2024 British National Road Championships routes revealed ahead of return to Tees Valley

2024 British National Road Championships routes revealed ahead of return to Tees Valley

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British Cycling can today reveal the route details for this year’s British National Road Championships in Tees Valley and North Yorkshire, with the two road races set for a dramatic finish up Saltburn Bank once again. 

A total of 10 coveted national champion’s jerseys are up for grabs across three days of racing between 19-23 June, with the time-trials starting and finishing in Catterick at the Military Court Centre, the circuit races centred around the streets of Darlington town centre, and the road races starting and finishing in Saltburn. Entries for all three events are now open and will close at midnight on Sunday 26 May. You can enter the time-trial here, the circuit race here, and the road race here.

Time-trial

The time-trials will kick off the championships on Wednesday 19 June in North Yorkshire, starting and finishing in Catterick at the Military Court Centre. Upon leaving the barracks, riders will tackle a challenging course, including Throstle Gill Climb, before heading back to the start-finish line. All riders will complete two laps of the course, making it approximately 30km with 512m of climbing in total as riders will look to test themselves against the clock on a tough route.

The circuit races will then take place on Friday 21 June on a tight and technical 1.28km circuit around the streets of Darlington, with riders starting and finishing on West Row. Both the open and women’s races will be contested over 50 minutes plus five laps, and is expected to have fast, exciting racing, with 13m of elevation per lap.

Circuit

The road races will conclude this year’s championships on Sunday 23 June, starting and finishing on Saltburn Bank once again. The Bank was the iconic setting that saw Fred Wright and Pfeiffer Georgi claim sensational wins last year, battling the climb’s maximum gradient of 22% to seize the victories. The climb will separate the best from the rest with fast descents leading into tight hairpin bends.

Both the men and women will follow a 26km loop, with the women completing five laps to cover 130km, and the men taking on seven laps and 182km. The route has been altered from the 2023 edition, extending out to Guisborough, before heading through the old mining sites in Kilton and looping back through Brotton. Riders will then drop back down to the coast of Saltburn before firing up Saltburn Bank to the finish.

The women’s race features 2,025m of climbing over the challenging terrain, with a mix of longer drags and punchy hills, while the men will tackle 2,835m of climbing.

Road race

Media accreditation for the British National Road Championships is also now open, and you can apply here.

Great Britain Cycling Team rider Charlie Tanfield, who also rides for Saint Piran, said:

“I’m so excited to be back racing on home roads in Tees Valley this year. Saltburn Bank is steep and it's over pretty quickly, but it made for an epic finish at last year's race, so it'll be really great to ride it again this year.

“There’s a bit of a cycling culture around here, and there's great roads so it naturally attracts cyclists from across the country, and the crowds last year were amazing. I truly believe in my slightly biased opinion that there aren’t any other regions in the UK that has as good roads and climbs to ride on!”

Charlie Tanfield

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, said: 

“It will be fantastic to welcome back the British National Road Championships to our region, which is continuing to grow as a cycling destination.  

“These routes will not only challenge the best cyclists in the country but also provide a great showcase for everything Tees Valley has to offer for visitors.”

Managing Director of British Cycling Events, Jonathan Day, said:

“We’re delighted to be taking the British National Road Championships back to the streets of Tees Valley. Last year’s finish up Saltburn Bank was iconic and it’s fantastic to see that it will feature in this year’s road race once again. Heading to North Yorkshire for the time-trial will see riders tackle a challenging course as they race against the clock, while Darlington’s fast circuit will be a fantastic spectacle. 

“A huge thank you to Tees Valley Combined Authority for their all their support as we welcome elite level cycling to the area.”