West Midlands road race calendar expands for 2025
West Mids Road Racing and the West Midlands Regional Board are proud to announce an expanded road race calendar for 2025, with National under-23 series and Women’s Team Cup races, new organising clubs, and more opportunities for entry-level riders, both women and men.
The broad lines of the calendar remain the same as in 2024, with the Evesham Vale road race the traditional season-opener, but with a third and fourth category race alongside the usual National B. The high points of the season come in June and July with a round of the National under-23 series on June 8, the Marches 3-day – formerly the BikeStow 3-day – three weeks later and the Solihull Women’s Team Cup round on July 20. The Nick Clayton Memorial race closes the season on September 6. Two new races on the calendar are organised by Bridgnorth CC and Stourbridge CC, on March 29 and June 22 respectively.
The bulk of the Regional A and Regional B races count for the season-long West Midlands Road Race League supported by Fusion Media and won this year by former GB international Ian Gilkes, while the league will also include – for the first time – a race in Wales, the Llandrindod road race on April 27. Over 100 riders took part in the league in 2024.
There is also a welcome return for circuit races at the popular Sundorne circuit in Shrewsbury, organised by Dave Mellor cycles. The calendar will also include the long-standing Thursday evening handicap league races, which will be relaunched in 2025 and will offer expanded opportunities for masters racers as well as juniors and seniors of all categories.
The Fusion Media women’s entry-level series returns after a highly successful initial season, with dates yet to be confirmed, and the concept is being rolled out to other regions as well. 2025 will also see the sixth new road race circuit rolled out in the region in the last three years.
“We are really proud that the hard work of our volunteers and officials have enabled us to build again on our achievements of recent years,” said BC West Midlands board road lead William Fotheringham. “We have found some fantastic partners, notably Fusion Media, whose support has enabled us to rebuild road racing in the region. The inauguration of six new road race circuits has helped us find courses in locations that suit the organising clubs, and which provide more interesting racing.”
“Hosting an under-23 series round is a good fit as the region has produced a stream of talented young riders in recent years; the Welland circuit is a good racing course which will suit all types of riders and it’s easy to reach from most of the UK. It’s also great to see two new clubs running Regional races, while the return of weekend circuit races to Shrewsbury will be a great entry point for new riders.”
“Our cross border collaboration with Welsh Cycling has become a significant factor, and it has enabled us to turn our 3-day into one of the best stage races in the UK. With the Welsh calendar rebuilding as well this season we will try to help our colleagues there ensure the strongest possible entry from this side of the border.”
WEST MIDLANDS ROAD RACE CALENDAR 2025
March 16 Evesham Vale, Inkberrow, National B E/1/2/3cat + Regional B 3/4cat
March 29 (Saturday) Bridgnorth RR, Pattingham, Regional A 2/3/4
March 30 Sundorne circuit 2/3/4 cat + 4 cat + youth races
April 6 Gannett CC RR, Norton Canon, Reg A 2/3/4
April 27 Llandrindod RR (Welsh Cycling Union race, but counting for West Mids Road Race League); Sundorne circuit 4th cat only + youth races
May 11 Halesowen A & CC RR, Astley, Reg A 2/3/4
May 18 Wyre Forest, Martley, Reg B 3/4
May 25 Sundorne circuit 2/3/4 + 4 + youth races
June 8 Halesowen Academy RR, National under-23 series, E/1/2/3, Welland
June 22 Stourbridge CC, Bobbington, Reg B 3/4
June 27-29 Marches 3-Day (formerly BikeStow 3-day), various, Reg A 2/3/4
July 6 Sundorne circuit 2/3/4 + 4 + youth races
July 20 Solihull RR Reg A 2/3/4 + British Women’s Team Cup Nat B E/1/2/3, Inkberrow
August 17 Royal Leamington, Friz Hill, Reg B 3/4
September 7 Nick Clayton Memorial, Cookhill/Inkberrow, Reg A 2/3/4
Updates via https://www.instagram.com/westmidsroadracing/