The Rapha Super-League returns in 2026 with a condensed eight-round format, the inclusion of the CiCLE Classics, live coverage and two UCI-sanctioned events, sharpening the competition for the Open and Women’s individual titles.
The Rapha Super-League will return in 2026 with a revised format, a new points structure and significantly expanded live coverage – alongside the addition of the CiCLE Classics and their distinctive off-road sectors.
Launched in 2025 as a 16-round individual competition, the League was created to link together key fixtures on the British domestic calendar and reward consistency across the season. It crowns one overall winner in the Open category and one in the Women’s category.
Last year’s titles went to Matt Bostock and Robyn Clay, whose performances across road races and criteriums underlined the League’s emphasis on versatility rather than isolated wins.
For 2026, while the objective remains the same, the structure has changed.
From sixteen rounds to eight counting races
The new edition has been reduced from 16 rounds to eight counting races per League, drawn from nine headline events across the season. The intention is to create a tighter competition that is easier to follow, while increasing the weight of each result.
Each League – Open and Women – comprises four road races and four criteriums. Some events contribute to one League only, reflecting the shape of the domestic calendar.
The full 2026 schedule is:
Date
Event
League
23 March
ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic
Women only
26 April
Rutland International CiCLE Classic
Open only
10 May
Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix
Open & Women
13 June
City of London Nocturne
Open & Women
1 July
LOGCO Otley Cycle Races
Open & Women
17 July
Dawlish Grand Prix
Open & Women
9 August
Beaumont Trophy & Curlew Cup
Open & Women
16 August
North Yorkshire Grand Prix
Open & Women
23 August
Cambridge Criterium
Open & Women
With fewer counting rounds, consistency becomes more critical. Riders will have less room to recover from an off-day, and early-season performances may carry greater weight.
CiCLE Classics introduce gravel sectors
The most notable sporting addition for 2026 is the inclusion of both CiCLE Classics.
The ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic and the Rutland International CiCLE Classic are defined by their unpaved sectors – gravel tracks and farm lanes that regularly fragment the peloton.
The Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic holds particular significance. It is the UK’s only one-day UCI road race, attracting international teams and carrying UCI ranking points. Its inclusion raises the competitive level of the Open League and embeds a genuinely international fixture within the domestic series.
The Women’s CiCLE Classic, while not UCI-classified, has become one of the most selective and distinctive events on the British women’s calendar.
Their addition marks a clear shift from 2025. Last season’s League did not feature off-road sectors. In 2026, the standings will begin on mixed terrain, rewarding riders comfortable with positioning, technical handling and attritional racing.
In a condensed eight-round format, those early gravel tests could prove decisive.
2025 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Conor Courtney
Two UCI events within the League
The CiCLE Classic is not the only UCI fixture on the 2026 calendar. The City of London Nocturne returns in 2026 as a UCI-sanctioned night race in central London, bringing international visibility and ranking points to the criterium phase of the League.
Its presence gives the Super-League two UCI events – one road race and one criterium – spanning contrasting formats.
UCI classification carries practical implications. It attracts international participation, increases media interest and adds a layer of competitive intensity. Riders contesting the overall League standings will need to balance domestic ambitions with the demands and opportunities that come with UCI competition.
Alongside these high-profile fixtures, the calendar retains established domestic rounds including the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, the Otley Cycle Races, the Dawlish Grand Prix, the North Yorkshire Grand Prix and the finale at the Cambridge Criterium.
Revised points structure
The 2026 edition also introduces a race classification system, to be published in the coming weeks. Each event will receive a classification based on factors including prestige, difficulty, atmosphere and innovation. Higher-classified events will award more points to the top 20 finishers.
The objective is to reflect the differing scale and historical weight of events within the domestic landscape. While the competition remains rooted in consistency, not all rounds will carry equal influence.
With only eight counting races per rider, the new system increases the impact of standout performances at the most significant events.
Image: June Riviera
Increasing visibility
Almost every race in the 2026 Rapha Super-League will be live streamed via Monument Cycling TV.
Visibility has long been a structural challenge for domestic racing, where coverage has often relied on social media updates or post-race reports. Expanded live streaming offers broader access for supporters and sponsors and strengthens the narrative continuity of the League.
Jess Morgan, UK Marketing Manager at Rapha, said:
“Domestic road racing deserves more attention. It has so much to offer in terms of action and storytelling, if only more people had a way to follow it.
It has a rich and diverse history – all our British heroes came from the grassroots scene. It has a unique community of passionate individuals who dedicate their time to running the races or racing in them, and we want to do more to acknowledge and celebrate them.
The Rapha Super-League is our way of highlighting the very best of British racing and offering potential fans a gateway into the sport.”
A tighter, higher-profile edition
The 2026 Rapha Super-League remains an individual competition, with one overall winner in the Open category and one in the Women’s category.
The reduction from sixteen rounds to eight counting races, the addition of gravel sectors, and the inclusion of two UCI-sanctioned events create a sharper and more high-profile edition of the series.
From mixed terrain in March to the final sprint in Cambridge in August, the League again provides a defined season-long thread – this time with fewer rounds, greater weighting and a clearer international dimension.
As in 2025, we will provide previews, live race updates, reports, standings updates and analysis throughout the season via our dedicated Rapha Super-League Hub, which will be updated ahead of the opening round on 22 March.
The Rapha Super-League will return in 2026 with a revised format, a new points structure and significantly expanded live coverage – alongside the addition of the CiCLE Classics and their distinctive off-road sectors.
Launched in 2025 as a 16-round individual competition, the League was created to link together key fixtures on the British domestic calendar and reward consistency across the season. It crowns one overall winner in the Open category and one in the Women’s category.
Last year’s titles went to Matt Bostock and Robyn Clay, whose performances across road races and criteriums underlined the League’s emphasis on versatility rather than isolated wins.
For 2026, while the objective remains the same, the structure has changed.
From sixteen rounds to eight counting races
The new edition has been reduced from 16 rounds to eight counting races per League, drawn from nine headline events across the season. The intention is to create a tighter competition that is easier to follow, while increasing the weight of each result.
Each League – Open and Women – comprises four road races and four criteriums. Some events contribute to one League only, reflecting the shape of the domestic calendar.
The full 2026 schedule is:
With fewer counting rounds, consistency becomes more critical. Riders will have less room to recover from an off-day, and early-season performances may carry greater weight.
CiCLE Classics introduce gravel sectors
The most notable sporting addition for 2026 is the inclusion of both CiCLE Classics.
The ANEXO/CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic and the Rutland International CiCLE Classic are defined by their unpaved sectors – gravel tracks and farm lanes that regularly fragment the peloton.
The Rutland–Melton CiCLE Classic holds particular significance. It is the UK’s only one-day UCI road race, attracting international teams and carrying UCI ranking points. Its inclusion raises the competitive level of the Open League and embeds a genuinely international fixture within the domestic series.
The Women’s CiCLE Classic, while not UCI-classified, has become one of the most selective and distinctive events on the British women’s calendar.
Their addition marks a clear shift from 2025. Last season’s League did not feature off-road sectors. In 2026, the standings will begin on mixed terrain, rewarding riders comfortable with positioning, technical handling and attritional racing.
In a condensed eight-round format, those early gravel tests could prove decisive.
Two UCI events within the League
The CiCLE Classic is not the only UCI fixture on the 2026 calendar. The City of London Nocturne returns in 2026 as a UCI-sanctioned night race in central London, bringing international visibility and ranking points to the criterium phase of the League.
Its presence gives the Super-League two UCI events – one road race and one criterium – spanning contrasting formats.
UCI classification carries practical implications. It attracts international participation, increases media interest and adds a layer of competitive intensity. Riders contesting the overall League standings will need to balance domestic ambitions with the demands and opportunities that come with UCI competition.
Alongside these high-profile fixtures, the calendar retains established domestic rounds including the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, the Otley Cycle Races, the Dawlish Grand Prix, the North Yorkshire Grand Prix and the finale at the Cambridge Criterium.
Revised points structure
The 2026 edition also introduces a race classification system, to be published in the coming weeks. Each event will receive a classification based on factors including prestige, difficulty, atmosphere and innovation. Higher-classified events will award more points to the top 20 finishers.
The objective is to reflect the differing scale and historical weight of events within the domestic landscape. While the competition remains rooted in consistency, not all rounds will carry equal influence.
With only eight counting races per rider, the new system increases the impact of standout performances at the most significant events.
Increasing visibility
Almost every race in the 2026 Rapha Super-League will be live streamed via Monument Cycling TV.
Visibility has long been a structural challenge for domestic racing, where coverage has often relied on social media updates or post-race reports. Expanded live streaming offers broader access for supporters and sponsors and strengthens the narrative continuity of the League.
Jess Morgan, UK Marketing Manager at Rapha, said:
“Domestic road racing deserves more attention. It has so much to offer in terms of action and storytelling, if only more people had a way to follow it.
It has a rich and diverse history – all our British heroes came from the grassroots scene. It has a unique community of passionate individuals who dedicate their time to running the races or racing in them, and we want to do more to acknowledge and celebrate them.
The Rapha Super-League is our way of highlighting the very best of British racing and offering potential fans a gateway into the sport.”
A tighter, higher-profile edition
The 2026 Rapha Super-League remains an individual competition, with one overall winner in the Open category and one in the Women’s category.
The reduction from sixteen rounds to eight counting races, the addition of gravel sectors, and the inclusion of two UCI-sanctioned events create a sharper and more high-profile edition of the series.
From mixed terrain in March to the final sprint in Cambridge in August, the League again provides a defined season-long thread – this time with fewer rounds, greater weighting and a clearer international dimension.
As in 2025, we will provide previews, live race updates, reports, standings updates and analysis throughout the season via our dedicated Rapha Super-League Hub, which will be updated ahead of the opening round on 22 March.
Featured image: Conor Courtney
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