The British Conti Awards are The British Continental’s annual awards for British domestic road racing. Since 2024 they have recognised the riders, teams, races, and people at UCI Continental level and below who make the domestic scene what it is. This page sets out how the awards are decided.
The nine awards
- Domestic Rider of the Year: Women
The standout rider in British domestic racing, judged on results, the level of competition, and consistency across the season. - Domestic Rider of the Year: Men
The standout rider in British domestic racing, judged on results, the level of competition, and consistency across the season. - Breakthrough Rider of the Year: Women
The rider who took the biggest step forward in 2026 and showed what she could go on to do. - Breakthrough Rider of the Year: Men
The rider who took the biggest step forward in 2026 and showed what he could go on to do. - Domestic Team of the Year
The best British domestic team, judged on results, consistency, and how well it develops its riders. - International-Based Rider of the Year
A British rider racing abroad, on a UCI Continental team or below, judged on results in UCI races and the season as a whole. - Domestic Race of the Year
The British race that best showed what the sport can be, judged on the racing, the course, the organisation, and what it gave the domestic scene. Any women’s or open road race on the UCI 1.2, National A, or National B calendar is eligible. - Outstanding Performance of the Year
The most memorable ride or campaign of the year by a rider or team from the domestic scene, at home or abroad. - Outstanding Contribution to Domestic Road Racing
A person, team, club, organiser, or group whose work has made a lasting difference to British domestic road racing.
The awards cover the 2026 road season.
Nominations
Readers nominate for three of the awards: Outstanding Performance of the Year, Domestic Race of the Year, and Outstanding Contribution to Domestic Road Racing. In 2026, nominations are open from Thursday 12 November until 11.59pm on Thursday 19 November.
This is not a vote. The number of nominations a candidate receives makes no difference. What counts is the strength of the case, and a single well-argued nomination can be enough to reach the shortlist. For the other six awards, candidates come from the season’s results, the Stats Hub, and our own reporting.
The panel
Six judges decide the awards. Three work on The British Continental: Denny Gray, founder and editor; Jack Beavis, writer; and Joe Hudson, reporter and photographer. Three come from outside it. Sarah King runs London Academy and chairs British Cycling’s Road Commission. Sian Botteley raced the 2026 domestic season with Brother UK–Team OnForm. Both sat on last year’s panel. Alice McWilliam, new to the panel this year, rode for DAS–Hutchinson in 2026.
How the panel decides
For each award, the editor prepares a short pack of three to five candidates, with a summary of each and the criteria above. Before voting opens, any judge can add a candidate, query eligibility, or declare a conflict.
Each judge then votes alone, ranking their top three in each category. First place earns three points, second two, and third one, and the highest total wins. Each judge also gives a sentence on their first choice, which we draw on when we explain the decision.
If two candidates finish level on points, the one with more first-place votes wins, then the one with more second places. If they are still level, the judges eligible in that category hold a run-off vote. If they still cannot be separated, the panel settles it together and records how. The editor does not decide alone.
Conflicts of interest
A judge with a conflict in a category sits out that whole category. That includes riding for, managing, or working with a candidate, organising a candidate race, or a close family connection. Panel members cannot be shortlisted, and The British Continental is not eligible for Outstanding Contribution to Domestic Road Racing.
Sponsors and supporters
Our sponsors and the readers who support The British Continental have no say in the awards. Supporting us makes no difference to who is considered, shortlisted, or chosen, and supporters and sponsors do not see the results before anyone else.
Women’s and men’s awards
The women’s awards are open to all riders who identify as women, and the men’s awards to all riders who identify as men.
The 2026 timetable
- Nominations: Thursday 12 to Thursday 19 November
- Panel vote: Thursday 26 to Monday 30 November
- Winners: one a day, from Thursday 3 to Friday 11 December
Past winners
| Award | 2024 | 2025 |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic Rider of the Year: Women | Eilidh Shaw | Robyn Clay |
| Domestic Rider of the Year: Men | George Kimber | Adam Howell |
| Breakthrough Rider of the Year: Women | Lauren Dickson | Noémie Thomson |
| Breakthrough Rider of the Year: Men | Tom Williams | Adam Howell |
| Domestic Team of the Year | Shibden Apex RT | Muc-Off–SRCT–Storck |
| International-Based Rider of the Year | Matthew Brennan | Ben Granger |
| Domestic Race of the Year | Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix | Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic |
| Outstanding Performance of the Year | Dom Jackson | Kate Richardson |
| Outstanding Contribution to Domestic Road Racing | Sarah King | Yomp Bonk Crew |