SIXTEEN previously crowned elite national champions are among the riders to watch in the 2026 Lloyds National Road Championships, which get underway from Thursday, June 25 in Ceredigion.
A total of 10 coveted national champions’ jerseys are up for grabs across three days of racing, with the time-trial in Lampeter on Thursday, June 25, the circuit race on Friday and the road race concluding the action on Sunday, June 28, both in Aberystwyth.
To discover the routes of all three stages of this year’s Lloyds National Road Championships in more detail, and more information about the race, host venues and participating teams, visit the Lloyds National Road Championships page.
In the time-trial, two laps of a picturesque circuit, a race distance of 25.6km, face the elite women, under-23 women and under-23 men, while the elite men’s field will be tested over three laps for a total distance of 38.4km.
Aberystwyth plays host to both the circuit race on Friday and the road race on Sunday, allowing fans to watch their favourite national riders battle for the title.
Welsh rider Zoe Backstedt (CANYON // SRAM Zondacrypto) had a fantastic 2025 championships, where she took home the striped jersey in the elite women’s time-trial and an impressive sixth in the elite women’s road race.
Speaking ahead of the championships, she said: “I’m super excited to come back to Wales to race National champs this year. I don’t get to race in the UK a lot, let alone in Wales, so that makes it even more exciting to be there.
“We’ve got such a strong roster of riders in the UK, so it’s never going to be easy, but I hope I’ll come into this in good shape and fighting for the win.”
Millie Couzens (Fenix-Premier Tech) also returns to Wales, set to defend her women’s road race crown. She will face stiff competition from three-time road national champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL), current Lloyds National Women’s Road Series leader Morven Yeoman (DAS Hutchinson), Imogen Wolff (Team Visma | Lease a Bike), Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team), Anna Henderson (Lidl – Trek) and Flora Perkins (Fenix-Premier Tech).
Sam Watson (NetCompany Ineos) will look to defend his title in the men’s road race but will face a stacked field.
Adam Howell (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme) is the 2025 Lloyds National Road Open series champion, while former national champion Ben Swift (NetCompany Ineos), reigning under 23 national champion Matthew Brennan (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) are among those who will challenge for the title.
Cameron Mason (Alpecin-Premier Tech Development Team) returns to Aberystwyth to defend his open circuit championship crown. He will be challenged by the likes of 2025 Lloyds National Circuit Series champion Thomas Armstrong (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli) and former national circuit champions Matt Bostock (Rapha Cycling Club) and Oliver Wood (Rapha Cycling Club).
Kate Richardson (Handsling Alba Development Road Team) will also return as defending women’s circuit race champion.
Second last year, Isabel Sharp will also compete, now as a teammate of Richardson’s, while fans should also watch out for Carys Lloyd (Movistar Team), Xan Crees (OGT p/b USE), Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) and Josie Knight (DAS-Hutchinson) who will all make it a thrilling contest.
A host of Welsh riders will compete across the event, including Finlay Tarling (NSN Development Team), Elynor Backstedt (UAE Team ADQ), Anna Morris (Private Member), Owain Doull MBE (Team Visma | Lease a Bike) and Megan Barker (Rapha Cycling Club).
After a fruitful track season heralded her first senior national titles, Erin Boothman (Liv AlUla Jayco) will be one to watch in the women’s road race and under-23 women’s time trial, making her Lloyds National Road Championships debut following a strong road racing season on the continent.
Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco) will return to Ceredigion, looking to do one better than his silver in the under-23 men time-trial last year, and compete in the road race
The 2026 Lloyds National Road Championships, which is returning to Wales thanks to support from the Welsh Government, provides a platform for British riders to enjoy home roads and experience the support of friends, family and local fans.
A total of 10 coveted national champions’ jerseys are up for grabs across three days of racing, with the time-trial in Lampeter on Thursday, June 25, the circuit race on Friday and the road race concluding the action on Sunday, June 28.
To discover the routes of all three stages of this year’s Lloyds National Road Championships in more detail, and more information about the race, host venues and participating teams, click here.
In the time-trial, two laps of a picturesque circuit, a race distance of 25.6km, face the elite women, under-23 women and under-23 men, while the elite men’s field will be tested over three laps for a total distance of 38.4km.
Aberystwyth plays host to both the circuit race on Friday and the road race on Sunday, allowing fans to watch their favourite national riders battle for the title.
