Lizzie Deignan, Luke Rowe, and Pfeiffer Georgi are among the prominent names confirmed to race for the coveted national champions’ jerseys at this year’s Lloyds Bank National Road Championships. The event will take place in Tees Valley from 19th-23th June.
Time-trial
The championships will commence with the time-trials on Wednesday, 19 June, in Catterick at the Bourlon Barracks in North Yorkshire. Last year’s winners, Josh Tarling and Lizzie Holden, will be at the forefront of a competitive field. Riders will complete two laps of the course, totalling 30km with 512m of climbing.
Josh Tarling, the youngest ever winner of the elite time-trial last year, expressed his excitement: “I’m really excited to race at nationals this year. The national championships are always really special and it’s been amazing to wear the national stripes in the time-trials this year. It will be great to be back racing on British roads and I’m looking forward to some top-level racing.”
Lizzie Holden aims to retain her title, facing tough competition from Joss Lowden, returning from maternity leave, along with Anna Morris, Elinor Barker, Zoe Backstedt, and Anna Henderson.
Circuit
The circuit races will take place on Friday, 21 June, around a 1.28km technical course in Darlington, starting and finishing on West Row. The men’s and women’s races will last 50 minutes plus five laps.
Defending champion Ollie Wood will attempt to keep his title, joined by teammates Will Tidball, Will Roberts, and Rhys Britton. Last year’s podium finishers Matt Bostock and Tim Shoreman will also be strong contenders.
On the women’s side, Meg Barker will defend her title against 2023 bronze medallist Maddie Leech, track national champion Jenny Holl, 2022 silver medallist Emma Jeffers, Lucy Glover, and national cyclocross champion Anna Kay.
Road race
The championships will culminate with the road races on Sunday, 23 June, on the challenging course starting and finishing at Saltburn Bank. Riders will tackle a loop of 26km, with the women covering five laps and the men seven laps.
Lizzie Deignan leads the favourites in the women’s race, buoyed by her recent performance at the Tour of Britain Women. “I am delighted to be back racing at another national championships, especially at home on Yorkshire roads! The cycling fans here are the best in the world and it will be great to have people cheering from the roadside. Both the men’s and women’s fields are really strong line ups so it will be a great week of racing,” Deignan commented.
Defending champion Pfeiffer Georgi, seeking her third national title, shared her enthusiasm: “Winning my second national title last year on Saltburn Bank was just amazing, and wearing the national jersey on the world stage is so special. Women’s racing at the minute is so exciting and we had such a good battle last year. I can’t wait to race in front of home crowds again and try and retain my jersey once again!”
The men’s race will feature a strong line-up including Luke Rowe, competing in his final national road race, and last year’s podium finishers James Knox and Stephen Williams. Reigning champion Fred Wright will also be a key contender.
