Top level cycling is returning to the North East and North Yorkshire, including circuit racing in Darlington town centre, British Cycling has announced
The British National Road Championships are coming to Tees Valley as part of a partnership between British Cycling and Tees Valley Combined Authority to increase cycling and tourism links in the area.
Circuit races will be held in the center of Darlington on Friday 21 June, with stars from the British cycling world saddling up to take part.
Cllr Libby McCollom, Darlington Council’s Cabinet Member for Local Services, said: “We welcome this exciting announcement with open arms and look forward to hosting an exciting midsummer evening of top class cycling here in Darlington town centre.
“I can’t wait to embrace the thrill of the ride and the sense of unity it will undoubtedly bring. Here’s to the joy of cycling and the unforgettable memories this event will help us create together in our beautiful city.”
This year’s event follows a successful first National Championships in the region in 2023, which culminated in Pfeiffer Georgi and Fred Wright being crowned National Champions on the iconic Saltburn Bank.
The championships start on Wednesday 19 June with the time trial events in North Yorkshire, and further details of the route will be published in due course.
The 2023 events saw Josh Tarling crowned the youngest ever National Elite Men’s Time Trial Champion, with Lizzie Holden putting in a standout performance to take the Elite Women’s crown.
The circuit races will then follow on Friday 21 June in Darlington town centre, where two stages of the Tour of Britain successfully started in 2008 and 2009.
Megan Barker and Ollie Wood will be hoping to retain their national circuit racing titles after famous victories at last year’s event in Redcar.
The championships will then conclude with the road races, which will again start and end in Saltburn on Sunday 23 June.
The sports course designed for this year’s event is a modified version of the 2023 route, with fewer climbs, and will pass each lap through the picturesque seaside town before heading out to explore the rolling terrain of the Tees Valley to access.
Fred Wright won an emotional first national elite title at Saltburn Bank last year after a dramatic solo breakaway, while Pfeiffer Georgi delighted the local crowd by capturing her second national title in the women’s race.
Speaking ahead of today’s announcement, Wright said: “It was incredibly special to win my first elite national road title at Saltburn Bank and it was a privilege to wear the national jersey in the professional peloton.
“It meant the world to win last year and I can’t wait to get back to the coast and battle it out against the best riders in the country in front of a fantastic crowd.”
Reigning national road champion Georgi added: “Winning my second national title at Saltburn Bank last year was simply amazing, and wearing the national jersey on the world stage is so special.
“Women’s racing is so exciting at the moment and we had such a good battle last year. I can’t wait to race in front of my home crowd again and try to keep my jersey again.”
The 2024 Championships will bring together the time trial, track and road events for the fourth year running, as part of our work to raise the profile of the sport and provide an immersive racing spectacle for riders and fans alike. The national championships are the highlight of the domestic road calendar, which started yesterday with the 8th ANEXO CAMS Women’s CiCLE Classic.
Today’s announcement also further underlines Tees Valley Combined Authority’s continued commitment to becoming a leading cycling tourism and events destination, following last year’s championships and the subsequent announcement of the East Cleveland Classic. The latter is part of our National Road Series and will take place on Sunday April 14.
Amy Gardner, British Cycling’s Interim Director of Sport and Participation, said: “We would like to thank our Tees Valley Combined Authority and their local government partners for welcoming the National Championships back to the region.
“We know from last year how exciting, challenging and iconic these routes are for our riders and supporters along the way, and can now look forward to seeing the best of British talent competing against each other again for the jerseys of our national champions in June .
“Increasing the profile and audience of our flagship events is vital to the future growth of our sport, the sustainability of our teams and the development of our most talented riders.
“We are hugely encouraged by the support and enthusiasm from Tees Valley Combined Authority, which highlights the amazing impact our events can have on civic pride, tourism and wider work to get more people cycling.”
Mayor of Tees Valley, Ben Houchen, said: “This fantastic partnership will further enhance our area’s growing reputation as an excellent cycling destination, and we look forward to once again welcoming the country’s best riders as they take on this attractive yet highly demanding travel routes.
“We continue to grow our visitor economy and this deal will deliver millions of pounds in spend, providing a huge boost to our great restaurants, coffee shops, accommodation providers and cycle shops.
“Events like this not only showcase the best of what our region has to offer, but are also a great way to encourage people of all ages to get on their bikes around Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool.”
Cllr Carrie Richardson, Cabinet Member for Climate and Culture and Deputy Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council, added: “Securing the National Road Race Championships is incredible for our borough, especially after the huge success of last year’s event.
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“We remain absolutely committed to attracting high-profile cycling events, which gives us the opportunity to boost tourism and showcase the area as a great place to holiday and cycle with some of the best coastal and rural views in the country. We have become an important area for major cycling events in recent years and long may it continue.”
Further route details and event information will be published in due course. Teams or riders with questions about the event can contact our team at events@britishcycling.org.uk.