The 2014 National Road Championships have been awarded to Monmouthshire, British Cycling announced today.
Above: The 2013 National Road Championships in Glasgow created a massive spectacle and brought 35,000 spectators onto the streets of the Scottish city.
The championships, which will take place in and around the Abergavenny area, will be held in June with the National Time Trial Championships taking place on Thursday 26 and the National Road Race Championships taking place on Sunday 29.
Jonny Clay, Cycle Sport & Membership Director for British Cycling, said:
“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.
"(Abergavenny) has a strong pedigree in cycling led by Grand Prix of Wales organiser, Bill Owen, who will organise the championships for Monmouthshire next year."
Jonny Clay, British Cycling Cycle Sport and Membership Director
“This will be the second time in five years that the championships has visited Wales with the event held in Abergavenny in 2009. 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, Councillor Bob Greenland, cabinet member with responsibility for economic development, 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.”
Councillor Geoff Burrows, cabinet member with responsibility for leisure services, said:
“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.”
Having awarded the 2014 championships, British Cycling is now seeking expressions of interest from locations looking to host the 2015 event.
