Routes announced for 2016 National Road Championships

British Cycling has announced the routes for the 2016 British Cycling National Road Championships. The racing, which includes both time trials and road racing, will form part of the annual Stockton Cycling Festival and will take place from June 23-26.

In 2014, a flyer for the sportive associated with the Stockton Cycling Festival was withdrawn following accusations of sexism. Alongside a picture of a smiling male cyclist, it read: “Sarah’s shopping in Stockton with the girls. I’m signed up for Stockton’s Sportive. That’s Saturday sorted.”

Perhaps this year Irish pro rider Philip Deignan could get some shopping in while his fiancée, world champion Lizzie Armitstead, attempts to defend her British title.

Both the men’s and women’s elite races will take place on Sunday June 26 on a course that starts in the centre of Stockton before heading out of town. The women will complete six laps and the men 12 laps of a circuit that takes in the villages of Carlton, Thorpe Thewles and Redmarshall.

The riders will then return to town where the women will do three laps and the men six laps of a finishing circuit.

British Cycling’s director of cycle sport and membership, Jonny Clay, described the course as ‘testing but fast’:

“We are delighted to be able to announce the routes for this year’s national road championships in Stockton. Lincoln’s iconic course last year resulted in a great race for both the athletes and fans.

"We’ve worked closely with Stockton Borough Council to deliver a testing but fast course which incorporates a mix of punchy climbs and rolling roads. I think we can expect to see some exciting racing that the National Championships is now well known for.”

The national time trial championships will take place on Thursday June 23 on a 7.6-mile course with the men completing four laps, while the women and U23 categories will each complete three.

Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said:

“We are incredibly excited as we move closer to the prestigious championships arriving in Stockton Borough and seeing the official routes announced will set many sporting hearts racing.

“Stockton Borough residents have shown a great appetite for such events throughout our Cycling Festival and other sporting showpieces in previous years and I have no doubt that they will be out in force again, both along the routes and at the finish, to show that Stockton is a superb destination for sports and events.”

Stockton Cycling Festival will also see a youth race take place on Stockton High Street on the Friday and the Stockton Sportive on the Saturday.