist at Wanlockhead.
We’ve already teased it. Now, the details are in. The Mennock Pass Stage Race promises to be the showpiece event of Scotland’s 2025 road racing calendar. More than that, it represents a bold leap forward for the sport north of the border. Organised by Torvelo Racing, the race will take place on 14th and 15th June in the stunning surroundings of Wanlockhead, Dumfries and Galloway. As the first stage race ever to feature in the Alba Road Series, it marks a significant milestone for Scottish racing, offering a platform for domestic riders to test themselves against terrain as formidable as it is beautiful.
Stage racing is a rarity in Scotland, and even more so in the modern road calendar. For Torvelo Racing, the decision to organise such an event was driven by a desire to deliver something distinctive and ambitious. “We have organised a number of highly successful one-day races in the past, both as standalone events and as part of the Scottish race series for both open and women categories,” explains Liam White, the lead organiser. “We wanted to take on a bigger challenge than we have done previously, and we recognised that a stage race is something that is a rare sight in Scotland and always proves popular with the local racers.”
The Mennock Pass Stage Race will also draw on its setting to create a truly memorable weekend of racing. “Bringing that format of racing into the Scottish Alba Series in a location which can attract both the usual Scottish talents as well as riders from North of England and further afield was a real driver for our choice of event. We are hopeful that the location itself will make for a genuinely epic race weekend.”
The race will unfold over three stages across two days, beginning with a prologue time trial on Saturday morning. “The prologue TT features a short climb,” White shares. “Saturday afternoon’s stage will be a rolling road race.”
The event’s Queen Stage, taking place on Sunday, will feature “three laps and 136km of a demanding circuit passing through the town centre of Sanquhar, Wanlockhead as Scotland’s highest village, with a summit finish on the Mennock Pass itself.” The final climb is challenging but not especially steep, creating potential for tactical surprises. “It could potentially be favourable for a rouleur too—it depends on who turns up and how the race is ridden,” White adds.
The weekend will include prizes for general classification, stage wins, and intermediate sprints and KOMs.
The format is packed with intrigue: a general classification, stage wins, intermediate prizes, and a team competition ensure there’s plenty to race for.
Alongside the open stage race, Torvelo will host a women’s one-day race on the Saturday, part of the Scotia Race Series. The race will use the same rolling circuit as Stage 1 of the open event.
This is uncharted territory for Torvelo Racing, but the team is determined to make the event a success. “We have never run an event of this scale before, so proving it is viable and sustainable is first and foremost. If we can achieve that with strong entry numbers, we have every intention of making this a regular feature and hopefully a true calendar highlight of those that want to race it,” White explains.
The team’s long-term vision also includes growing women’s racing in Scotland. “We hope that we can add this [a women’s stage race] to the Scotia women’s race series calendar for 2026.”
As with any major event, challenges abound. “The race format itself took some work. We want to deliver an event that felt genuinely epic to race and something different from the usual flavour of Scottish road racing. The combination of a stage race format and using the Wanlockhead circuit as the highlight has involved a lot of work to get right for a National B level event.”
Support from Police Scotland has been crucial for overcoming logistical hurdles, particularly around Sanquhar town centre. Securing a headline sponsor will help mitigate financial pressures, but the hardest task may still lie ahead. “I think, like so many events, the biggest challenge is yet to come in the form of gathering the volunteers needed to make it happen.”
The inclusion of the Mennock Pass Stage Race in the Alba Road Series is a an important moment for Scottish racing, a sign that the domestic scene continues to evolve despite the challenges facing organisers nationwide. The race offers a platform for Scotland’s best riders to shine, while also luring talent from the North of England and further afield.
For Torvelo Racing, it’s a labour of love. “We’re just a bunch of people that love racing bikes,” White says. “This is my first outing as the lead organiser, and I’m incredibly lucky to have a passionate team around me to make it happen.”
With its mix of stunning landscapes, a challenging summit finish, and a carefully planned format, the Mennock Pass Stage Race is set to be an exciting addition to the Scottish road racing calendar. For riders and organisers alike, the inaugural event in June 2025 will be an opportunity to test themselves and set the stage for what could become a key fixture in the domestic racing scene.
Featured image: Colin Kinnear. Morning mist at Wanlockhead.
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