The British Conti Awards 2025: Domestic Rider of the Year – Male shortlist revealed
Three riders who defined the British domestic peloton in 2025 - leaders, race-shapers and consistent contenders all season long. Following George Kimber’s win last year, this year’s shortlist highlights the standout men who set the standard on home roads.
Few categories speak more clearly to the strength of Britain’s domestic scene than this one. The Domestic Rider of the Year – Male award recognises the rider who delivered the most complete, consistent and influential season on home roads: race-winning form, series-long impact, and the ability to shape the biggest days of the calendar.
Last year, George Kimber bagged the award for his against-the-odds National Road Series win. This year, three riders rose unmistakably to the top.
Shortlist
James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Having joined Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli for 2025, James McKay cemented his place as one of the best riders in the UK, bookending his season with National Road Series victories at the Rapha Lincoln and Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prixs, earning him a move back to the Continental ranks with Atom 6 Bikes-Decca for 2026.
The season started inauspiciously for the 28-year-old, who burst into life with victory at the Timmy James Memorial Race only a week before Lincoln, proving his devastating burst of speed remained as he demolished the field on the uphill finish where he famously got the better of Alex Richardson two years ago.
A week later, aided by a near-perfect performance from his Wheelbase team, McKay proved his form was no flash in the pan, making multiple selections on the steep cobblestones of Michaelgate, executing his plan perfectly to outsprint former WorldTour rider Alex Peters to land an emotional victory in a race where he considered calling time on the sport only three years prior.
Electing to skip the National Circuit Series with the National Road Series in mind, McKay’s decision paid off at the series finale, the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. Playing a team role on local roads, McKay made the final selection of twelve riders alongside teammate Tom Armstrong, demonstrating his tactical brilliance and resilience when emerging late from the pack to cross the line first, a mechanical issue slowing Armstrong’s charge considerably as he approached the line.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck)
Adam Howell is a rider that needs little introduction, the National Road Series winner proving his class, both in the UK and abroad, throughout 2025. Starting the year as a surprise signing for the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck team, the Surrey labourer downed his tools in pursuit of the sport and instantly garnered attention with a solo victory on the first stage of the Peaks 2-Day back in March, holding off some of the best talent the UK has to offer in the process. A win at the Kennel Hill Classic followed before the 20-year-old threw down the gauntlet at the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic, getting the better of the 2024 overall winner George Kimber in the closest of two-up sprints on the punishing slopes of Saltburn Bank.
What followed was perhaps even more impressive – a remarkable victory at the Tour of the Reservoir, where despite finding himself blown off the road in the crosswinds early on, he fought back to take a victory for the ages, putting him in control of the National Road Series, tactical maturity beyond his years securing his name on the Star Trophy as he overcame illness at the Beaumont Trophy and handled the pressure at the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix.
Howell’s form was as impressive over the Channel, his first taste of European racing bringing stage victories against some of the best French talent at the Tour de la Manche in May and the Estivale Bretonne in August, results which helped secure his ride with UCI Continental outfit Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme for 2026.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Tom Armstrong has become the definition of consistency since returning to the UK three seasons ago. Making the transition from racing at Continental level in Spain, the Lancastrian finally got his rewards this season – a maiden National A win at the Cambridge Criterium the icing on the cake after he claimed the National Circuit Series in July.
Never outside the top-ten throughout the six race series, Armstong conquered a variety of courses to get the better of the likes of Matt Bostock, racing without a teammate at Guildford before going head to head with the sprinters at the super-fast Colne GP, as well as being involved in all the crucial moves across a range of technical, challenging circuits such as Ilkley and Sheffield.
Armstrong’s eye for a winning move proved vital to his Cambridge success a month later as he held his nerve to take the win from a group of six riders. Backing his sprint, and timing, the peloton reached the line just moments after he raised his arms in celebration at finally taking a major win in the UK.
It was not only on closed circuits where the Lancastrian impressed this season, an inopportune mechanical denying him a maiden National Road Series victory at the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix, his second place sitting alongside the top tens he achieved at the East Cleveland Classic and Witheridge Grand Prix earlier in the season.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
What’s next?
Three seasons that shaped the domestic narrative. One award.
The winner of Domestic Rider of the Year — Male will be announced next week.
Few categories speak more clearly to the strength of Britain’s domestic scene than this one. The Domestic Rider of the Year – Male award recognises the rider who delivered the most complete, consistent and influential season on home roads: race-winning form, series-long impact, and the ability to shape the biggest days of the calendar.
Last year, George Kimber bagged the award for his against-the-odds National Road Series win. This year, three riders rose unmistakably to the top.
Shortlist
James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Having joined Wheelbase-Cabtech-Castelli for 2025, James McKay cemented his place as one of the best riders in the UK, bookending his season with National Road Series victories at the Rapha Lincoln and Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prixs, earning him a move back to the Continental ranks with Atom 6 Bikes-Decca for 2026.
The season started inauspiciously for the 28-year-old, who burst into life with victory at the Timmy James Memorial Race only a week before Lincoln, proving his devastating burst of speed remained as he demolished the field on the uphill finish where he famously got the better of Alex Richardson two years ago.
A week later, aided by a near-perfect performance from his Wheelbase team, McKay proved his form was no flash in the pan, making multiple selections on the steep cobblestones of Michaelgate, executing his plan perfectly to outsprint former WorldTour rider Alex Peters to land an emotional victory in a race where he considered calling time on the sport only three years prior.
Electing to skip the National Circuit Series with the National Road Series in mind, McKay’s decision paid off at the series finale, the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix. Playing a team role on local roads, McKay made the final selection of twelve riders alongside teammate Tom Armstrong, demonstrating his tactical brilliance and resilience when emerging late from the pack to cross the line first, a mechanical issue slowing Armstrong’s charge considerably as he approached the line.
Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck)
Adam Howell is a rider that needs little introduction, the National Road Series winner proving his class, both in the UK and abroad, throughout 2025. Starting the year as a surprise signing for the Muc-Off-SRCT-Storck team, the Surrey labourer downed his tools in pursuit of the sport and instantly garnered attention with a solo victory on the first stage of the Peaks 2-Day back in March, holding off some of the best talent the UK has to offer in the process. A win at the Kennel Hill Classic followed before the 20-year-old threw down the gauntlet at the opening round of the National Road Series, the East Cleveland Classic, getting the better of the 2024 overall winner George Kimber in the closest of two-up sprints on the punishing slopes of Saltburn Bank.
What followed was perhaps even more impressive – a remarkable victory at the Tour of the Reservoir, where despite finding himself blown off the road in the crosswinds early on, he fought back to take a victory for the ages, putting him in control of the National Road Series, tactical maturity beyond his years securing his name on the Star Trophy as he overcame illness at the Beaumont Trophy and handled the pressure at the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix.
Howell’s form was as impressive over the Channel, his first taste of European racing bringing stage victories against some of the best French talent at the Tour de la Manche in May and the Estivale Bretonne in August, results which helped secure his ride with UCI Continental outfit Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme for 2026.
Tom Armstrong (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)
Tom Armstrong has become the definition of consistency since returning to the UK three seasons ago. Making the transition from racing at Continental level in Spain, the Lancastrian finally got his rewards this season – a maiden National A win at the Cambridge Criterium the icing on the cake after he claimed the National Circuit Series in July.
Never outside the top-ten throughout the six race series, Armstong conquered a variety of courses to get the better of the likes of Matt Bostock, racing without a teammate at Guildford before going head to head with the sprinters at the super-fast Colne GP, as well as being involved in all the crucial moves across a range of technical, challenging circuits such as Ilkley and Sheffield.
Armstrong’s eye for a winning move proved vital to his Cambridge success a month later as he held his nerve to take the win from a group of six riders. Backing his sprint, and timing, the peloton reached the line just moments after he raised his arms in celebration at finally taking a major win in the UK.
It was not only on closed circuits where the Lancastrian impressed this season, an inopportune mechanical denying him a maiden National Road Series victory at the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix, his second place sitting alongside the top tens he achieved at the East Cleveland Classic and Witheridge Grand Prix earlier in the season.
What’s next?
Three seasons that shaped the domestic narrative. One award.
The winner of Domestic Rider of the Year — Male will be announced next week.
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