The wait is over. On Sunday, 8 February, the British domestic road racing season begins above Portsmouth Harbour with the return of the Portsdown Classic – a race with heritage, heart, and a habit of offering early answers.
As the domestic women’s calendar continues to evolve, the British Women’s Team Cup returns for 2026 with a tighter, five-round National B series — reaffirming the value of team racing, repetition and collective development.
The pathway to UCI Continental status exists, but for teams attempting to navigate it, the signals can feel unclear. In the first part of a two-part interview, JAKROO Handsling managers David Streule and Tony Poole discuss ambition, access and why — from their perspective — understanding readiness in British men’s road racing has been difficult.
After two UCI 1.2 victories last season and a near-miss earlier in the week at the Tour of El Salvador, Frankie Hall secured the first UCI 1.1 win of her career at the Grand Prix San Salvador. Riding for Roland Cogeas Cycling Team, the 30-year-old’s victory marks a significant early-season moment for both rider and team, and reinforces the arguments she made in a candid interview with The British Continental late last year about opportunity, persistence and performance.