Elite road racing is back with ANEXO/CAMS 9th Women’s CiCLE Classic on 23 March, which forms Round 1 of the women’s National Road Series. But what is the National Road Series, why does it matter and how does it work?
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What is the National Road Series?
The premier road racing series in the UK for men and women, the National Road Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. This year, it features seven confirmed rounds for women and six for the ‘open’ category.. The races attract the top domestic teams, including British UCI Continental squads and Elite Development Teams, ensuring a high standard of competition.
The series includes individual and team competitions for both men and women, as well as a dedicated under-23 classification with prize money attached. The overall winners in each category are crowned after the final round, cementing their status as the top performers in the domestic scene.
The application of the term ‘national’ may raise eyebrows, given the series bypasses Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland entirely. However, the inclusion of a South West England round this year adds a degree of balance compared with previous editions. Nevertheless, the series undeniably serves as the pinnacle of British domestic road racing, attracting the strongest cyclists and teams from across the UK.
Beyond prestige, the National Road Series is arguably a critical development platform for Britain’s rising talents. Many past winners have used success in the series as a springboard to pro contracts, including Matt Holmes, Zeb Kyffin, Abi Smith, and Jacob Scott. Its demanding race formats and elite-level competition make it an important proving ground for ambitious riders looking to break into professional racing.
2024 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Why is the Series important?
The only structured road race series in the UK featuring Britain’s top domestic Continental and Elite Development Teams, the National Road Series determines the best road racing performers in the country. The individual, team, and under-23 winners claim bragging rights as the UK’s top road racing talent.
With just one UCI road race in the UK that elite-level teams can enter (the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic), the National Road Series represents the highest level of domestic road racing available to British teams without racing abroad (elite teams are eligible for .2 class races).
The cornerstone of domestic road racing, the series is pivotal for the development of emerging and seasoned riders alike. The Series is more than just a collection of races – it’s a pathway for growth, competition, and progression. It serves as a bridge between domestic and international competition while acting as a stepping stone from National B road racing. As such, it remains an indispensable pillar of the UK’s cycling landscape.
What are the races?
‘Open’ calendar
The Open National Road Series will include six one-day races this year, which is more than the five rounds that ultimately took place in 2024, but it still misses an all-important stage race.
Date
Round
Race
13 April
1
East Cleveland Classic
11 May
2
Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix
22 Jun
3
Tour of the Reservoir
27 July
4
Witheridge Grand Prix
17 August
5
Beaumont Trophy
31 August
6
Wentworth Woodhouse GP
Key Changes:
The Witheridge Grand Prix is a new addition, expanding the series into a previously underrepresented region. Its end of July date sits where the Lancaster Grand Prix was last year.
The Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix effectively replaces the Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix, which came to an end in 2024.
The Tour of Reservoir makes a welcome return to the calendar after a hiatus since 2019.
The Beaumont Trophy moves to a mid-August date from the mid-September date it had in recent years.
The Lancaster Grand Prix, a race that has gained prominence in recent years, will not run this year but organisers are hopeful for a return in 2026.
Women’s National Road Series Calendar
The Women’s National Road Series will feature seven races, continuing its growth from five rounds in 2023 to six in 2024.
Date
Round
Race
23 March
1
ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic
13 April
2
East Cleveland Classic
11 May
3
Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix
22 Jun
4
Tour of the Reservoir
27 July
5
Witheridge Grand Prix
17 August
6
Curlew Cup
31 August
7
Wentworth Woodhouse GP
Key Changes:
Changes mirror those of the open Series.
History
2025 is the National Road Series’ sixth year since it began in 2019 (it was not held in 2020 because of the Covid lockdowns), but there have long been previous incarnations of this top-tier domestic road race series.
The first domestic men’s road race series was called The Star Trophy, which began in the 1950s. It was renamed The Premier Calendar in 1993. Many people still refer to the national series as The Premier Calendar and call National A road races ‘Prems’. In recent years, from 2014, the men’s series was known as the Elite Road Series consisting of two competitions: a Spring Cup series in the first part of the year and a Grand Prix series in the latter half. Previous winners of these series include Scott Thwaites, Russell Downing, Malcolm Elliot, Chris Newton, Paul Curran, Steve Joughin and Paul Sherwen.
2024 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
There has been a national women’s road race series since at least 1981, when it was called the Jo Bruton Trophy. Previous winners include Sophie Wright, Lizzy Banks, Nicola Juniper, Hannah Barnes, Dame Sarah Storey, Joanna Rowsell, Lisa Brambani, Rebecca Durrell and Abi Smith.
Last year, George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) won the individual open National Road Series, the first non-UCI Continental rider in the open category to win the individual Series accolade, while Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) took the women’s prize, becoming the first rider to win both the National Road Series and the National Circuit Series in the same year.
Year
Men’s Series individual winner
Women’s Series individual winner
2019
Matt Holmes (Madison Genesis)
Rebecca Durrell (Brother UK – Tifosi p/b OnForm)
2021
Jacob Scott (Canyon dhb SunGod)
Abi Smith (Team Breeze)
2022
Rob Scott (WiV SunGod)
Sammie Stuart (CAMS-Basso)
2023
Zeb Kyffin (Saint Piran)
Monica Greenwood (DAS-Handsling)
2024
George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling)
Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team)
Scoring
The points system changed in 2023. In previous seasons, points were awarded to the top 20 riders, whereas this year, the top 40 riders in each race all accrue points.
The new system was designed to favour smaller teams, who can now pick points even for minor placing, and to encourage fight for places right down to 40th place in each race.
Individual classification points for the first 40 places in each single day road race:
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
Only those riders completing the full race distance will be awarded series points. If riders are black flagged due to being outside the time limit they will not receive series points.
The overall winner of the Series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across the Series with all rounds to count. The highest placed U23 rider in the final overall standings will be given the title of U23 series winner.
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.
2024 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
Teams
Three important team rules to note:
The first is that “British UCI Continental Teams are expected to be present at every round of the National Road Series event with a minimum of four riders and up to a maximum of eight.” For some reason, this rule only applies in the Open category. The regulations do not make a similar requirement for women’s UCI Continental teams. It is not clear what penalty, if any, there is for non-compliance.
The second is that “Elite Development Teams are required to ride at least 80% of rounds with a minimum of four riders.” Again, it’s not clear what the penalty is for non-compliance.
The third, new for 2024 and one that only applied to the Open category: “Teams with the same management structure may not compete in the same race”. This rule was introduced in 2024, effectively banning the new USKIS Saint Piran development team from competing alongside the Saint Piran UCI Continental team (or vice versa) in National Road Series events, ultimately leading to the former team being disbanded. It applies to the Open category.
Read more
The full set of regulations for the Open Series can be found here. The women’s regs are here.
The British Cycling pages on the National Road Series, for men and women, can be found here.
Elite road racing is back with ANEXO/CAMS 9th Women’s CiCLE Classic on 23 March, which forms Round 1 of the women’s National Road Series. But what is the National Road Series, why does it matter and how does it work?
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What is the National Road Series?
The premier road racing series in the UK for men and women, the National Road Series is a season-long competition run by British Cycling. This year, it features seven confirmed rounds for women and six for the ‘open’ category.. The races attract the top domestic teams, including British UCI Continental squads and Elite Development Teams, ensuring a high standard of competition.
The series includes individual and team competitions for both men and women, as well as a dedicated under-23 classification with prize money attached. The overall winners in each category are crowned after the final round, cementing their status as the top performers in the domestic scene.
The application of the term ‘national’ may raise eyebrows, given the series bypasses Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland entirely. However, the inclusion of a South West England round this year adds a degree of balance compared with previous editions. Nevertheless, the series undeniably serves as the pinnacle of British domestic road racing, attracting the strongest cyclists and teams from across the UK.
Beyond prestige, the National Road Series is arguably a critical development platform for Britain’s rising talents. Many past winners have used success in the series as a springboard to pro contracts, including Matt Holmes, Zeb Kyffin, Abi Smith, and Jacob Scott. Its demanding race formats and elite-level competition make it an important proving ground for ambitious riders looking to break into professional racing.
Why is the Series important?
The only structured road race series in the UK featuring Britain’s top domestic Continental and Elite Development Teams, the National Road Series determines the best road racing performers in the country. The individual, team, and under-23 winners claim bragging rights as the UK’s top road racing talent.
With just one UCI road race in the UK that elite-level teams can enter (the Rutland-Melton International CiCLE Classic), the National Road Series represents the highest level of domestic road racing available to British teams without racing abroad (elite teams are eligible for .2 class races).
The cornerstone of domestic road racing, the series is pivotal for the development of emerging and seasoned riders alike. The Series is more than just a collection of races – it’s a pathway for growth, competition, and progression. It serves as a bridge between domestic and international competition while acting as a stepping stone from National B road racing. As such, it remains an indispensable pillar of the UK’s cycling landscape.
What are the races?
‘Open’ calendar
The Open National Road Series will include six one-day races this year, which is more than the five rounds that ultimately took place in 2024, but it still misses an all-important stage race.
Key Changes:
Women’s National Road Series Calendar
The Women’s National Road Series will feature seven races, continuing its growth from five rounds in 2023 to six in 2024.
Key Changes:
Changes mirror those of the open Series.
History
2025 is the National Road Series’ sixth year since it began in 2019 (it was not held in 2020 because of the Covid lockdowns), but there have long been previous incarnations of this top-tier domestic road race series.
The first domestic men’s road race series was called The Star Trophy, which began in the 1950s. It was renamed The Premier Calendar in 1993. Many people still refer to the national series as The Premier Calendar and call National A road races ‘Prems’. In recent years, from 2014, the men’s series was known as the Elite Road Series consisting of two competitions: a Spring Cup series in the first part of the year and a Grand Prix series in the latter half. Previous winners of these series include Scott Thwaites, Russell Downing, Malcolm Elliot, Chris Newton, Paul Curran, Steve Joughin and Paul Sherwen.
There has been a national women’s road race series since at least 1981, when it was called the Jo Bruton Trophy. Previous winners include Sophie Wright, Lizzy Banks, Nicola Juniper, Hannah Barnes, Dame Sarah Storey, Joanna Rowsell, Lisa Brambani, Rebecca Durrell and Abi Smith.
Last year, George Kimber (Spirit TBW Stuart Hall Cycling) won the individual open National Road Series, the first non-UCI Continental rider in the open category to win the individual Series accolade, while Eilidh Shaw (Alba Development Road Team) took the women’s prize, becoming the first rider to win both the National Road Series and the National Circuit Series in the same year.
Scoring
The points system changed in 2023. In previous seasons, points were awarded to the top 20 riders, whereas this year, the top 40 riders in each race all accrue points.
The new system was designed to favour smaller teams, who can now pick points even for minor placing, and to encourage fight for places right down to 40th place in each race.
Individual classification points for the first 40 places in each single day road race:
Only those riders completing the full race distance will be awarded series points. If riders are black flagged due to being outside the time limit they will not receive series points.
The overall winner of the Series will be the rider who gains the highest total number of points across the Series with all rounds to count. The highest placed U23 rider in the final overall standings will be given the title of U23 series winner.
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.
Teams
Three important team rules to note:
Read more
The full set of regulations for the Open Series can be found here. The women’s regs are here.
The British Cycling pages on the National Road Series, for men and women, can be found here.
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