News & Features

The latest cohort of national champions will be crowned this Sunday, when FTP (Fulfil the Potential) Racing host the 2023 National Road Bike Championships.

Using a new course near Castle Combe in Wiltshire, the 18.5-mile event has strong fields of riders for both the men’s, women’s and junior’s categories.

HUUB-WattShop’s Jennifer George is the pre-race favourite in the women’s event according to Spindata, with Ruth Shier (Hutchinson-Brother UK), Angela Carpenter (a3crg) and Christina Murray (Army Cycling) also riders who will be targeting glory.

The men’s field has plenty of strong riders too, with several names who don’t often ride time trials but are no stranger to riding road bikes.

Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill) and Jamie Whitcher (Bournemouth Cycleworks) are joined among the top riders by Rob Walker (WardPerformanceUK.com), Alastair Ribbands (Congleton CC) and Robert Francis (Pronto Bikes).

Among the junior field is last season’s champion Sophie Heighton (Ferryhill Wheelers), and there are also now veterans age group awards in five-year brackets, starting at 40-45s.

In reality though, it’s hard to predict a winner from such a strong and varied field, making the event all the more entertaining for spectators.

It’s an exciting weekend of action in the hill-climbing world too, with several top events attracting strong fields.

Sheffrec CC host their annual climb of Monsal in Derbyshire, a short sharp 645-yard climb which is always well attended by riders and spectators alike.

With two hill-climb wins to his name already this season, Calum Brown (Wold Top The Edge-Pactimo) is among the favourites for a win on Monsal, along with Andy Nichols (Team Lifting Gear Products) who has secured four 2023 hill-climb victories so far.

Three wins over the last two weekends have brought Harry MacFarlane (TAAP Endura) into contention too, while others to look out for include Olivia French (Stolen Goat RT), Frances Owen (Wahoo Le Col) and Abi Plowman (Jadan-Vive le Velo) in the women’s event.

Elsewhere it’s the Otley CC two-stage climb in West Yorkshire on Saturday, using the 1400-yard Guise Cliff climb before moving on to Norwood Edge for the 1.7-kilometre afternoon event.

There’s a strong field for VC Cumbria’s event on the Whinlatter Pass, a 1.75-mile climb which has attracted a field including reigning national champion Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) as well as former champ Ed Laverack (Backpedal) and the promoting club’s own Martin Mikkelsen-Barron.

Fibrax-Wrexham RC are hosting a climb on the iconic Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen.

Kieran Wynne-Cattanach (Team Lifting Gear Products) is pre-race favourite for the 2-mile 585-yard climb, with Andy Cunningham (Wheelbase CabTech) and Jude Taylor (Team PB Performance) also ones to watch.

Rebecca Richardson (Team Lifting Gear Products) should be the fastest female there.

North of the border, Edinburgh Road Club are staging a climb up Arthur’s Seat to Holyrood Park, while in North Yorkshire Stockton Wheelers are holding a long 10.88-mile climb up Tan Hill near Richmond.

In time trialling, it’s the Welsh 50-Mile Championships near Abergavenny, where the battle for honours is likely to include Anthony Jones (VMCC powered by Y Beic), Chris Gibbard (Bynea CC) and Jake Sargent (Team Bottrill).

Among the women taking part, Christina Murray (Army Cycling) and Roxy Woodfield (Ludlow Brewery RT) are down to ride.

Finsbury Park CC hold a 25-mile event near Cambourne on Saturday with a field including National 10 and 25-mile champion Kate Allan (Team Bottrill), while Norwich ABC are staging a 10-mile event at the same time.

They will then go on to hold a 25-mile event on the same Norfolk roads on Sunday, while other events include the Tour de Trossachs 28-mile event in Stirlingshire, promoted by Vanelli-Project Go.

Check back to the CTT website and social media feeds for reports on events as the weekend progresses!

* All reports are copyright of Cycling Time Trials/Snowdon Sports. Not to be used without permission.