Capernwray, Peaks 2 Day and Wymeswold lead wave of 2026 National B announcements
In this exclusive early-season briefing, The British Continental reveals confirmed 2026 dates for several of Britain’s most anticipated National B races — including Peaks 2 Day, Capernwray and the Ronde van Wymeswold — as the spine of next year’s domestic calendar begins to form.
Following the release of the National Series dates yesterday, the build-up to the 2026 domestic road season continues, with organisers now confirming dates for several key National B fixtures. These early announcements are beginning to shape the opening months of the calendar, giving teams and riders a clearer framework for planning their spring campaigns.
As The British Continental previously revealed, the season will once again begin with the Portsdown Classic on 8 February 2026, organised by Seb Ottley. Another of the south’s newer success stories, the Kennel Hill Classic, organised by Seb Ottley, is also expected to return – pencilled in for 28 March following the positive feedback from its 2025 debut.
Capernwray confirmed
Cold Dark North have confirmed that the enduringly popular Capernwray Road Race will return on Saturday 4 April 2026. Long established as an early-season proving ground, the National B event will again unfold on the punishing, undulating roads of the Capernwray circuit near Lancaster. The familiar loop, shaped by the repeated haul up Sunny Bank, reliably produces an honest, attritional contest where only the strongest arrive in contention.
Josh Housley wins the 2025 Capernwray Road Race. Image: Darren Athersmith
Capernwray has a strong record of spotlighting emerging talent. In 2025, Josh Housley (Primera–TeamJobs) delivered a commanding win in the Open race, while local climber Esther Wong (Torelli) sealed an impressive solo victory in the Women’s event. Previous winners include Cat Ferguson – now rising through the ranks – reinforcing the organisers’ belief, expressed in 2024, that the race “has always been a springboard for riders with big ambitions”.
Historically, Capernwray was also a cornerstone of the now-on-hiatus Proper Northern Road Race Series, which helped stitch together a coherent competitive pathway in the North West. Yet even standing alone – as it will again in 2026 -the race retains its weight.
Peaks 2 Day returns with growing prestige
The Yomp Bonk Crew have also confirmed two of their flagship events for 2026, beginning with the Peaks 2 Day on 14–15 March.
First run in 2022, the race embodies the Yomp Bonk Crew’s distinctive, DIY-spirited freshness. As one of the few stage races on the domestic calendar, it has quickly garnered prestige. Strong fields in both the Open and Women’s races are drawn by its spectacular Peak District setting and the hilly, unforgiving terrain that shapes every edition.
Recent routes have drawn from both sides of the National Park, paired with the now-traditional time trial up Holme Moss – a climb etched into British cycling folklore long before the Tour de France crossed it in 2014. Winners have included George Peden, Ollie Peckover and Tom Martin in the Open race, and Becky Storrie, Tammy Miller and WorldTour professional Imogen Wolff in the Women’s edition. In 2025, the honours went to Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing) and Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT).
Ronde van Wymeswold returns in June
The Yomp Bonk Crew’s second major fixture, the Ronde van Wymeswold, will run on 20–21 June 2026.
Britain’s newest slice of stage racing, the two-day, three-stage contest made an immediate impact on its debut in 2024 with its slick logistics, grassroots atmosphere, and stripped-back, road-bike-only time trial. It stepped up again in 2025 as a round of the Rapha Super-League – the series’ sole stage race – with the Women’s edition doubling as a British Women’s Team Cup round.
The 2025 winners were Ed Morgan (Muc-Off–SRCT–Storck) and Noémie Thomson (Brother UK–Team OnForm).
More fixtures set
Elsewhere, Lomond Roads CC have announced on Instagram that the Hugh Dornan Road Race – which hosted the Scottish Road Race Championships this year – will run on 3 May 2026. It remains one of Scotland’s most respected National B fixtures.
The Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club Road Race, a longstanding British Team Cup round, has also confirmed its 2026 edition will take place on 17 May. Held in Oxfordshire, the race is built for grimpeurs. Each lap is crowned by The Knowle at Edgehill – a spiteful, leg-sapping ramp that features in Simon Warren’s 100 Greatest Climbs and has tormented the Tour of Britain. It guarantees a selective race, with the field often shattered long before the final laps.
Further south, the Kennel Hill Classic, organised by Seb Ottley, is expected to return on 28 March 2026. Set in Sussex, the race traces a route that closely mirrors the old Goodwood World Championships course, using the same windswept ridgelines and exposed climbing that shaped the 1982 Worlds. After its well-received 2022 debut, the event has quickly established itself as one of the South’s toughest early-season tests.
Following the release of the National Series dates yesterday, the build-up to the 2026 domestic road season continues, with organisers now confirming dates for several key National B fixtures. These early announcements are beginning to shape the opening months of the calendar, giving teams and riders a clearer framework for planning their spring campaigns.
As The British Continental previously revealed, the season will once again begin with the Portsdown Classic on 8 February 2026, organised by Seb Ottley. Another of the south’s newer success stories, the Kennel Hill Classic, organised by Seb Ottley, is also expected to return – pencilled in for 28 March following the positive feedback from its 2025 debut.
Capernwray confirmed
Cold Dark North have confirmed that the enduringly popular Capernwray Road Race will return on Saturday 4 April 2026. Long established as an early-season proving ground, the National B event will again unfold on the punishing, undulating roads of the Capernwray circuit near Lancaster. The familiar loop, shaped by the repeated haul up Sunny Bank, reliably produces an honest, attritional contest where only the strongest arrive in contention.
Capernwray has a strong record of spotlighting emerging talent. In 2025, Josh Housley (Primera–TeamJobs) delivered a commanding win in the Open race, while local climber Esther Wong (Torelli) sealed an impressive solo victory in the Women’s event. Previous winners include Cat Ferguson – now rising through the ranks – reinforcing the organisers’ belief, expressed in 2024, that the race “has always been a springboard for riders with big ambitions”.
Historically, Capernwray was also a cornerstone of the now-on-hiatus Proper Northern Road Race Series, which helped stitch together a coherent competitive pathway in the North West. Yet even standing alone – as it will again in 2026 -the race retains its weight.
Peaks 2 Day returns with growing prestige
The Yomp Bonk Crew have also confirmed two of their flagship events for 2026, beginning with the Peaks 2 Day on 14–15 March.
First run in 2022, the race embodies the Yomp Bonk Crew’s distinctive, DIY-spirited freshness. As one of the few stage races on the domestic calendar, it has quickly garnered prestige. Strong fields in both the Open and Women’s races are drawn by its spectacular Peak District setting and the hilly, unforgiving terrain that shapes every edition.
Recent routes have drawn from both sides of the National Park, paired with the now-traditional time trial up Holme Moss – a climb etched into British cycling folklore long before the Tour de France crossed it in 2014. Winners have included George Peden, Ollie Peckover and Tom Martin in the Open race, and Becky Storrie, Tammy Miller and WorldTour professional Imogen Wolff in the Women’s edition.
In 2025, the honours went to Rowan Baker (Raptor Factory Racing) and Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT).
Ronde van Wymeswold returns in June
The Yomp Bonk Crew’s second major fixture, the Ronde van Wymeswold, will run on 20–21 June 2026.
Britain’s newest slice of stage racing, the two-day, three-stage contest made an immediate impact on its debut in 2024 with its slick logistics, grassroots atmosphere, and stripped-back, road-bike-only time trial. It stepped up again in 2025 as a round of the Rapha Super-League – the series’ sole stage race – with the Women’s edition doubling as a British Women’s Team Cup round.
The 2025 winners were Ed Morgan (Muc-Off–SRCT–Storck) and Noémie Thomson (Brother UK–Team OnForm).
More fixtures set
Elsewhere, Lomond Roads CC have announced on Instagram that the Hugh Dornan Road Race – which hosted the Scottish Road Race Championships this year – will run on 3 May 2026. It remains one of Scotland’s most respected National B fixtures.
The Banbury Star Cyclists’ Club Road Race, a longstanding British Team Cup round, has also confirmed its 2026 edition will take place on 17 May. Held in Oxfordshire, the race is built for grimpeurs. Each lap is crowned by The Knowle at Edgehill – a spiteful, leg-sapping ramp that features in Simon Warren’s 100 Greatest Climbs and has tormented the Tour of Britain. It guarantees a selective race, with the field often shattered long before the final laps.
Further south, the Kennel Hill Classic, organised by Seb Ottley, is expected to return on 28 March 2026. Set in Sussex, the race traces a route that closely mirrors the old Goodwood World Championships course, using the same windswept ridgelines and exposed climbing that shaped the 1982 Worlds. After its well-received 2022 debut, the event has quickly established itself as one of the South’s toughest early-season tests.
Featured image: Darren Athersmith
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