British National Road Series to shrink in 2023
The calendar for the men’s and women’s National Road Series, the highest standard of racing in Britain, is expected to shrink in 2023.
Next season, the men’s schedule will be reduced to just four races; Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix, Lancaster Grand Prix, Rydedale Grasscrete Grand Prix and the Beaumont Trophy. That’s two fewer than this season’s calendar, which also included the three-day Manx International stage race and the Stockton Grand Prix.
The women’s road series will also lose the same two races, going down from seven events to five in 2023.
“It’s a bit of a surprise,” said WiV SunGod’s Rob Scott, who won the 2022 men’s overall title. “It’s a disgrace to all the teams and their sponsors who are investing money to compete in what are supposedly the biggest races in Britain. It seems like it’s going away again.”
When asked how the reduced calendar might affect his goals for next season, Scott said: “I think it will give us more opportunities to race abroad, which is positive what we can take from that.
“It’s the other teams [that suffer]’ added the 24-year-old. “You now only have four weekends to compete in the National Road Series.”
One of the events not taking place next year is the Manx International, the only stage race in the series so far. Speak with cycling weeklyRace organizer Richard Fletcher announced that a “road construction issue” prevented the event from running in 2023.
“We typically use elements of the [Isle of Man] TT of course,” Fletcher said. “In April there will be massive construction work on the TT track. I basically lost a big chunk of the Queen Stage course.”
Fletcher added that race sponsors remain committed to the event and that he hopes to bring it back in 2024.
As for the Stockton Grand Prix, race organizer Geoff Lloyd said the event’s removal from the calendar was due to the “current financial climate” that “has emerged and has bitten us”.
“The situation has also been complicated in that the riverside location where the base of the cycling festival takes place will be very heavily renovated in the next few years.”
Lloyd is also hoping for a return to racing once the work is complete.
Circuit Series is moving to the Southeast
(Image credit: SWPix)
Conversely, next season’s National Circuit Series will be expanded and a ‘southeast’ stage will be added to the typically Yorkshire-heavy calendar.
For Simon Howes, manager of the Continental women’s team CAMS-Basso, this is welcome news. “It’s good to have these races in the south,” he said cycling weekly. “Many of our drivers are either at university or working full-time [there]so it will be a long day traveling further north.”
Scott, whose Hampshire-based Wiv-SunGod won the series this season, is also excited about the inclusion of a Southeast event. “Circuit Series racing has always been a mega series to compete in,” he said. “I feel like it’s a lot more viewer-friendly than, say, the Road Series, so maybe that’s why it’s still doing so well.
“I’m sure we’re looking forward to returning to the National Circuit Series and seeing if we can get the win again.”
Women’s National Road Series
March 26 – The ANEXO 7th CiCLE Classic for women
May 14 – Rapha Lincoln Women’s Grand Prix
16 July – Women’s Lancaster Grand Prix
20 August – The Ryedale Grasscrete Women’s Grand Prix
September 17 – The Curlew Cup
Men’s National Road Series
May 14 – Rapha Lincoln Men’s Grand Prix
16 July – Men’s Lancaster Grand Prix
20th August – The Ryedale Grasscrete Men’s Grand Prix
September 17 – The Beaumont Trophy
Women’s National Circuit Series
28 June – Otley Grand Prix
30 June – Ilkley Cycle Race
July 5 – Southeast TBC
19 July – Sheffield Grand Prix
July 28 – Races in downtown Newark
Men’s National Circuit Series
28 June – Otley Real Estate Development Group Grand Prix
30 June – Ilkley Cycle Race
July 5 – Southeast TBC
19 July – Sheffield Grand Prix
25 July – Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix
July 28 – Races in downtown Newark
