News: Under 23 Men’s Road Series

British Cycling has announced there will be a new Under-23 Men’s National Road Series, something which has been done before many years ago and now returns to road racing in the UK

News: Under 23 Men’s Road Series

The five-round series has been designed in collaboration with the British Cycling Road Commission and regional teams, with the calendar designed to ensure a good geographical spread and avoid clashes with National Road Series races and other key events.

Beginning with the Yorkshire Under-23 Classic on Sunday 17 April and the Future Tour of Wales from Saturday 30 April – Monday 2 May, the third round of the series will be held in the Central region on Sunday 5 June. Round four will be the Worcester Classic on Sunday 31 July, before the Stars of the South West RR concludes the series on Sunday 28 August.

All rounds will be designated as National B races, with an overall series winner crowned following the final round. As announced in December 2021, an Under-23 Women’s National Road Series will for the first time this year be incorporated into the Junior Women’s National Road Series, in order to support those races to become more sustainable and competitive.

Both moves form part of the organisation’s wider work, as set out in its 2021 long-term plan for road racing, to provide full and high-quality calendars for riders of all ages, and improve the retention and progression opportunities for those in the youth, junior and under-23 age categories.

Member of the British Cycling Road Commission, Heather Bamforth, said: “The Commission carried out a rider consultation last year to obtain feedback from under-23 riders, and the new series will hopefully be seen as a step towards addressing the challenges those riders highlighted. We look forward to working with riders, organisers and the Regional Boards to continue to further build the pathway for under-23 riders in the future.”

Under-23 Men’s National Road Series calendar:
Round 1: Yorkshire Under-23 Classic, Sunday 17 April
Round 2: Future Tour of Wales, Saturday 30 April – Monday 2 May
Round 3: Central region (details TBC), Sunday 5 June
Round 4: Worcester Classic, Sunday 31 July
Round 5: Stars of the South West RR, Sunday 28 August