Horseshoe Pass to host North Wales road racing return
After a seven-year absence, road racing returns to North Wales with a mountain-top finish and the first ever standalone women’s road race in the region.
Road racing will return to North Wales in May 2026 with the launch of the North Wales Horseshoe Pass Road Race, a new Regional A event promoted by the Velotik Development Academy.
Set to take place on Sunday 17 May, the race will be based in Llangollen and will mark the first road race held in North Wales since 2019, with both an Open race and – crucially – a standalone Women’s race on the programme.
How many regional-level races have a mountain-top finish? I can’t think of one
Speaking in an announcement shared on Instagram, organiser Ryan Morley said the event is designed to bring meaningful road racing opportunities back to the region, with a clear development focus. The race will be run at Regional A level, open to category 2, 3 and 4 riders.
Both races will be contested over the same demanding circuit, which includes the iconic Horseshoe Pass – a climb that featured in the Tour of Britain Women in 2024. The route will finish at the summit of the Pass, a rarity at regional level and a feature Morley believes sets the event apart.
“How many regional-level races have a mountain-top finish? I can’t think of one,” Morley said. “Not at the top of the Horseshoe Pass like that.”
2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. Lotte Kopecky of Team SD Worx-Protime attacks on the Horseshoe Pass. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.co
The introduction of a standalone Women’s race is particularly significant. While women raced in North Wales during the Welsh Championships in 2019, Morley noted that this was a combined veteran men’s and women’s event. He says that the 2026 race will be, “the first ever standalone women’s road race in North Wales in the history of cycling.”
The first ever standalone women’s road race in North Wales in the history of cycling
Entries are now open via British Cycling, with Morley also issuing a call for volunteers to help deliver the event, including marshals, drivers and finish-line support. He emphasised that the race is not being run for profit, but as part of a broader effort to rebuild road racing in the region and create a more inclusive domestic scene.
If successful, organisers hope the North Wales Horseshoe Pass Road Race can grow into a fixture of the calendar – one defined as much by its geography as by its intent.
Road racing will return to North Wales in May 2026 with the launch of the North Wales Horseshoe Pass Road Race, a new Regional A event promoted by the Velotik Development Academy.
Set to take place on Sunday 17 May, the race will be based in Llangollen and will mark the first road race held in North Wales since 2019, with both an Open race and – crucially – a standalone Women’s race on the programme.
Speaking in an announcement shared on Instagram, organiser Ryan Morley said the event is designed to bring meaningful road racing opportunities back to the region, with a clear development focus. The race will be run at Regional A level, open to category 2, 3 and 4 riders.
Both races will be contested over the same demanding circuit, which includes the iconic Horseshoe Pass – a climb that featured in the Tour of Britain Women in 2024. The route will finish at the summit of the Pass, a rarity at regional level and a feature Morley believes sets the event apart.
“How many regional-level races have a mountain-top finish? I can’t think of one,” Morley said. “Not at the top of the Horseshoe Pass like that.”
The introduction of a standalone Women’s race is particularly significant. While women raced in North Wales during the Welsh Championships in 2019, Morley noted that this was a combined veteran men’s and women’s event. He says that the 2026 race will be, “the first ever standalone women’s road race in North Wales in the history of cycling.”
Entries are now open via British Cycling, with Morley also issuing a call for volunteers to help deliver the event, including marshals, drivers and finish-line support. He emphasised that the race is not being run for profit, but as part of a broader effort to rebuild road racing in the region and create a more inclusive domestic scene.
If successful, organisers hope the North Wales Horseshoe Pass Road Race can grow into a fixture of the calendar – one defined as much by its geography as by its intent.
Featured image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
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