Portsdown Classic and Kennel Hill Classic set to return in 2027

The 2027 British road season looks set to open on Valentine’s Day.

Seb Ottley plans to run both the Portsdown Classic and the Kennel Hill Classic next year. He has submitted them to British Cycling on their usual dates: the second Sunday in February for Portsdown, which is 14 February, and the end of March for Kennel Hill.

“I can confirm I plan to run both events for 2027,” Ottley said. The dates are provisional until British Cycling confirms its calendar.

The Portsdown Classic is the successor to the Perfs Pedal, which had run since 1964. Ottley relaunched it in 2024 after long-time organiser Mick Waite stepped away, keeping the circuit above Portsmouth but adding a steep finish on Crooked Walk Lane. Sam Culverwell (Saint Piran) won the first edition, and Jordan Giles (DAS Richardsons) the second. In February, Alex Murphy (Stolen Goat 4Endurance) won at the head of an all under-23 podium.

Ottley and his club, Racing Club Ravenna, brought road racing back to the 1982 World Championships circuit at Goodwood in 2022 as the RCR FatCreations Road Race. It became the Kennel Hill Classic in 2025. Rowan Baker has won it twice. The first was in 2024 for Saint Piran, when Caitlin Dimbleby (FTP–Fulfil The Potential Racing) won the women’s race. The second came this March for JAKROO Handsling Racing. Adam Howell (Muc-Off–SRCT–Storck) and Lucy Lee (DAS–Hutchinson) won in 2025.

In 2025, low entries put the whole race at risk. This year the women’s race was cancelled after attracting 21 entries, even with a three-day extension.

Featured image: Mark James