The Lloyds National Road Championships will return to Ceredigion in 2026, with British Cycling confirming a June 25th to 28th date window for the flagship time trial, circuit and road race titles.
It is the second year running that the championships head to west Wales, and it also sits within a wider agreement between British Cycling and the Welsh Government to stage the next three editions in Wales from 2025 through to 2027.
Photo Credit: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.comDates, venues and what we know so far about the courses
The three championship formats are locked in, even if the detailed routes are not.
The time trial championships will take place on Thursday, June 25th, with the course heading to Lampeter. The circuit race championships follow on Friday, June 26th. The week concludes with the elite road races on Sunday, June 28th.
British Cycling has also confirmed that the circuit championships and road race championships will once again start in Aberystwyth, while Lampeter hosts the time trial. Full routes will be announced later.
Photo Credit: Olly Hassell/SWpix.comWhy Ceredigion is back on the calendar again
Ceredigion’s return is framed as a continuation rather than a new experiment. British Cycling Ventures highlighted last year’s event delivery and the strength of the partnership with Ceredigion County Council and the Welsh Government as reasons for coming back.
Jonathan Day, Director of Events at British Cycling Ventures, said: “Wales has been a huge supporter of hosting major cycling events, and Ceredigion provides the perfect stage for what promises to be another captivating National Championships bringing together the best of British talent.”
Welsh Government support has also been explicit about spreading major event benefits across the country. Welsh Minister for Sport Jack Sargeant described Wales as “fast becoming a top destination for world class cycling” and pointed to a wider ambition that includes the 2027 Tour de France Grand Depart stage in Wales, while stressing that top level cycling should not be limited only to the Tour route.
Ceredigion County Council, meanwhile, has leaned on the visible local impact. Clive Davies, Cabinet Member for Economy, Regeneration and Carbon Management, said last year’s championships “brought thousands of visitors”, showcased the region’s landscapes, and delivered a boost for local businesses, adding that the return is “a testament to the strength of our partnership”.
Beicio Cymru also underlined the home roads opportunity for Welsh athletes, with Director of Sport Darren Tudor describing the event as a chance for Welsh riders to perform in front of local support.
Photo Credit: Olly Hassell/SWpix.comWhat happened in 2025, and the storylines that could carry into 2026
Last year’s championships in Ceredigion delivered properly memorable racing, especially in the elite road races.
In the elite women’s road race, Millie Couzens took the national title after a tactical day that began with a sizeable breakaway and ended with a small favourites group reaching the finish together. Couzens won the sprint ahead of defending champion Pfeiffer Georgi, with Anna Henderson third. Couzens described the race as “quite a hard race to play tactically”, admitting there was a moment when the break’s advantage became worrying before the balance of work and timing swung the finale back towards the favourites.
The elite men’s road race was decided in a very different way. Samuel Watson attacked late and went solo to the national title, taking the group behind by surprise and then holding the gap all the way to the line. Matthew Brennan won the sprint for second, with Ethan Vernon third, but the decisive move was the one Watson committed to when the peloton hesitated, and the chase never quite formed with enough clarity.
Those two outcomes matter for 2026 because they underline what Ceredigion can produce: a course that rewards patience and punch in the women’s race, and late race conviction in the men’s race, especially when fatigue and organisation start to fray.
2026 schedule at a glance
The Lloyds National Road Championships in Ceredigion will run across June 25th to 28th, with the time trial on June 25th, the circuit race on June 26th, and the road races on June 28th.
Routes will be confirmed later, but Aberystwyth and Lampeter are already set as key hubs for the weekend.
Main photo credit: SWpix.com
