The 2023 British National Road Championships will take place in the North East, it has been announced.
British Cycling said the time-trial, circuit and road race championships will be held across three days of racing from June 21 to 25 in Redcar and Cleveland.
In addition to the championships, the borough will also play host to an additional round of this year’s men’s and women’s National Road Series on Sunday, October 1. The East Cleveland Classic will become the final round of each series, further adding to what is set to be a memorable year of cycling in the region, following the announcement that it will also host a stage of this year's Women's Tour earlier this month.
Redcar and Cleveland has previously hosted rounds of the National Road Series, Tour of Britain and Tour Series.
The 2023 championships will begin one day earlier than usual with the time-trials on Wednesday, June 21. Further details of the route will be released in due course.
Charlie Tanfield on Saltburn beach ahead of the National Road Championships Picture: ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX.COM
Ethan Hayter will be looking for his third consecutive title in the elite men’s category, while the absence of Joss Lowden, who is expecting her first child, will mean a new champion will be crowned in the elite women’s.
The circuit races will then take place on Friday in Redcar town centre, where Josie Nelson and Matt Bostock will be hoping to retain their national circuit race titles, having picked up their first elite national titles in Kirkcudbright last summer.
The championships will then conclude with the road races, which will start and finish in Saltburn on Sunday, June 25. Alice Towers won her debut national champions’ jersey in Castle Douglas last year after a solo breakaway, while Mark Cavendish delighted the local crowd by sprinting to victory in the men’s race.
Former under-23 time-trial national champion Charlie Tanfield, from nearby Great Ayton, who joined members of Cleveland Wheelers for the announcement, said: “It’s really special to race on home roads, and I cannot wait to go to Redcar in June. Having raced at the Tour of Britain last year, the crowds were amazing and I’m really hoping to claim another national podium this year.”
Charlie Tanfield on Saltburn beach ahead of the National Road Championships Picture: ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX.COM
The 2023 championships will bring together the time-trial, circuit and road events for a third consecutive year. British Cycling’s acting cycling delivery director, Jonathan Day said: “We’d like to thank our partners at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council for their support in bringing the championships and additional national series event to the region, and enabling us to deliver what I know will be exciting and challenging courses for our riders and supporters on the roadside. These events simply cannot happen without dedicated local support, and we’re looking forward to working with the council team and other local agencies to bring the event to life over the coming months.
Charlie Tanfield in front of Saltburn pier with Cleveland Wheelers, and Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council members Stephen Mussett, Louise Westbury and Mary Lanigan ahead of the National Road Championships Picture: ALLAN MCKENZIE/SWPIX.COM
“While the landscape for elite road racing remains incredibly challenging, British Cycling is fully committed to supporting our road riders through high-quality events, aiming to deliver exposure for teams and sponsors and giving our members and fans across Britain the opportunity to watch the country’s best riders do battle.”
Redcar and Cleveland cabinet member for climate change, environment and culture, Cllr Louise Westbury added: “The three days of elite races will be a fantastic spectacle for local people and visitors and will provide us with the perfect opportunity to showcase what the area has to offer, from our vibrant towns and villages to our stunning coastline and breath-taking countryside.”
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