Monmouthshire to host 2014 British Road National Championships

Monmouthshire will play host to the 2014 National Road Championships, centred around Abergavenny, where in 2009 Rapha-Condor’s Kristian House became the last rider from a domestic British team to win the road race title.

As with Glasgow last June, the event will combine the National Time Trial Championship, being held on Thursday 26 June, and the National Road Race Championship, which takes place on Sunday 29 June.

The event takes place just a week before the Tour de France gets under way in Yorkshire, while July and August sees the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

With Northern Ireland capital Belfast hosting the start of the Giro d’Italia in May, the National Road Championships heading to Wales means an unprecedented spread of top-class cycling action across all parts of the UK next year.

Jonny Clay, Cycle Sport & Membership Director for British Cycling, commented: "Following on from the success of the 2013 championships, where we delivered an event witnessed by 35,000 people on the streets of Glasgow, we had significant interest from towns in hosting the championships for next year.

“The spectacle provided by the victories of Joanna Rowsell, Alex Dowsett, Lizzie Armitstead and Mark Cavendish took the event to a new level,” he went on. Rowsell and Dowsett won the time trial titles, while Armitstead and Cavendish were victorious on the road.

“This will be the second time in five years that the championships has visited Wales with the event held in Abergavenny in 2009,” added Clay.

“Abergavenny also hosted a very successful British Cycling Premier Calendar road race this year and has a strong pedigree in cycling led by Grand Prix of Wales organiser, Bill Owen, who will organise the championships for Monmouthshire next year.

“In 2009 we saw a race in which Chris Froome, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish were all key protagonists and 2014 should be a fitting prelude to the Tour de France Grand Départ in the UK.”

Speaking on behalf of Monmouthshire County Council cabinet member with responsibility for economic development, Councillor Bob Greenland, said: “Monmouthshire Council recognises the economic benefits that major events can bring to our county.

“The high profile that British Cycling has brought to the sport since the great successes of last year's Olympics is plain to see.

“It‘s incredibly exciting that we have the opportunity to work with British Cycling and host next year’s prestigious National Road Championships.”

His colleague Councillor Geoff Burrows, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure services, added: “Monmouthshire County Council recognises the enormous benefits that cycling can bring to the county.

“We want everyone in the county to have the opportunity to improve their health and fitness. Cycling is the perfect sport for this.”