On Sunday 22 June 2025, the wind-scoured moors above Derwent Reservoir will echo again with clicking freewheels as the Tour of the Reservoir breaks a six-year silence. Last raced in 2019, the North-East classic is back as a single-day showcase based out of Consett, County Durham. With Rapha Super-League and National Road Series on the line, expect fearsome, attritional racing.
On Sunday 22 June 2025, the wind-scoured moors above Derwent Reservoir will echo again with clicking freewheels as the Tour of the Reservoir breaks a six-year silence. Last raced in 2019, the North-East classic is back as a single-day showcase based out of Consett, County Durham. With Rapha Super-League and National Road Series on the line, expect fearsome, attritional racing.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: SWpix.com
What is it?
After six years off the calendar, the Tour of the Reservoir roars back tomorrow with a one-day, two-race showcase on the windswept roads around Derwent Reservoir. The women’s Alexandra race leaves the line at 08:45, the open contest at 13:30, both finishing on new barriers in Consett’s town centre, where a free cycle festival will keep crowds busy between laps.
This 39th edition is dedicated to the late organiser Mike Hodgson, whose death in 2020 – along with the pandemic – put the event on ice; his name now graces both winner’s trophies.
With Britain’s top domestic teams chasing National Road Series and Rapha Super-League points and locals lining the streets, organisers hope Sunday’s reboot proves the race still has the legs – and the backing – to return to its traditional two-day format in 2026.
Route
The open race begins with a moment of reflection. Riders roll out from Consett Rugby Club, pause on Front Street for a minute’s applause in memory of Mike Hodgson, then drift south-west through Moorside and Castleside in a 6-kilometre neutral zone. Kilometre-zero sits on Healeyfield Lane, where the flag drops and the race dives into the North Pennines.
From kilometre-zero the road dips to Edmundbyers where a right turn onto the B6278 launches the riders onto a 32.7-kilometre anti-clockwise circuit they will cover four times.
A left in the village pitches the race up Prime Hill towards Carterway Heads; the Hill Prime line sits just before the junction with the A68 and the Manor House Inn. A slip-left immediately follows, dropping the bunch onto the narrow, exposed Healy Lane feed zone. Skirting the north shore of Derwent Reservoir, the course turns left onto Barley Hill Lane and School Lane, then heads for Blanchland on the B6306. Just before the village a sharp 90-degree left funnels the race onto Bale Hill; the climb carries on across Meadows Edge where a second Hill Prime banner and feed station await before the fast descent back to Edmundbyers and the lap board.
The routine repeats four times. After the fourth passage of Meadows Edge the race finally turns right at Castleside (race distance 139.1 km) and drops onto the old railway of Waskerly Way, then Healeyfield Lane, for a long, open descent where riders are reminded about cattle grids, unfenced roads and stray sheep . The closing 13 km follow the A692 through Castleside and Moorside, before the course swings onto Front Street in Consett for the slightly rising run to the gantry at kilometre 152.8 .
In all, the open Tour of the Reservoir packs 152.8 km of racing (plus roughly 5.9 km neutral), four full laps of the Pennine circuit, two designated feed zones and twelve categorised climbing efforts.
The women’s race follows the same reservoir-plus-moorland loop as the open event, but with a shorter, sharper itinerary. Instead of four full laps, the bunch completes two circuits of the 32.7-kilometre course before veering off towards Consett, making for a punchier 106.6-kilometre contest (plus the same 5.9-kilometre neutral roll-out from Consett Rugby Club).
That means the key features still apply: the bunch will tackle Prospect Hill three times, including the initial approach before the first lap proper. At 1.6 kilometres and averaging 7.5%, it’s where the early splits are likely to form. Bale Hill and the drawn-out Meadows Edge climb – the twin back-side ascents of the loop – are tackled twice. With only two chances to make the race, these efforts carry more weight. Expect aggressive racing from the off, especially with fewer opportunities to chase back.
After the second passage over Meadows Edge, the field swings right at Castleside (race distance 92.9 km) and drops down onto the old Waskerly Way line, retracing the long descent via Healeyfield Lane towards Consett. From there, the route rejoins the A692 for the final drag through Castleside and Moorside before reaching the slightly rising finishing straight on Front Street, where the first rider is expected around 11:48.
It’s a condensed version of the open race – two laps instead of four, ~1,600 metres of climbing instead of 2,200 – but the terrain remains unforgiving.
Feature
Open
Women
Racing distance
152.8 km + 5.9 km neutral
106.6 km + 5.9 km neutral
Moorland laps
4 × 32.7 km
2 × 32.7 km
Total ascent (approx.)
~2,200 m
~1,600 m
Prospect / Prime Hill (1.6 km at 7.5 %)
4 ascents
3 ascents*
Bale Hill + Meadows Edge combo
4 ascents
2 ascents
Exit from circuit
At 139 km (after lap 4)
At 92.9 km (after lap 2)
Finish
Front Street, Consett – c. 17:45
Front Street, Consett – c. 11:48
How to follow
The British Continental will be covering the race on Instagram and through our live ticker. Follow the ticker for the women’s race here, while the open race will be updated here.
Noémie Thomson(Brother UK–On Form)is among the breakout riders of 2025. Having burst onto the scene with a remarkable debut win at the Florrie Newbery Classic this spring, Thomson has stacked up an impressive run of domestic results. She claimed victory at the London Dynamo Road Race and proved her class in the National Road Series with a sixth place at the prestigious Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – her first Nat A race. Then last weekend she outclassed the field with two stage wins and the overall at the Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold to propel her in the Rapha Super-League lead.
A resilient all-rounder, Robyn Clay (DAS–Hutchinson) has swiftly become one of Britain’s brightest young talents. Last season culminated with a sprint victory at the Curlew Cup. This year the 21-year-old has elevated her game further – she grabbed her first UCI win with a stage triumph at the Tour de Feminin in May, and currently leads the National Road Series after a string of high finishes (such as 7th at East Cleveland and 4th at Lincoln GP). Clay combines a fast finish with punchy grit; with her confidence soaring and a strong DAS–Hutchinson team around her, Clay will be a marked rider capable of dictating the race’s outcome.
Another young DAS-Hutchinson rider on the ascent, Morven Yeoman has spent much of 2025 sharpening her form against top competition in Europe. The 21-year-old Scot embraced an ambitious race schedule, from one-day classics in Spain (she impressed with a top-20 in the Clásica de Almería) to elite stage races. She recently notched a strong 23rd overall at the UCI 2.1 Festival Elsy Jacobs in Luxembourg, holding her own against WorldTour riders. Domestically, Yeoman has shown flashes of her climbing potential – she’s hovered around the top 10 in National Road Series outings and sits in the top ten of the series standings.
Yeoman’s teammate Lucy Lee brings proven race-winning pedigree on punchy domestic terrain, demonstrated by her Ryedale Grand Prix victory in 2024. After gaining further European racing experience this spring, mostly recently at the Tour de Suisse, Lee is poised for a big National Road Series result. Don’t be surprised to see her forcing a selection on the climbs or timing a late attack – she has the talent to land on the podium here.
Lauren Dickson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team). Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Lauren Dickson’s (Handsling Alba Development) rise over the last year has been nothing short of meteoric. A former triathlete who only began road racing in 2024, the 25-year-old has rapidly made a name for herself with big results at home and abroad. Last month, Dickson conquered the iconic Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, surging up Michaelgate to take a landmark victory. She then proved that was no fluke by matching WorldTour climbers at the Tour of Norway, where she finished an astounding 3rd overall. A fast learner, Dickson is now one of the peloton’s major threats whenever the road turns uphill. Backed by the well-drilled Handsling Alba squad, she’ll relish the hilly course.
Fresh off a career-defining international win, Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development) comes into this race with a target on her back. The 22-year-old Scot dominated the UCI 2.2 Tour de Feminin in Czechia, clinching the overall title earlier in May. That victory – against seasoned European pros – signals that Richardson has hit a rich vein of form. She also has pedigree on UK roads: she’s won last year’s Rapha Lincoln GP. Having overcome a challenging 2024 season, Richardson appears stronger than ever.
One of the revelations of the season, 19-year-old Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling) has quickly established herself as a consistent podium contender on the domestic scene. She kicked off 2025 with a bang, taking an impressive second place at the East Cleveland Classic in April (part of a Hess 1-2 with teammate Alice McWilliam). She also had an aggressive ride at the CiCLE Classic where she ultimately finished fourth. Those performances have propelled the Dorset-born rider to second in the National Road Series standings, only a couple of points off the lead.
18-year-old Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT) is already mixing it with the elites. Still a junior, she turned heads in March by sprinting to ninth place at the notoriously tough CiCLE Classic, a gruelling National A race where many seasoned riders struggled to finish. That result opened eyes to Blackburn’s grit and talent. She’s since continued to impress: in junior competition, she took second overall at the Witham Hall Two-Day after podiuming on multiple stages, and she’s represented Great Britain in Europe with solid rides in Nation’s Cup events.
Lucy Harris (Smurfit Westrock) made history this spring with a stunning ride at the CiCLE Classic, and she’s hungry for more. In that mud-splattered Melton race, the 23-year-old delivered a performance to savour – going solo in the closing kilometres to seize her maiden National Road Series victory. Harris, a rider with a diesel engine, thrives in hard, attritional races. Though she’s been a bit under the radar in other rounds (she had a quieter day at East Cleveland), if Harris senses an opportunity to slip away on one of the Reservoir’s climbs, the peloton cannot afford to give her any leash.
An in-form under-23 rider from the Montezuma’s Eventrex squad, Madeline Cooper has been turning heads in recent weeks. She currently sits third in The British Continental national road race rankings thanks to a string of podiums and wins. Notably, the 21-year-old did the double at the BUCS University Road Championship and the East & West Mids Regional Championship, claiming both titles. Stepping up against elite competition, she proved just as competitive: Cooper finished runner-up at the Owen Blower Memorial National B race in early June, only narrowly beaten by Georgia Lancaster. A versatile all-rounder, she can climb and sprint capably, and she seems to be improving with every race.
A former national MTB champion who’s successfully crossed over to the road, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) brings a mix of grit and tactical savvy. She’s been consistent in the National Road Series so far, hovering near the top of the standings with several strong finishes (5th overall after three rounds). Flynn particularly shone at the CiCLE Classic, where she powered through the field to take 6th place on the day.
Lucy Gadd has been one of the engines of the Smurfit Westrock team this season. She began the year by winning the Peaks Two-Day stage race overall, a testament to her climbing legs and consistency. In March’s CiCLE Classic, Gadd’s aggressive riding helped shape the race – she set a searing tempo on the gravel sectors and was rewarded with the Queen of the Mountains title for her efforts.
Open race
Four riders, one clear threat. MUC-OFF–SRCT–STORCK roll into the Reservoir as the squad to beat after a season defined by canny tactics and airtight teamwork. Scott Redding’s outfit has four riders every rival will be watching.
Left without a contract after Trinity Racing’s collapse, 19-year-old Alex Beldon has bounced back as one of Britain’s brightest prospects. He’s already notched wins at the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race, the Danum Trophy and the final stage of the Ronde van Wymeswold in 2025, announcing himself as a killer finisher in the under-23 ranks. Beldon combines youthful exuberance with a mature racing brain.
A revelation this year, Adam Howell leads the National Road Series after two rounds. The under-23 rider has turned heads with a string of victories: he powered to a sensational win at the East Cleveland Classic, outsprinting George Kimber by a whisker, and also claimed the Kennel Hill Classic and a stage of the Peaks Two-Day. A rider with a diesel engine and a fast finish, his confidence is sky-high, and he’ll fancy adding the Reservoir to his 2025 haul.
Ed Morgan’s decision to put more time into racing and training this year is paying dividends. He scored a win at the PNE National B road race this spring and, took 4th place in the UCI 1.2 Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic and then stormed to the overall victory at the Ronde van Wymeswold last weekend. The Welshman’s climbing prowess and gritty endurance make him a serious threat on the Reservoir’s rolling course.
Will Truelove remains a model of consistency. He started 2025 on a blazing run of form, never finishing outside the top five in any race until an untimely crash at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic in April. A former junior national series winner, Truelove has developed into a classics-style rider who thrives on attritional courses. If he’s fully recovered from that Rutland tumble, count on Truelove to be in the mix when it matters.
Adam Howell (MUC-OFF-SRCT-STORCK). Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli is another team with multiple contenders. This is a team that lives for hill-heavy races like this, and has several proven winners in its line-up:
The headliner is arguably James McKay who took a career-defining win at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May – one of Britain’s most prestigious one-day races – conquering the famous Michaelgate cobbles to triumph in scorching heat. It was a breakthrough moment for McKay, a former Saint Piran rider known for his tenacity. He also recently sprinted to victory at the Timmy James Memorial Grand Prix, proving his ability to finish off hard races.
Another proven racer from the Wheelbase ranks, Tom Martin has been knocking on the door of a big domestic win. He earned a podium at the East Cleveland Classic, joining Howell and Kimber in the decisive move and taking third after a bold late attack. He then impressed overseas, winning the Rás Mumhan.
Thomas Armstrong is a hardy Cumbrian who seems to come alive on gruelling courses. He played an aggressive role at the Capernwray Road Race, where his acceleration on the steep Sunny Bank climb helped split the chase group and reduce the peloton. While he hasn’t yet snagged a major result this year, Armstrong’s consistent presence near the front hints at his strength and ambition.
Few riders in the peloton can match Tim Shoreman’s recent exploits. The Scot lit up the Rás Tailteann by winning two stages, an extraordinary feat in a race packed with talent. Those rides in Ireland earned him plenty of plaudits – and valuable confidence. Shoreman is clearly in peak condition and will be brimming with belief. If a reduced bunch comes to the line, his finishing speed could be unmatched.
James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) . Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The reigning king of Britain’s domestic scene. George Kimber (Spirit Racing). won the 2024 National Road Series overall and has only soared higher in 2025. Last month, he stunned the field at the Rás Tailteann in Ireland, winning stage 4 in a three-up sprint and seizing the leader’s jersey. He went on to defend that lead on the final day to clinch the Rás Tailteann title. At home, Kimber has been just as dominant – he kicked off the year with victory in the Evesham Vale Road Race and was runner-up in a photo finish at East Cleveland.
A touch of continental class on the start list, Jente Michels (Alpecin–Deceuninck Development Team) is a 22-year-old Belgian better known for tearing up the cyclocross circuits. He’s a former under-23 European cyclocross champion and currently represents Alpecin’s development squad. He has been testing himself in U23 Nations’ Cup races this year, bagging several top ten results. He’s a powerhouse on short climbs and a fearless bike-handler – attributes that should serve him well on the Reservoir’s wind-swept lanes.
The most experienced rider in the field, Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing – Factor Racing), spent 2020-2022 at WorldTour level and famously beat Richie Porte to win the Willunga Hill queen stage of the Tour Down Under 2020. Now 31, he’s returned home to combine road and gravel racing – and he’s still a force. Holmes nearly defended his title at the UCI Gralloch Gravel race in May, finishing a close second to former WorldTour rider Petr Vako. On the road, he’s been a steady presence in National Road Series races this year; and who can forget his Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix win in 2024 to mark his return to racing.
Dylan Hicks (Raptor Factory Racing)has quietly become one of the most dependable climbers on the domestic circuit. The 21-year-old finished third at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic this year, and has steadily racked up a string of impressive results at home and abroad, proving that his UCI stage win at the Tour of Hellas last year was no fluke. His teammate Rowan Baker was one of the form men of the early season, making headlines with his crushing solo win on the final stage of the Peaks Two-Day. The victor at the East Cleveland Classic in 2024, as well as the Under-23 National Road Series, Baker has marked 2025 as a make-or-break season in his efforts to turn pro.
Scottish climber Alexander Ball (BCC RT) has quietly impressed on the National B scene this season, most notably with a top ten at the East Cleveland Classic. A strong engine and a fearless approach make him a rider who could thrive if the race breaks early. Similarly, Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs) arrives on a high after claiming a career-best win at the Capernwray Road Race. After nearly a decade in the peloton, he’s now coupling experience with form—and with a Rás Tailteann campaign under his belt, he’ll be eager to prove Capernwray was no one-off.
Few animate a race quite like Jake Edwards (360cycling), a 21-year-old under-23 known for aggressive racing. He was central to the Capernwray action and came close to a stage win at the Peaks Two-Day. If the pace stalls, expect him to force the issue. Tyler Hannay, racing solo, brings pedigree too – third at the Jock Wadley, and a UCI stage win in China last autumn. The Manxman’s blend of climbing punch and time-trial strength makes him one to watch.
Then there’s Matthew Bostock (TEKKERZ CC), a world-class sprinter rediscovering his mojo. After a comeback win at the Clarendon Cup in the U.S., he’s back on UK roads with confidence and a nothing-to-lose mindset. If he survives the climbs, few can match his finish. Another wildcard is Josh Charlton, fresh from a stage win at the Rás Tailteann. A former junior national champion with a fast finish and tactical acumen, the 20-year-old privateer will be buoyed by local support and riding the wave of that international breakthrough.
On Sunday 22 June 2025, the wind-scoured moors above Derwent Reservoir will echo again with clicking freewheels as the Tour of the Reservoir breaks a six-year silence. Last raced in 2019, the North-East classic is back as a single-day showcase based out of Consett, County Durham. With Rapha Super-League and National Road Series on the line, expect fearsome, attritional racing.
Here is our preview.
Featured image: SWpix.com
What is it?
After six years off the calendar, the Tour of the Reservoir roars back tomorrow with a one-day, two-race showcase on the windswept roads around Derwent Reservoir. The women’s Alexandra race leaves the line at 08:45, the open contest at 13:30, both finishing on new barriers in Consett’s town centre, where a free cycle festival will keep crowds busy between laps.
This 39th edition is dedicated to the late organiser Mike Hodgson, whose death in 2020 – along with the pandemic – put the event on ice; his name now graces both winner’s trophies.
With Britain’s top domestic teams chasing National Road Series and Rapha Super-League points and locals lining the streets, organisers hope Sunday’s reboot proves the race still has the legs – and the backing – to return to its traditional two-day format in 2026.
Route
The open race begins with a moment of reflection. Riders roll out from Consett Rugby Club, pause on Front Street for a minute’s applause in memory of Mike Hodgson, then drift south-west through Moorside and Castleside in a 6-kilometre neutral zone. Kilometre-zero sits on Healeyfield Lane, where the flag drops and the race dives into the North Pennines.
From kilometre-zero the road dips to Edmundbyers where a right turn onto the B6278 launches the riders onto a 32.7-kilometre anti-clockwise circuit they will cover four times.
A left in the village pitches the race up Prime Hill towards Carterway Heads; the Hill Prime line sits just before the junction with the A68 and the Manor House Inn. A slip-left immediately follows, dropping the bunch onto the narrow, exposed Healy Lane feed zone. Skirting the north shore of Derwent Reservoir, the course turns left onto Barley Hill Lane and School Lane, then heads for Blanchland on the B6306. Just before the village a sharp 90-degree left funnels the race onto Bale Hill; the climb carries on across Meadows Edge where a second Hill Prime banner and feed station await before the fast descent back to Edmundbyers and the lap board.
The routine repeats four times. After the fourth passage of Meadows Edge the race finally turns right at Castleside (race distance 139.1 km) and drops onto the old railway of Waskerly Way, then Healeyfield Lane, for a long, open descent where riders are reminded about cattle grids, unfenced roads and stray sheep . The closing 13 km follow the A692 through Castleside and Moorside, before the course swings onto Front Street in Consett for the slightly rising run to the gantry at kilometre 152.8 .
In all, the open Tour of the Reservoir packs 152.8 km of racing (plus roughly 5.9 km neutral), four full laps of the Pennine circuit, two designated feed zones and twelve categorised climbing efforts.
The women’s race follows the same reservoir-plus-moorland loop as the open event, but with a shorter, sharper itinerary. Instead of four full laps, the bunch completes two circuits of the 32.7-kilometre course before veering off towards Consett, making for a punchier 106.6-kilometre contest (plus the same 5.9-kilometre neutral roll-out from Consett Rugby Club).
That means the key features still apply: the bunch will tackle Prospect Hill three times, including the initial approach before the first lap proper. At 1.6 kilometres and averaging 7.5%, it’s where the early splits are likely to form. Bale Hill and the drawn-out Meadows Edge climb – the twin back-side ascents of the loop – are tackled twice. With only two chances to make the race, these efforts carry more weight. Expect aggressive racing from the off, especially with fewer opportunities to chase back.
After the second passage over Meadows Edge, the field swings right at Castleside (race distance 92.9 km) and drops down onto the old Waskerly Way line, retracing the long descent via Healeyfield Lane towards Consett. From there, the route rejoins the A692 for the final drag through Castleside and Moorside before reaching the slightly rising finishing straight on Front Street, where the first rider is expected around 11:48.
It’s a condensed version of the open race – two laps instead of four, ~1,600 metres of climbing instead of 2,200 – but the terrain remains unforgiving.
How to follow
The British Continental will be covering the race on Instagram and through our live ticker. Follow the ticker for the women’s race here, while the open race will be updated here.
Schedule
Riders to watch
See the provisional startlists here.
Womens’ race
Noémie Thomson (Brother UK–On Form) is among the breakout riders of 2025. Having burst onto the scene with a remarkable debut win at the Florrie Newbery Classic this spring, Thomson has stacked up an impressive run of domestic results. She claimed victory at the London Dynamo Road Race and proved her class in the National Road Series with a sixth place at the prestigious Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – her first Nat A race. Then last weekend she outclassed the field with two stage wins and the overall at the Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold to propel her in the Rapha Super-League lead.
A resilient all-rounder, Robyn Clay (DAS–Hutchinson) has swiftly become one of Britain’s brightest young talents. Last season culminated with a sprint victory at the Curlew Cup. This year the 21-year-old has elevated her game further – she grabbed her first UCI win with a stage triumph at the Tour de Feminin in May, and currently leads the National Road Series after a string of high finishes (such as 7th at East Cleveland and 4th at Lincoln GP). Clay combines a fast finish with punchy grit; with her confidence soaring and a strong DAS–Hutchinson team around her, Clay will be a marked rider capable of dictating the race’s outcome.
Another young DAS-Hutchinson rider on the ascent, Morven Yeoman has spent much of 2025 sharpening her form against top competition in Europe. The 21-year-old Scot embraced an ambitious race schedule, from one-day classics in Spain (she impressed with a top-20 in the Clásica de Almería) to elite stage races. She recently notched a strong 23rd overall at the UCI 2.1 Festival Elsy Jacobs in Luxembourg, holding her own against WorldTour riders. Domestically, Yeoman has shown flashes of her climbing potential – she’s hovered around the top 10 in National Road Series outings and sits in the top ten of the series standings.
Yeoman’s teammate Lucy Lee brings proven race-winning pedigree on punchy domestic terrain, demonstrated by her Ryedale Grand Prix victory in 2024. After gaining further European racing experience this spring, mostly recently at the Tour de Suisse, Lee is poised for a big National Road Series result. Don’t be surprised to see her forcing a selection on the climbs or timing a late attack – she has the talent to land on the podium here.
Lauren Dickson’s (Handsling Alba Development) rise over the last year has been nothing short of meteoric. A former triathlete who only began road racing in 2024, the 25-year-old has rapidly made a name for herself with big results at home and abroad. Last month, Dickson conquered the iconic Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, surging up Michaelgate to take a landmark victory. She then proved that was no fluke by matching WorldTour climbers at the Tour of Norway, where she finished an astounding 3rd overall. A fast learner, Dickson is now one of the peloton’s major threats whenever the road turns uphill. Backed by the well-drilled Handsling Alba squad, she’ll relish the hilly course.
Fresh off a career-defining international win, Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development) comes into this race with a target on her back. The 22-year-old Scot dominated the UCI 2.2 Tour de Feminin in Czechia, clinching the overall title earlier in May. That victory – against seasoned European pros – signals that Richardson has hit a rich vein of form. She also has pedigree on UK roads: she’s won last year’s Rapha Lincoln GP. Having overcome a challenging 2024 season, Richardson appears stronger than ever.
One of the revelations of the season, 19-year-old Holly Ramsey (Hess Cycling) has quickly established herself as a consistent podium contender on the domestic scene. She kicked off 2025 with a bang, taking an impressive second place at the East Cleveland Classic in April (part of a Hess 1-2 with teammate Alice McWilliam). She also had an aggressive ride at the CiCLE Classic where she ultimately finished fourth. Those performances have propelled the Dorset-born rider to second in the National Road Series standings, only a couple of points off the lead.
18-year-old Arabella Blackburn (Shibden Apex RT) is already mixing it with the elites. Still a junior, she turned heads in March by sprinting to ninth place at the notoriously tough CiCLE Classic, a gruelling National A race where many seasoned riders struggled to finish. That result opened eyes to Blackburn’s grit and talent. She’s since continued to impress: in junior competition, she took second overall at the Witham Hall Two-Day after podiuming on multiple stages, and she’s represented Great Britain in Europe with solid rides in Nation’s Cup events.
Lucy Harris (Smurfit Westrock) made history this spring with a stunning ride at the CiCLE Classic, and she’s hungry for more. In that mud-splattered Melton race, the 23-year-old delivered a performance to savour – going solo in the closing kilometres to seize her maiden National Road Series victory. Harris, a rider with a diesel engine, thrives in hard, attritional races. Though she’s been a bit under the radar in other rounds (she had a quieter day at East Cleveland), if Harris senses an opportunity to slip away on one of the Reservoir’s climbs, the peloton cannot afford to give her any leash.
An in-form under-23 rider from the Montezuma’s Eventrex squad, Madeline Cooper has been turning heads in recent weeks. She currently sits third in The British Continental national road race rankings thanks to a string of podiums and wins. Notably, the 21-year-old did the double at the BUCS University Road Championship and the East & West Mids Regional Championship, claiming both titles. Stepping up against elite competition, she proved just as competitive: Cooper finished runner-up at the Owen Blower Memorial National B race in early June, only narrowly beaten by Georgia Lancaster. A versatile all-rounder, she can climb and sprint capably, and she seems to be improving with every race.
A former national MTB champion who’s successfully crossed over to the road, Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing) brings a mix of grit and tactical savvy. She’s been consistent in the National Road Series so far, hovering near the top of the standings with several strong finishes (5th overall after three rounds). Flynn particularly shone at the CiCLE Classic, where she powered through the field to take 6th place on the day.
Lucy Gadd has been one of the engines of the Smurfit Westrock team this season. She began the year by winning the Peaks Two-Day stage race overall, a testament to her climbing legs and consistency. In March’s CiCLE Classic, Gadd’s aggressive riding helped shape the race – she set a searing tempo on the gravel sectors and was rewarded with the Queen of the Mountains title for her efforts.
Open race
Four riders, one clear threat. MUC-OFF–SRCT–STORCK roll into the Reservoir as the squad to beat after a season defined by canny tactics and airtight teamwork. Scott Redding’s outfit has four riders every rival will be watching.
Wheelbase CabTech Castelli is another team with multiple contenders.
This is a team that lives for hill-heavy races like this, and has several proven winners in its line-up:
The reigning king of Britain’s domestic scene. George Kimber (Spirit Racing). won the 2024 National Road Series overall and has only soared higher in 2025. Last month, he stunned the field at the Rás Tailteann in Ireland, winning stage 4 in a three-up sprint and seizing the leader’s jersey. He went on to defend that lead on the final day to clinch the Rás Tailteann title. At home, Kimber has been just as dominant – he kicked off the year with victory in the Evesham Vale Road Race and was runner-up in a photo finish at East Cleveland.
A touch of continental class on the start list, Jente Michels (Alpecin–Deceuninck Development Team) is a 22-year-old Belgian better known for tearing up the cyclocross circuits. He’s a former under-23 European cyclocross champion and currently represents Alpecin’s development squad. He has been testing himself in U23 Nations’ Cup races this year, bagging several top ten results. He’s a powerhouse on short climbs and a fearless bike-handler – attributes that should serve him well on the Reservoir’s wind-swept lanes.
The most experienced rider in the field, Matthew Holmes (One Good Thing – Factor Racing), spent 2020-2022 at WorldTour level and famously beat Richie Porte to win the Willunga Hill queen stage of the Tour Down Under 2020. Now 31, he’s returned home to combine road and gravel racing – and he’s still a force. Holmes nearly defended his title at the UCI Gralloch Gravel race in May, finishing a close second to former WorldTour rider Petr Vako. On the road, he’s been a steady presence in National Road Series races this year; and who can forget his Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix win in 2024 to mark his return to racing.
Dylan Hicks (Raptor Factory Racing)has quietly become one of the most dependable climbers on the domestic circuit. The 21-year-old finished third at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic this year, and has steadily racked up a string of impressive results at home and abroad, proving that his UCI stage win at the Tour of Hellas last year was no fluke. His teammate Rowan Baker was one of the form men of the early season, making headlines with his crushing solo win on the final stage of the Peaks Two-Day. The victor at the East Cleveland Classic in 2024, as well as the Under-23 National Road Series, Baker has marked 2025 as a make-or-break season in his efforts to turn pro.
Scottish climber Alexander Ball (BCC RT) has quietly impressed on the National B scene this season, most notably with a top ten at the East Cleveland Classic. A strong engine and a fearless approach make him a rider who could thrive if the race breaks early. Similarly, Josh Housley (Primera-TeamJobs) arrives on a high after claiming a career-best win at the Capernwray Road Race. After nearly a decade in the peloton, he’s now coupling experience with form—and with a Rás Tailteann campaign under his belt, he’ll be eager to prove Capernwray was no one-off.
Few animate a race quite like Jake Edwards (360cycling), a 21-year-old under-23 known for aggressive racing. He was central to the Capernwray action and came close to a stage win at the Peaks Two-Day. If the pace stalls, expect him to force the issue. Tyler Hannay, racing solo, brings pedigree too – third at the Jock Wadley, and a UCI stage win in China last autumn. The Manxman’s blend of climbing punch and time-trial strength makes him one to watch.
Then there’s Matthew Bostock (TEKKERZ CC), a world-class sprinter rediscovering his mojo. After a comeback win at the Clarendon Cup in the U.S., he’s back on UK roads with confidence and a nothing-to-lose mindset. If he survives the climbs, few can match his finish. Another wildcard is Josh Charlton, fresh from a stage win at the Rás Tailteann. A former junior national champion with a fast finish and tactical acumen, the 20-year-old privateer will be buoyed by local support and riding the wave of that international breakthrough.
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