2025 Scottish Road Race Championships: preview and startlists
A prestigious battle to crown Scotland’s elite road racers, the Scottish National Road Race Championships once again promises fierce competition as riders vie for the honour of wearing the iconic national jersey. Organised this year by Lomond Roads Cycling Club, the championships return to the scenic but unforgiving terrain of the Rosneath Peninsula on Sunday, 4th May 2025.
Here is our preview.
A prestigious battle to crown Scotland’s elite road racers, the Scottish National Road Race Championships once again promises fierce competition as riders vie for the honour of wearing the iconic national jersey. Organised this year by Lomond Roads Cycling Club, the championships return to the scenic but unforgiving terrain of the Rosneath Peninsula on Sunday, 4th May 2025.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: The Press Room
What is it?
A prestigious battle to crown Scotland’s elite road racers, the Scottish National Road Race Championships sees the country’s top riders compete for the honour of wearing the iconic jersey for the next year.
Organised this year by Lomond Roads Cycling Club, the event takes place on Sunday, 4th May 2025, at Garelochhead. Three national titles – Senior Open, Senior Female, and Junior Female – are on offer, promising a fierce competition on the roads of the scenic Rosneath Peninsula.
Defending Senior Open champion Logan Maclean returns, aiming to retain his title. Previous winners include Tim Shoreman (2023), Matti Dobbins (2022), and David Duggan (2021). The Senior Female title will see a new champion crowned this year, with reigning champion Beth Morrow not participating. Past winners include Eilidh Shaw (2023), Beth Harley-Jepson (2022), and Becky Storrie (2021). Arabella Blackburn, who won the Junior race last year, returns to defend her Junior Female title.
Route
The course will be familiar to many, with the same parcours used annually in the Hugh Dornan Memorial Road Race.
The route consists of a circuit of the Rosneath Peninsula, highlighted by a climb to the finish in Garelochhead at the end of each lap—Whistlefield Hill, a challenging 1.4km climb featuring some punishingly steep sections, often decisive in determining the race outcome. The race concludes atop the final ascent of the climb.
Open riders will complete four tours of the 30km loop, covering a total distance of approximately 122km. Female riders will tackle three laps of the circuit, totalling around 90km.
Riders to watch
Women’s race
With defending elite champion Beth Morrow absent this year and many of her Handsling-Alba teammates racing abroad, the 2025 title is up for grabs. Only 16 riders are set to start (including six juniors), promising a potential upset.
Last year’s giant-slayer, Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT), returns as the defending junior champion looking to repeat her heroics. Now 17, Blackburn shocked the field in 2024 by winning the combined senior-junior race outright, out-sprinting older rivals in a torrential finish. Far from resting on her laurels, she’s continued to impress – from strong showings in Europe to mixing it with Britain’s best on home roads. A punchy rider with a fast finish, Blackburn will aim to stay in contention over Rosneath’s undulations and use her kick again.
Arabella Blackburn wins last year’s event.
One rider keen to prevent a repeat junior takeover is Arianne Holland (Handsling Alba Development RT). The 25-year-old Holland carries Alba’s hopes solo, with much of her squad away on international duty. A consistent figure in the domestic peloton, she was part of Alba’s podium sweep last year (her teammates took the senior gold and silver) and has the climbing pedigree to excel here. In fact, Holland proved her aptitude on the steep stuff by taking a bronze medal at the Scottish Hill Climb Championships in October. Often a team player in bigger races, Holland now has a chance to claim individual glory – expect her to drive a hard pace on the final climb in an effort to drop the youngsters and secure the title for the senior ranks.
An intriguing wildcard is Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning), better known for her track exploits and blistering speed in criteriums. The Stirling native has recently turned her focus back to road racing on home soil and comes in with confidence after a victory at the Gifford Road Race in March. In that race she powered out of a breakaway to win, showcasing the engine that also earned her a runner-up spot in the Sheffield Grand Prix circuit race last summer. Holl’s challenge will be translating that speed to a hilly 91 km championship course.
Finally, Lulu Bartlett (Team Boompods) cannot be overlooked. Bartlett was on the podium here a year ago, taking third in the championships while riding for Alba, and she’s fighting back from an injury-hit 2024 with a point to prove. Now in new colors with Boompods, the 26-year-old all-rounder has been gradually returning to form. Last season, before her setback, she notched two top-ten finishes in National B road races and showed her versatility with a strong ride in the hilly Oakenclough Road Race (7th place).
Open race
Logan Maclean enters as the man to beat. Now racing unattached, the 24-year-old finally donned the Scottish champion’s jersey last summer with a courageous solo win. It was a victory years in the making – Maclean had agonisingly finished second in 2022 and sixth in 2023, but refused to be denied a third time. Since then he’s shown no intention of resting on laurels. In March he kicked off his season by out-sprinting all-comers at the Gifford Road Race. Maclean admitted he’s been focusing on the velodrome recently as he eyes the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year, yet his legs on the road remain strong.
Logan Maclean wins in 2024.
Challenging Maclean’s throne is Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), the very rider he succeeded. Shoreman was the 2023 national champion and, at 25, remains a stalwart of the Scottish scene. He skipped last year’s title race, but he’s back now and clearly back in form. After a relatively light race schedule in 2024, the Aberdeenshire rider has already proven his class this spring with a fine 4th place at the East Cleveland Classic in England. A punchy rouleur with a fast finish, Shoreman historically thrives on rolling courses. The big question is how he’ll handle the Whistlefield climb.
If Maclean and Shoreman represent champion pedigree, Alex Ball (BCC Race Team) epitomises the new wave of Scottish talent ready to claim the mantle. Ball enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 season – a year that saw him take multiple National B wins in Scotland and culminated in a superb fourth place at the prestigious Beaumont Trophy. An all-rounder with a fast finish, the 23-year-old is tailor-made for this course. He proved as much on this very peninsula last May, when he pushed veteran Alex Luhrs to the limit on the Whistlefield climb at the Hugh Dornan Memorial. Ball only succumbed in the final metres as Luhrs powered clear, but his runner-up ride announced him as a real contender on tough terrain.
One rider who could spoil the party of the pre-race favourites is William Taylor (Moonglu SpatzWear). Hailing from the Scottish Borders, Taylor has been something of a quiet assassin on the domestic scene, steadily racking up results without always grabbing headlines. In 2024 he was one of the country’s most consistent performers, finishing the year as the second-highest Scottish points scorer. He underlined his climbing pedigree with a podium finish at the illustrious Drummond Trophy, taking third behind only Luhrs and Archibald. That result, on another hilly course, underpins Taylor’s ability to hang tough on long, grippy climbs.
Meanwhile, Shoreman’s Wheelbase squad boasts another potential ace: Aaron King, a 21-year-old dynamo who already has a Scottish Championships medal to his name. King snatched a surprise bronze in this race two years ago, and that taste of the podium ignited his aggressive racing style. In fact, on this very circuit at last year’s Hugh Dornan Memorial, King startled the favourites with a long-range solo move. Sensing a lull, he rode off the front with over a lap to go, and built a half-minute lead before the pack hauled him back. That bold gambit ultimately cost him a result (he faded to seventh), but it showed King’s willingness to gamble and his strength on these climbs.
Tim Shoreman at the 2025 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Not many riders on the start list can claim to have worn a World Championships medal around their neck, but John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) is one. The elder Archibald is renowned for his exploits on the track and in time trials, where his metronomic power has earned him British titles and even a Worlds silver in the individual pursuit. Translating that dominance to a hilly road race might seem a tall order, but Archibald has quietly been honing his road craft. Last season he reminded everyone of his class with a storming ride at the Drummond Trophy, finishing second only to Luhrs (and notably ahead of the likes of Taylor). At 32, Archibald brings a wealth of experience and a measured racing brain to the table.
Youth will also have its say in this championship, and no one represents the fearless new generation better than Noah Bleteau (Paris Cycliste Olympique). Just 18 years old, Bleteau has taken the unconventional route of racing in France as a junior, and it appears to be paying dividends. He burst onto the domestic radar a few weeks ago at Gifford, where he infiltrated the race-winning move with Maclean and Ball. He was overhauled in the final metres to place third, but that podium against seasoned elites announced him as a special talent. Impressively, this wasn’t even Bleteau’s first brush with the sharp end – last year, as a 17-year-old, he managed 11th in the Scottish Championships open race, an extraordinary result for a first-year junior in such a tough event.
Finally, keep an eye on Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT), one of the emerging U23 riders aiming to make a mark. Part of a new Edinburgh-based development squad, McHenry is a bit of an under-the-radar pick, but his palmarès hint at serious potential. Last summer, he stunned many with a 4th place finish at the Lancaster Grand Prix, a race known for its attritional course and strong field. That ride, against full-time riders, showed McHenry’s engine and tenacity. He’s no stranger to the Scottish racing circuit either. In 2023, while still a teenager, he placed a respectable 13th on the Rosneath circuit at the Hugh Dornan Memorial, proving he can handle Whistlefield Hill’s gradients.
A prestigious battle to crown Scotland’s elite road racers, the Scottish National Road Race Championships once again promises fierce competition as riders vie for the honour of wearing the iconic national jersey. Organised this year by Lomond Roads Cycling Club, the championships return to the scenic but unforgiving terrain of the Rosneath Peninsula on Sunday, 4th May 2025.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: The Press Room
What is it?
A prestigious battle to crown Scotland’s elite road racers, the Scottish National Road Race Championships sees the country’s top riders compete for the honour of wearing the iconic jersey for the next year.
Organised this year by Lomond Roads Cycling Club, the event takes place on Sunday, 4th May 2025, at Garelochhead. Three national titles – Senior Open, Senior Female, and Junior Female – are on offer, promising a fierce competition on the roads of the scenic Rosneath Peninsula.
Defending Senior Open champion Logan Maclean returns, aiming to retain his title. Previous winners include Tim Shoreman (2023), Matti Dobbins (2022), and David Duggan (2021). The Senior Female title will see a new champion crowned this year, with reigning champion Beth Morrow not participating. Past winners include Eilidh Shaw (2023), Beth Harley-Jepson (2022), and Becky Storrie (2021). Arabella Blackburn, who won the Junior race last year, returns to defend her Junior Female title.
Route
The course will be familiar to many, with the same parcours used annually in the Hugh Dornan Memorial Road Race.
The route consists of a circuit of the Rosneath Peninsula, highlighted by a climb to the finish in Garelochhead at the end of each lap—Whistlefield Hill, a challenging 1.4km climb featuring some punishingly steep sections, often decisive in determining the race outcome. The race concludes atop the final ascent of the climb.
Open riders will complete four tours of the 30km loop, covering a total distance of approximately 122km. Female riders will tackle three laps of the circuit, totalling around 90km.
Riders to watch
Women’s race
With defending elite champion Beth Morrow absent this year and many of her Handsling-Alba teammates racing abroad, the 2025 title is up for grabs. Only 16 riders are set to start (including six juniors), promising a potential upset.
Last year’s giant-slayer, Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT), returns as the defending junior champion looking to repeat her heroics. Now 17, Blackburn shocked the field in 2024 by winning the combined senior-junior race outright, out-sprinting older rivals in a torrential finish. Far from resting on her laurels, she’s continued to impress – from strong showings in Europe to mixing it with Britain’s best on home roads. A punchy rider with a fast finish, Blackburn will aim to stay in contention over Rosneath’s undulations and use her kick again.
One rider keen to prevent a repeat junior takeover is Arianne Holland (Handsling Alba Development RT). The 25-year-old Holland carries Alba’s hopes solo, with much of her squad away on international duty. A consistent figure in the domestic peloton, she was part of Alba’s podium sweep last year (her teammates took the senior gold and silver) and has the climbing pedigree to excel here. In fact, Holland proved her aptitude on the steep stuff by taking a bronze medal at the Scottish Hill Climb Championships in October. Often a team player in bigger races, Holland now has a chance to claim individual glory – expect her to drive a hard pace on the final climb in an effort to drop the youngsters and secure the title for the senior ranks.
An intriguing wildcard is Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning), better known for her track exploits and blistering speed in criteriums. The Stirling native has recently turned her focus back to road racing on home soil and comes in with confidence after a victory at the Gifford Road Race in March. In that race she powered out of a breakaway to win, showcasing the engine that also earned her a runner-up spot in the Sheffield Grand Prix circuit race last summer. Holl’s challenge will be translating that speed to a hilly 91 km championship course.
Finally, Lulu Bartlett (Team Boompods) cannot be overlooked. Bartlett was on the podium here a year ago, taking third in the championships while riding for Alba, and she’s fighting back from an injury-hit 2024 with a point to prove. Now in new colors with Boompods, the 26-year-old all-rounder has been gradually returning to form. Last season, before her setback, she notched two top-ten finishes in National B road races and showed her versatility with a strong ride in the hilly Oakenclough Road Race (7th place).
Open race
Logan Maclean enters as the man to beat. Now racing unattached, the 24-year-old finally donned the Scottish champion’s jersey last summer with a courageous solo win. It was a victory years in the making – Maclean had agonisingly finished second in 2022 and sixth in 2023, but refused to be denied a third time. Since then he’s shown no intention of resting on laurels. In March he kicked off his season by out-sprinting all-comers at the Gifford Road Race. Maclean admitted he’s been focusing on the velodrome recently as he eyes the Glasgow Commonwealth Games next year, yet his legs on the road remain strong.
Challenging Maclean’s throne is Tim Shoreman (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli), the very rider he succeeded. Shoreman was the 2023 national champion and, at 25, remains a stalwart of the Scottish scene. He skipped last year’s title race, but he’s back now and clearly back in form. After a relatively light race schedule in 2024, the Aberdeenshire rider has already proven his class this spring with a fine 4th place at the East Cleveland Classic in England. A punchy rouleur with a fast finish, Shoreman historically thrives on rolling courses. The big question is how he’ll handle the Whistlefield climb.
If Maclean and Shoreman represent champion pedigree, Alex Ball (BCC Race Team) epitomises the new wave of Scottish talent ready to claim the mantle. Ball enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 season – a year that saw him take multiple National B wins in Scotland and culminated in a superb fourth place at the prestigious Beaumont Trophy. An all-rounder with a fast finish, the 23-year-old is tailor-made for this course. He proved as much on this very peninsula last May, when he pushed veteran Alex Luhrs to the limit on the Whistlefield climb at the Hugh Dornan Memorial. Ball only succumbed in the final metres as Luhrs powered clear, but his runner-up ride announced him as a real contender on tough terrain.
One rider who could spoil the party of the pre-race favourites is William Taylor (Moonglu SpatzWear). Hailing from the Scottish Borders, Taylor has been something of a quiet assassin on the domestic scene, steadily racking up results without always grabbing headlines. In 2024 he was one of the country’s most consistent performers, finishing the year as the second-highest Scottish points scorer. He underlined his climbing pedigree with a podium finish at the illustrious Drummond Trophy, taking third behind only Luhrs and Archibald. That result, on another hilly course, underpins Taylor’s ability to hang tough on long, grippy climbs.
Meanwhile, Shoreman’s Wheelbase squad boasts another potential ace: Aaron King, a 21-year-old dynamo who already has a Scottish Championships medal to his name. King snatched a surprise bronze in this race two years ago, and that taste of the podium ignited his aggressive racing style. In fact, on this very circuit at last year’s Hugh Dornan Memorial, King startled the favourites with a long-range solo move. Sensing a lull, he rode off the front with over a lap to go, and built a half-minute lead before the pack hauled him back. That bold gambit ultimately cost him a result (he faded to seventh), but it showed King’s willingness to gamble and his strength on these climbs.
Not many riders on the start list can claim to have worn a World Championships medal around their neck, but John Archibald (HUUB WattShop) is one. The elder Archibald is renowned for his exploits on the track and in time trials, where his metronomic power has earned him British titles and even a Worlds silver in the individual pursuit. Translating that dominance to a hilly road race might seem a tall order, but Archibald has quietly been honing his road craft. Last season he reminded everyone of his class with a storming ride at the Drummond Trophy, finishing second only to Luhrs (and notably ahead of the likes of Taylor). At 32, Archibald brings a wealth of experience and a measured racing brain to the table.
Youth will also have its say in this championship, and no one represents the fearless new generation better than Noah Bleteau (Paris Cycliste Olympique). Just 18 years old, Bleteau has taken the unconventional route of racing in France as a junior, and it appears to be paying dividends. He burst onto the domestic radar a few weeks ago at Gifford, where he infiltrated the race-winning move with Maclean and Ball. He was overhauled in the final metres to place third, but that podium against seasoned elites announced him as a special talent. Impressively, this wasn’t even Bleteau’s first brush with the sharp end – last year, as a 17-year-old, he managed 11th in the Scottish Championships open race, an extraordinary result for a first-year junior in such a tough event.
Finally, keep an eye on Finn McHenry (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT), one of the emerging U23 riders aiming to make a mark. Part of a new Edinburgh-based development squad, McHenry is a bit of an under-the-radar pick, but his palmarès hint at serious potential. Last summer, he stunned many with a 4th place finish at the Lancaster Grand Prix, a race known for its attritional course and strong field. That ride, against full-time riders, showed McHenry’s engine and tenacity. He’s no stranger to the Scottish racing circuit either. In 2023, while still a teenager, he placed a respectable 13th on the Rosneath circuit at the Hugh Dornan Memorial, proving he can handle Whistlefield Hill’s gradients.
Provisional startlists
Women
Open
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