British Cycling has announced a world-class field – including Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Alex Dowsett, Lizzie Armitstead, Laura Trott and Dame Sarah Storey – for the 2015 British Cycling National Road Championships in Lincolnshire later this month.
The men’s and women’s time trials take place on Thursday 25 June, ahead of the road races on Sunday 28 June.
Team Sky’s Peter Kennaugh will defend the road race title he won in Monmouthshire last year in a strong field that includes teammate and Commonwealth champion Geraint Thomas, 2013 champion and former world champion Mark Cavendish (Etixx - Quick-Step) and Orica-GreenEDGE rider Simon Yates who landed a podium finish in 2014.
The field also contains two previous winners of the prestigious Lincoln Grand Prix, Russell Downing (CULT Energy Pro Cycling) and Scott Thwaites (Bora Argon 18)
In the women’s road race, defending champion Laura Trott will renew her rivalry with Olympic silver medallist Lizzie Armitstead, who finished third in Abergavenny last year.
Armitstead will face tough opposition if she is to take her third British road title in Lincoln and will compete against 2014 silver medallist Dani King (Wiggle Honda), multiple Paralympic champion Dame Sarah Storey (Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International) and last year’s under-23 silver and bronze medallists Katie Archibald (Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International) and Elinor Barker (Matrix Fitness) for glory.
Other riders to watch include Olympic track champion Joanna Rowsell (Matrix Fitness), former double junior world road champion Lucy Garner (Liv-Plantur), 2012 champion Sharon Laws and current British Cycling Women’s Road Series leader Nicola Juniper (Giordana Triton). Garner and Elinor Barker will also start as favourites for the under-23 women’s title.
Headlining the elite men’s time trial will be three-time champion and current UCI Hour Record holder Alex Dowsett (Movistar).
With defending champion Sir Bradley Wiggins not competing in 2015, Team Sky’s Geraint Thomas and time trial specialist and 2013 silver medallist Matt Bottrill (www.drag2zero.com) are among the men to beat if he is regain the red, white and blue jersey he made his own from 2011-2013.
Following 2014 champion Emma Pooley’s retirement, the women’s competition is tipped to be hotly contested by the closest challengers in 2014 – Katie Archibald, Dame Sarah Storey and Elinor Barker. After her seventh place finish in 2014, Lucy Coldwell (unattached) is also one to watch.
The favourites for the under-23 men’s time trial include Tao Geoghegan Hart (Axeon Cycling Team), Alistair Slater (An Post – Chain Reaction), Jon Dibben and Owain Doull (both Team Wiggins).
The time trials will take place on Thursday 25 June, starting and finishing at the Cadwell Park Motor Racing Circuit with the remainder of the route running along the top of the Lincolnshire Wolds as well as taking in the villages of Ruckland, Oslears Lane and Bluestone Heath Road.
The elite men will race against the clock over three laps of the main circuit whilst the women and under 23 men will compete over two laps of the same course giving total race distances of 28 miles (44.8 kilometres) and 21 miles (33.6 kilometres) respectively.
The road races will take place on Sunday 28 June, starting at Yarborough Leisure Centre and finishing in Lincoln’s Castle Square. The route incorporates the Lincoln Grand Prix circuit during the its 60th year and features the famous Michaelgate cobbled climb.
The men’s and under 23 men’s titles will be decided over 123.5 miles (197.6 kilometres) and the women’s and under 23 women’s titles over 67 miles (107 kilometres).
Elite men's time trial
Elite women's time trial
Under-23 men's time trial
Elite men's road race
Elite women's road race
The latest news from the British Cycling National Road Championships can be found at www.britishcycling.org.uk/nationalroadchampionships.
