Scottish Cycling has released its 2026 road racing calendar, confirming a significant step forward for the Alba and Scotia Series – the two pillars of the Scottish domestic scene. While the overall structure remains familiar, the coming season introduces an expanded schedule, more regional balance, and a notable shift in the developmental purpose of the Scotia Series.
The two series continue to operate at different competitive tiers: the Alba Series remains Scotland’s premier National B road racing programme, designed for open-category riders, while the women’s Scotia Series typically runs at Regional A level, providing a development pathway for riders progressing through the domestic ranks.
The most immediate structural change is the alignment of the series bookends. Both the Alba and Scotia campaigns will open together at Gifford on 28 March and close together at the Drummond Trophy on 22 August. That symmetry didn’t exist in 2025, where the two series followed separate paths with little crossover. The shared opener and finale give the 2026 narrative a clarity and cohesion that have often been missing from Scotland’s fragmented racing landscape.
Alba Series: from four rounds to a fully-fledged national tour
The Alba Series, Scotland’s premier National B road racing programme, expands from four rounds to six. The return of the Hugh Dornan Memorial Road Race – used in 2025 as the Scottish National Championships road race – adds historic heft to the calendar. A long-respected event in Argyll & Bute, the Dornan’s reintroduction restores one of Scotland’s classic road races to its rightful place in the national series
Meanwhile, two additions – the Ythan Road Race (name TBC) and the Sam Robinson Road Race strengthen the summer block and add depth to the series’ regional coverage.
Round
Date
Event
Region
1
28 March
Gifford Road Races
East Lothian
2
3 May
Hugh Dornan Memorial RR
Argyll & Bute
3
6 June
Ythan Road Race (name TBC)
Aberdeenshire
4
13–14 June
Mennock Pass Stage Race
South Lanarkshire
5
25 July
Sam Robinson Road Race
Stirling
6
22 August
Drummond Trophy
South Lanarkshire
The Mennock Pass Stage Race, which made an immediate impact in its 2025 debut, remains the centrepiece – cementing its status as one of Scotland’s most selective and defining races.
The absence of the Andrew Matheson Memorial, introduced in 2025, changes the complexion of the early season, placing greater weight on Gifford and the returning Dornan. What emerges is a more expansive and historically grounded national structure – one that touches the Borders, the Highlands, the Central Belt, and the East Coast.
Scotia Series: evolving into a clearer developmental tier
The Scotia Series sees an even more dramatic shift. In 2025 it was a compact, women-only Regional A series made up of four shorter events. For 2026 it grows to six rounds, incorporates a wider range of distances, and introduces more challenging race formats. The press release from Scottish Cycling suggests that Scotia Series will include the full Mennock Pass Stage Race for the first time. However, the organiser of the race has told The British Continental that the women’s race will remain a one-day event for the time-being.
Scottish Cycling describes the change as an effort to “ensure the series can become more accessible while not diminishing the racing experience.” The phrasing hints at a revised philosophy: Scotia is no longer just an entry point but a more focused developmental progression tier.
Round
Date
Event
Region
1
28 March
Gifford Road Races
East Lothian
2
19 April
Lake of Menteith APR
Stirling
3
3 May
Dyke APR
Moray
4
13 June
Torvelo Road Race
South Lanarkshire
5
26 July
Pippa Handley Road Race
Scottish Borders
6
22 August
Drummond Trophy
South Lanarkshire
A more coherent Scottish season
Put together, the 2026 Alba and Scotia calendars appear reflect a more joined-up vision for Scottish road racing. Both series open at Gifford, converge at Mennock Pass, and end at the Drummond Trophy. Both feature six rounds. And both now offer clearer identities.
Scottish Cycling has released its 2026 road racing calendar, confirming a significant step forward for the Alba and Scotia Series – the two pillars of the Scottish domestic scene. While the overall structure remains familiar, the coming season introduces an expanded schedule, more regional balance, and a notable shift in the developmental purpose of the Scotia Series.
The two series continue to operate at different competitive tiers: the Alba Series remains Scotland’s premier National B road racing programme, designed for open-category riders, while the women’s Scotia Series typically runs at Regional A level, providing a development pathway for riders progressing through the domestic ranks.
The most immediate structural change is the alignment of the series bookends. Both the Alba and Scotia campaigns will open together at Gifford on 28 March and close together at the Drummond Trophy on 22 August. That symmetry didn’t exist in 2025, where the two series followed separate paths with little crossover. The shared opener and finale give the 2026 narrative a clarity and cohesion that have often been missing from Scotland’s fragmented racing landscape.
Alba Series: from four rounds to a fully-fledged national tour
The Alba Series, Scotland’s premier National B road racing programme, expands from four rounds to six. The return of the Hugh Dornan Memorial Road Race – used in 2025 as the Scottish National Championships road race – adds historic heft to the calendar. A long-respected event in Argyll & Bute, the Dornan’s reintroduction restores one of Scotland’s classic road races to its rightful place in the national series
Meanwhile, two additions – the Ythan Road Race (name TBC) and the Sam Robinson Road Race strengthen the summer block and add depth to the series’ regional coverage.
The Mennock Pass Stage Race, which made an immediate impact in its 2025 debut, remains the centrepiece – cementing its status as one of Scotland’s most selective and defining races.
The absence of the Andrew Matheson Memorial, introduced in 2025, changes the complexion of the early season, placing greater weight on Gifford and the returning Dornan. What emerges is a more expansive and historically grounded national structure – one that touches the Borders, the Highlands, the Central Belt, and the East Coast.
Scotia Series: evolving into a clearer developmental tier
The Scotia Series sees an even more dramatic shift. In 2025 it was a compact, women-only Regional A series made up of four shorter events. For 2026 it grows to six rounds, incorporates a wider range of distances, and introduces more challenging race formats. The press release from Scottish Cycling suggests that Scotia Series will include the full Mennock Pass Stage Race for the first time. However, the organiser of the race has told The British Continental that the women’s race will remain a one-day event for the time-being.
Scottish Cycling describes the change as an effort to “ensure the series can become more accessible while not diminishing the racing experience.” The phrasing hints at a revised philosophy: Scotia is no longer just an entry point but a more focused developmental progression tier.
A more coherent Scottish season
Put together, the 2026 Alba and Scotia calendars appear reflect a more joined-up vision for Scottish road racing. Both series open at Gifford, converge at Mennock Pass, and end at the Drummond Trophy. Both feature six rounds. And both now offer clearer identities.
Featured image: Corin Halliday
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