Route confirmed for July's national road championships

British Cycling has confirmed the route of the 2018 HSBC UK National Road Race Championships which take place in Northumberland on Sunday 1 July and will form part of the Cyclone Festival of Cycling..

Both the men’s race, covering 185 kilometres, and the 106-kilometre women’s race, will start and finish in Stamfordham, around 20km west of Newcastle-upon-Tyne, with the Ryals climb providing the toughest test on the course.

The event is returning to the county for the first time since 2011, when Sir Bradley Wiggins and Lizzie Deignan were resepectively crowned men’s and women’s champions.

Organiser Peter Harrison said: "The road race route is extremely picturesque, but the riders won't have time to enjoy it.

“The narrow roads that typify the run in to the famous Ryals climb force the riders to race hard for position: the climb of the Ryals then gives stronger riders the chance to pressurise an already strung-out field.

“The eventual winners and national champions will have to be tactically sharp and prepared to go with the inevitable attacks up the Ryals,” he continued.

“Then, we anticipate a game of cat and mouse between smaller groups of riders down to the finish.”

The Cyclone Festival of Cycling will also feature the national time trial championships on Thursday 28 June, with the route yet to be announced, and includes a family ride and sportive open to the public on 29 and 30 June, respectively, with full details available here.