Royal Navy Cup set to return on original date after swift community response
What appeared to be an early-season loss for the South West has quickly become a revival story, as the Royal Navy Cup is reinstated on the same date and with the same format after riders moved to save the event.
Just days after the Royal Navy Cup was confirmed as cancelled for 2026, the race is now set to return – on the same date and in the same format – after a prospective organiser stepped forward.
The cancellation stemmed primarily from organisational continuity issues; and without a confirmed organiser with the capacity to assume the administrative and operational responsibility, the race could not proceed.
However, the reaction to that announcement was immediate.
Within hours of publication, multiple riders made contact to explore whether the race could be salvaged. Conversations progressed quickly and a new organiser has now stepped forward, with plans in place to run the event on its original date and with the same race format.
Image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge Photography
That means the 120km open National B road race will remain on the Ilton circuit at RNAS Merryfield in Somerset – a working military base that provides one of the more distinctive early-season venues in the domestic calendar. The accompanying women’s circuit race is also expected to proceed as originally planned.
The Royal Navy Cup would have entered its third edition this season. The event first ran in 2024, when Jordan Giles claimed victory in the open race and Niamh Murphy won the women’s event. In 2025, Monte Guerrini and Katie-Anne Calton were the respective victors.
Final administrative details are now being formalised, including coordination with venue stakeholders and British Cycling, but the intention is clear: the race will go ahead as originally scheduled.
What appeared earlier this week to be a loss from the calendar is now set to become an example of the domestic scene responding quickly to protect one of its emerging events.
Further confirmation and entry details are expected shortly.
Just days after the Royal Navy Cup was confirmed as cancelled for 2026, the race is now set to return – on the same date and in the same format – after a prospective organiser stepped forward.
Earlier this week, The British Continental reported that the South West Road Race Working Group (SWRRG) had been unable to secure a replacement organiser for the National B fixture. The event had not been registered with British Cycling and, at that stage, would not have taken place.
The cancellation stemmed primarily from organisational continuity issues; and without a confirmed organiser with the capacity to assume the administrative and operational responsibility, the race could not proceed.
However, the reaction to that announcement was immediate.
Within hours of publication, multiple riders made contact to explore whether the race could be salvaged. Conversations progressed quickly and a new organiser has now stepped forward, with plans in place to run the event on its original date and with the same race format.
That means the 120km open National B road race will remain on the Ilton circuit at RNAS Merryfield in Somerset – a working military base that provides one of the more distinctive early-season venues in the domestic calendar. The accompanying women’s circuit race is also expected to proceed as originally planned.
The Royal Navy Cup would have entered its third edition this season. The event first ran in 2024, when Jordan Giles claimed victory in the open race and Niamh Murphy won the women’s event. In 2025, Monte Guerrini and Katie-Anne Calton were the respective victors.
Final administrative details are now being formalised, including coordination with venue stakeholders and British Cycling, but the intention is clear: the race will go ahead as originally scheduled.
What appeared earlier this week to be a loss from the calendar is now set to become an example of the domestic scene responding quickly to protect one of its emerging events.
Further confirmation and entry details are expected shortly.
Featured image: PelotonPix / Dave Dodge
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