2025 Lloyds National Road Championships | Road Race HIGHLIGHTS

Join Ned Boulting in Aberystwyth for highlights of the men’s and women’s road races at the 2025 Lloyds National Road Championships.

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[Music] Hello and welcome to the county of Ker Digian in Wales whose rolling hills and valleys play host to British cycling’s 2025 National Road Championships. Today we’ll see the winners crowned in the showpiece road race events. The coveted red, white, and blue banded jerseys are the prizes for the victors. And over the preceding two days of these championships, six of those have already been presented. In the time trials, Callum Thornley tamed the 27 km course to become the men’s under 23 champion, while Millie Cousins dominated in the same age group for the women. In the elite races, Wales Zoe Backstead claimed the honors in the women’s event, beating Anna Henderson, the Olympic silver medalist in this discipline into second. And it was a third national time trial title at the elite level for Ethan hater.
Too hard in the first lap.
He was quickest through every time check on the 41 km men’s course. Attention then turned to the streets of Aberistworth for the circuit races where Kate Richardson came out on top in a thrilling finish, beating Izzy Sharp by the width of a tire. Jess Roberts taking third in the men’s open race. Bjorn Kurt was joined by Cameron Mason in a twoman breakaway with the Scotsman Mason eventually winning out in the sprint. But let’s bring our attention back to the road race. And here’s a quick reminder of what happened last year. [Music] Fifer Georgie carbon copy of last year. Fifer Georgie goes stratospheric on Sburn Bank and takes the 2024 national title. What a ride from Fifer Georgie. [Music] Asi drops a power bomb. Here is the moment now for Lewis Asi to ride clear and take the title. But here goes hater. This could be the racewinning move. But can Asi respond? hater now opens up 5 m 10 m. He takes the moment to sit up and celebrate your 2024 national champion. So, who will come out top of the class in 2025? Highlights of the women’s race coming up shortly. But first, let’s take a look at the race route. The nation’s best female riders will roll out from the start line in the coastal town of Aberistwith to tackle 128 km through the countryside of Mid Wales. It’s made up of three big laps followed by four smaller laps which will take them back to the sweeping finish straight along the aberit seafront. There’s lots of climbing to be done in between with a total elevation of over 1,800 m. And let’s hear more about the challenges of this course from a three-time winner and the reigning champion Fifer Georgie. I rode it with my teammates Josie and Becky today. Um, so we did the big lap and the local lap and I think actually the big lap is probably harder with the climbing. Um, and then I think the local lap is a bit more technical with the descent coming into the finish and also the little bit around the town. So, I think it’ll actually be more tactical than physical tomorrow.
Fight for Georgie. Winning the jersey, I think every year has been so special. I think the first time I won it was, yeah, one of the highlights of my career. And, um, getting to wear the Vans, like every race you do for 12 months, I think it means so much. And, yeah, I’m definitely going to give everything to try and win it again. Time to go racing. And to take you through the action, here’s Hannah Walker and Matt Stevens. Championship.
The scene is set then under gloomy skies here in Aberest with the countdown begins for the National Women’s Road Race Championships for 2025. And they’re flagged away. Gloomy skies, wet again as it was on Friday for the circuit race championships. So, we’re challenging not cold conditions, Hannah, but to grim conditions nonetheless. But of course, it is the same for everybody. It is the same for everybody, but it also will have uh an impact on the race, particularly on such a a technical circuit in places when you get onto the the smaller circuits. Don’t forget, we’ve got three large circuits and we’ve got four and a half small laps. Particularly when you get onto those small laps, you’ve got the technical descent. And if this weather continuum persists, it adds another layer of stress, nerves, it it will have an impact on the race.
It certainly will. Well, it’s an interesting circuit. Couple of circuits in fact total distance as we just roll along the prominard here. Riders taking it nice and gingerely in the past. We’ve had various circuit races on that very prominard just around that corner there. But 128ks in total and we have three laps of 23.4ks and then four laps of a smaller circuit of 12.4ks or let’s call it four and a half laps cuz we joined the circuit halfway round. And in total, it’s a pretty lumpy date. 1839 m to be exact and a very strong field indeed. Fifer Georgie of course is the defending champion having won it three times in the past 19 uh sorry 2021. It’s not back that far 23 and in the 2024. But a really good field. The quality of this field cannot be underestimated, can it? It can’t. And there are so many riders who have a very strong possibility of winning this national road race title. When you take a look down at the start list, we’ve got 87 riders who are here challenging for the national title. 33 under 23 riders who can go for that under 23 title. But when you take a look down, 13 world tour riders racing at the very highest level of our sport and 38 riders racing for a continental team. Indeed. Well, there we go. Uh the scene is set and the flag has dropped. We’ve just passed kilometer zero. So the clock starts now and we’re pretty much uphill straight away. I would call this Hannah. I’ve raced on these very roads a long long time ago. I would call this a sporting circuit. Okay. A lot of punchy climbs, but I think the cir the type of circuit that’s going to invite aggressive racing and not one particular rider is going to be suited. So it’s I would say it’s a pretty open race as we accelerate quickly. Hold on to your hats time early on on this downhill section. I tell you what, they’re flying, aren’t they? And already after going through kilometer zero, riders are wanting to push things on. And particularly one of the teams that comes with the numerical advantage, Smurfett, Westrock, they’re the team in the red and black jerseys. Don’t forget they’ve got Joe Tinley, they’ve got Lucy Glover, they’re an under 23 rider. But you’re quite right in saying that this course is a very sporting course. It’s attritional. It’s arduous, grippy roads. There’s no real place for much rest, put it that way. Well, you mentioned Joe Tindley and there she is on the front in that red kit of the Smurf pit Westro cycling team as we head to the back of the Pelaton. Just giving you an indication of how quick they’re going. A big attack on the right hand side from Josie Knight who was also very active, wasn’t he? Earlier on in the circuit race championships from the Tekkers team using the the entire width of the road, taking the racing line and accelerating clear. This is a very aggressive start and that’s what we expect in the national champs. You need to race on the front foot. You don’t want to be on the back foot here. You certainly don’t. You can already see riders who are are struggling with the pace, struggling with the the nature of the terrain, and it’s going to be incredibly difficult when you find yourself in this situation to come back. You’re you might get yourself back if there’s a lull in the pelaton, but it’s only a matter of time before things starts to stretch out once again. And this is just a a sheer indication of how hard the pace is at the front. Yeah, these are the opening few kilometers. A fast start. Couple of riders already starting to struggle. And this looks like it’s a Lucy Glover and just moving clear on the front. One of nine riders you were saying from Smurfett West Cycling Team in the early stage of this race. They’ve taken it by the scruff of the neck and have instigated our first significant little move. Three riders now moving clear and you can just see Hannah a flat front to the Pelaton. I’m expecting some responses though. I am a two because these three riders you can see are are working well together. They’ve got one more rider who’s just joined forces. That’s one of the riders from team boom pogs by the looks of things. But also Cecilia, brother UK on form is is there. But Lucy Glover, she’s a rider who’s an under 23 in. There’s a small group of riders who are trying to bridge across to the front here.
Yeah, this looks like a significant split. Out of sight, out of mind on these little roads here. This is the back part of the opening circuits. Again, there’s a big main road down one side of the circuit and then a far smaller set of lanes down the back. Ideal roads to escape on because you only need 10 or 15 seconds and the bunch can see. Now, this is a very good move and everybody from what I can see in the early stages of this breakaway or esape as we call it in French. They’re riding really well together and there is the everpresent Joe Tindley.
It is, you know, it’s quite remarkable. She didn’t have I think by her own standards and she she wouldn’t mind me saying she didn’t have the best circuit race on Friday night and she knows she came into the race with good form and so she’s trying to channel that into getting into the early breakaway getting into the early move and I tell you what on this kind of course it’s one of those courses where it can be difficult to to close gaps down.
We were just looking at Jess Roberts there but you are quite right. Difficult to close gaps. Just look how narrow it is. This is the Pelaton. They’ve certainly slowed things down and just look at the gap that’s been opened up to two leaders, Lucy Glover and Jess Roberts are about to be joined by a fighting force. A very strong move indeed. Um yeah, Megan and Jess Roberts both there from team Boom Pods and Spectre Racing. A little bit of a helping hand indeed there. That’s quite nice to see. That was April Tacy, a winner a few years ago stage of the tour to France on Zift. So a good rider in the virtual world, but that is a good move. uh very solid and there’s no response at the moment from the pelaton.
One thing that is noticeable to me is there’s great cooperation and cohesion already within this group and you’ve got several teams and clubs who are are represented. 4 and a half minutes criy that is a big big move. A former national road race champion the Jess Roberts in this move. There she is just at the back of this route. Now this rider is Becky’s story. Now she is in between as you can see chasing up 1 minute and 30 seconds. Now the rider from the world tour team picnic postell a teammate of five for Georgie has got a tall order if she has got any chance of bridging across that gap coming down the esplanard here in Aberris with two riders are clear. What a race we have had so far. But this is it Hannah. We’re coming now into the final lap, only 12 and a half kilometers to go of this British National Women’s Championships.
It’s hanging in the balance and you can see the chase is still on. It’s being led by Anna Henderson of Little Trek in this red, yellow and blue jersey. Millie Cousins still there. But despite the gap, the group splitting, the gap is coming down and Grace Listister is trying to close. Imagin Wolf is there as is Lauren Dixon still fighting and still chasing. Well, it was story and Roberts that that were clear just going across the line and so much has changed in the last few laps where that breakaway that we saw right at the very start established a lead of 5 minutes that eventually was caught. Becky Story bridged across ultimately cannot believe that she’s still got the energy to be at the front of the race because that was quite simply a herculean task and it’s hanging in the balance now. This race is still Hannah. It’s fair to say wide open. This is the chase group just a handful of seconds now just in front or behind should I say our two leaders
at the front. Jess Roberts and Becky Story can’t start to look at each other. They both have to fully commit in this situation. But even in the the chasing group, everybody has to have that cooperation and you’ve got one ascent of the climb remaining. If you’re a climber, you want to be able to use that as your your launch pad because over the top you’ve got the fast descent and then you’re practically back into to the finish again.
Well, it looks like the junction is about to be made here. We’re just looking towards the back of that group. That’s Imagin Wolf from team Vizma Lisa. So, the breakaway looks like Roberts has now been brought back to heal after that amazing uh ride off the front. Millie Cousins is in this group as well. Fight for George, the defending champion, is there and these are the lowest slopes of the final long climb. As you said, this is a long haul up. Well, it kicks up at the bottom, flattens, and then it goes very, very steep through the feed zone, but already it is fight for Georgie in that white helmet there for team Picnic Postel who is starting the early accelerations here. Picnic Post and Allen are in such a a strong position with Josie Nelson. Becky Story still there after a brilliant performance so far. Fifer Georgie looking to try and take her fourth national road title and sandwiched in between is Millie Cousins of Fenx to Kernik in that burnt orange jersey but also Anna Henderson. So Henderson looking for her first road title and Picnic Postel I’ve put Becky Story straight to work already. You certainly have Picky Story absolutely driving hard. What a day she has had. It has to be said. This is the remainder of the pelaton being led at the front there by Zoe Baxter as we head back to the front of the race and they are our leaders. Viper Georgie, Josie Nelson, Millie Cousins and Anna Henderson. Two riders from Picnic Postel, one from Little Trek and one from Fenix Dernick. And it looks as by the body language of this group behind. The medals are going to be decided. The championship indeed is going to be decided up front. But the big question is who’s got the legs to go on the climb. Is the climb long enough hard enough to snap the elastic? Well, we’re over the climb now. We’re dropping down this still treacherous descent. Although it’s dried, it’s still wet in in parts. It’s definitely time in this final lap to hold on to your hats and hope that everybody stays upright. Georgie carving her way down this descent.
She’s descending beautifully, isn’t she? She’s taking and hitting the apex of the corn as well. In second wheel, it’s Millie Cousins in that jersey of Fenix de Kerning. Anna Henderson, another brilliant descender. And behind, they’ve got a lot of work to do. At the back here, this is Becky’s story. Just in front of her is No Thompson of Brother UK on form. A relatively newcomer to road racing. So, she’s having a standout performance today. She’s an excellent triathlete, but this is a brilliant performance in her first national road race.
It certainly is. Just shows how technical this little descent is. They lose all of the elevation they’ve gained on the climb, which is about 4ks in about a kilometer. You can just tell how steep this is and how narrow and twisty it is. Well, we’re coming into the last 5 4 km here. and Josie Nelson from Team Picnic Postel is acting as a leadout rider. What an advantage this is for the defending champion Fifer Georgie to have a teammate with her at this late stage in the race. She’s going to commit and just try and keep things together.
It’s brilliant for Fifer Georgie, but it also benefits Millie Cousins and Anna Henderson because they know that Picnic Post and are going to fully commit here for Fifer Georgie. That’s going to help the other two riders, Cousins and Henderson to remain away. And if there is any chase behind, any any cooperation from the chase group behind, it works to their advantage.
It certainly does. And they know with one rider sacrificing themselves, all of the medals will be accounted for. You will not expect Josie Nelson to get a medal after that sort of effort. Uh the teammate of Fifer George and Nelson there, Becky Story, continuing down the descent, lost a few lengths on this descent. This of course part of the chasing group which has fractured in fact over the last few laps. Yeah. It’s fractured more on that technical downhill than on the climb itself.
It has and it just shows throughout this race positioning has been really important particularly on these smaller laps. Wanting to make sure that you you go into the the climb well, make sure that you’re you’re prepared and ready for any potential attacks coming, but ultimately making sure you’ve got a good position on the descent. Well, the sun is shining now on the backs of these four riders here. What committed rider here from Josie Nelson of Team Picnic Postel 110% committed. Meanwhile, her teammate on the back of the group, Piper Georgie, has pole position. She’s got everybody in her sights. Millie Cousins is in her crosshairs as it were. Anna Henderson just there as well. All of these riders are pretty quick. I would say that out of these four riders left, Fifer Georgie and Millie Cousins probably have the most punch. Anna Henderson has not got a bad sprint, but I think the fastest are definitely the two riders at the back. But what about this? This is a consumate teammate sacrificing her own chances for a teammate here.
She’s fully committed and this is complete dedication. Look at how she’s emptying the tank. She’s sacrificing her own chances of winning this national road race title to help fight for Georgie pick up title number four. But just look at the way that Anna Henderson and Millie Cousins, they’re sandwiched between the two riders from Picnic Posanel, but they’re constantly looking over the right shoulder, seeing what’s going on. They’re aware that potentially Fifer Georgie might try something, might creep up, just looking at what what’s happening behind constantly having their their wits about them.
And a good bit of riding here as well by Josie Nelson to keep things on one side of the road, on the left hand side of the road, so there’s no going to be any surprises. Well, there can’t be any surprises because Fiper Georgie has both of those riders in the sight. But you quite rightly said these little fursive looks round, even a a confident drink from the bottle. That’s a bit of a psychological play. So deep into the race, happy, confident to take a drink, throws the bottle off to the foot of a spectator at the side of the road, we’re coming into the last couple of kilometers. Georgie also maybe nervously looking around just to make sure they’ve got time to finesse. What they don’t want to do is drop the pace too much and allow a group back in contact, especially the likes of Zoe Baxter in that back group.
Certainly. Certainly. And for Fifer Georgie, we already saw moments ago she was tightening up the dials on the shoes, getting herself race ready. She’ll be thinking as well, where do I want to be going into this finish? I’ve had a wonderful lead out for for the last few kilometers. I’ve just got to finish off the job. Which side of the road do I want to be on? Where do I want to be sheltered from the wind? Who whose wheel do I want to to come off? Do I want to come from third wheel here and have the full overview of Cousins and Henderson as to to what they’re going to do in the running? And similarly to to Georgie, Cousins and Henderson will be going through the same scenario in their minds.
And the nerves as well. You’ve got to talk about the nerves. The fatigue is going to be setting into the legs as well. Although all of these riders look relatively fresh by Georgie spinning that gear, but they are going to have knots in the bottom of their stomach. They know that there is so much at stake. There’s another year for Fifer Georgie in the championship bands and for the likes of uh of Millie Cousins and of course for Anna Henderson. Although she’s won in the TT before, she’s never won a road gold medal. One kilometer to go. There is the FL Flam Rouge. You’ll be familiar with this from the circuit race championships on Friday. But this is it. In just over a minute’s time, Hannah, we will know who is going to be the British National Road Race Champion. Oh, I can feel the nerves and the tension here that’s building up as they go into the barriers. Snake their way through into the final kilometer. They’ve got two uh left hand 90° left hand bend that will take them onto the seafront onto that esplanard for Millie Cousins. She’s an under 23. Don’t forget she’s only 21 years of age. The rider from Bista. Conversely, Anna Henderson, 26, silver medalist in the Olympic Games, hailed from Heml Hemstead, my old cycling club back in the day. Here we go. We’ve got about 500 meters to go. We’re just coming into that double left-hander that you were talking about, Hannah. It’s left. Then it’s left again onto the Prominard. Josie Nelson leads them into the double left hand turn. Keeps the pressure applied. Anna Henderson is biting her time. They go to the left hand side of the road. Millie Cousins taking a look over her shoulder. She’s wanting to make sure that she can try and get the jump. Henderson opens things up first. Cousins alongside her.
Here we go. What an acceleration by Millie Cousins there. The 21-year-old in the orange jersey. But has the defending champion Georgie got enough? She hasn’t. It is Cousins who is going to take the title. She takes the senior elite title for 2025. And in the process, the under 23s. What a superb performance by the youngster. And look at the delight large on her face. Absolutely superb. Superb performance. A confident performance from Millie Cousins. That was absolutely sensational the way that she rode. Coming in from the the bunch behind crossing the line there is Zoe Baxstead. Also Lauren Dixon just before that. Sporting hugs all around there. And I think that’s a pretty genuine smile on the face of Fiveres. She could do no more. But your new champion for 2025 is Millie. So confirmation there that Millie Cousins is the new national road race champion and that asterisk tells you she is also the under 23 champion. Last year’s winner Fer Georgie takes second and Henderson third with Josie Nelson just missing out on the podium in fourth. Further down Zoe Backstead came home in sixth, but that was enough to take second in the under23 rankings.
I’m really happy, a little bit in shock, but yeah, happy. It was a moment where I was panicking a bit, but nationals is always a bit strange because obviously no one’s really got a full team and it’s kind of you got to gamble a little bit on other people helping you out, but I was lucky that there were two from my team with Flora there to help me. So, yeah, luckily we brought it back.
Fifer, you pushed really hard at the end there. Just wasn’t quite to be today.
Yeah, I think I messed up the sprint a little bit. Um, but Millie is also really fast, so I think she’s a Yeah, really deserved winner. Um yeah, it’s just a shame I couldn’t repay the team for the work they did for me. Um but yeah, that’s the way it is sometimes.
It was quite a frustrating race on my half. Um yeah, there was quite a large breakaway that went that got a lot of time and then the race behind was quite negative. Uh so I was attacking quite a lot and so were Fenix and yeah, the two of us we were getting quite frustrated and then Millie instigated the move and then we went away and then uh yeah, didn’t quite have the sprint and Millie was super fast. So yeah, super proud of Millie and she’ll wear the jersey well. Millie Cousins. After her victory in the under23 time trial and the double victory here in the road race, Millie Cousins is heading home with a grand total of three national champions jerseys. So just the big finale to come. Highlights of the men’s road race follow shortly.
Support your favorite and lots of welcome back to Kedigian in Wales where three days of elite cycle racing is coming to an end. The riders now gathering on the Aberist with seafront for the start of the men’s road race. Before we get going, here’s a reminder of what the route looks like. The men’s route is the same as the women’s, but this race is extended to five big laps and five small laps, which adds up to a total distance of 187 km, and that includes over 2,600 m of climbing before they head back to the finish line in Aberwith. The riders nearly ready to roll out from the start line. But first, let’s hear the views of some of the leading contenders. You know, it’s one of the biggest races of the year. Um, and yeah, to to wear the bands for a year is it’s pretty special. There’s a lot of good riders. Uh, Ethan especially, uh, after last year. Um, so yeah, it’s going to be it’s going to be a really tough race. Um, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s going to be a tricky ace, I think, and it be quite hard to to defend my strike. So, I’m going to try my best. Yeah, it’s going to be um interesting. There’s some teams with six or a couple of teams with six or seven riders, professional teams, and uh they’ve obviously got strength in numbers, but uh hopefully maybe by myself I can fly under the radar. Maybe it’s difficult to know when you just ride a course in training how it’s going to race cuz it’s quite undulating, but sometimes with the speed of the pelaton, you know, it it flattens out hills that you think, “Wow, that’s super steep in a in training.” But, um, no, it’s definitely, you know, the flat finish, but I think it can definitely be hard beforehand, and I think there’s a lot of people that will probably want quite a tough race. Um, so yeah, no, I I think the course suits me. I’m looking forward to it. And um yeah, when we come on to the finals, I think there’s going to be attacks flying left, right, and center. So, for the final time, here are your race commentators, Hannah Walker and Matt Stevens. The scene again is set. This is the final national championships of what has been a wonderful week. The final jerseys to be awarded here on the seafront in Aberiswith. The flag is dropped and the men roll out here from the start in Abberiswith. It’s a big field here, Hannah. And they’ve got a heck of a race ahead of them. 187 km, 2 and a half thousand meters of climbing and more. 147 riders here for this national road title who will be battling it out for the stripes for the next 12 months and a stacked field once again. 19 World Tour professionals racing at the very highest level of our sport. And that’s not including those who are racing in the second division, in the pro tour, in the pro teams. This is an incredible field and it’s going to be as always hotly contested.
And what a sight that is as we just round the monument there looking out into the Irish Sea here. And we must indeed at the kickoff of this race thank Lloyds for being involved with British British cycling county council and the Welsh government for putting on these championships. It’s been absolutely magnificent and this is the final event. Two jerseys to be awarded for the under23s as we look at former double champion there, Ben Swift of the Inos Grenaders and of course for the elite title. Those jerseys to be worn for the next year or so. I’m not too sure if this chap’s actually got entry. Um he was briefly in the Pelaton and then dropped. But that was an interesting bike.
It was very interesting, wasn’t it? A bit of a a DIY affair there, but it was pretty impressive, wasn’t it?
UCI legal. Who knows? Who knows?
Banned from next year. Yeah, definitely banned from next year, but a few of the riders here, well, one of the riders here who’s looking pretty good there, just moving through to the front. So, the flag will be dropped very, very shortly. We just need to head out of town. The neutraliz section just about 3 1/2 km, but we’re going to commence five laps of the large circuit, 23.4Ks, and then 5 1/2 laps of 12.4Ks. And they’re off. The flag has dropped and an acceleration straight from the gun in the slipstream of the lead vehicle there. And that’s no surprise. There we go. kilometer zero.
No surprise whatsoever. That’s one of the riders from the Dolan factory racing. Will Roberts, a Welshman himself. So, racing on home roads as you could uh as you could say. And still as you go into the hedros and onto these narrow country roads, the attacks continue to to flow. And one of the riders here from the the ABCX on Provence squad who has has come back home. This is Jack Bruff, the the youngster.
He’s looking pretty arrow there. Just look at the way he’s got his little fingers wrapped around the hoods. I’ll be honest with you, he’s got pretty arrow, but he’s just on the border of being UCI legal there. He’s pushing the limits there of what it is to be aerodynamic as we head through this narrow little bit of a pinch point there. The rider just moving up on the outside. There was Max Walker, a medalist in the elite road race last year. And a nice little break is starting to form here. Ben Turner, it’s not Ben. It looks like it’s Connor Swift in this group. Very fast opening few kilometers. There’s been hardly any let up at all, Hannah. There hasn’t. It’s relentless and it’s it’s no surprise when you’ve got this kind of circuit. It really lends itself to exciting racing. You can try and split the elastic. I think you’re going to see a situation on the road where more often throughout you’re seeing riders going out the back as opposed to gaining a substantial advantage off the front in in breakaways.
Indeed. Max Walker riding right at the very back here just in front of Angus Stonem of the development team Picnic Postel and just look at the way the bunch is snaking through these country lanes. I think it this is a really marvelous circuit. Lovely and quiet, little bit technical, not ridiculously hard but punchy enough to make it difficult and this sort of circuit certainly rewards the aggressive riders. Now this break is going clear there. Lots of looking around. Callum Thornley from Red Bull Borah Hans Grow rookies also in this group as well. Lots of teams represented here, but I can’t see anybody from IPT in this move.
I can’t either. I’ve just seen one of the riders from Jacula. That’s Bob Donaldson, the youngster Neopro in that purple jersey with the gray shorts, the silver gray shorts, who has made it here. Also, the newly crowned national circuit race champion. That’s Cameron Mason, the man from Scotland of Alpas Derning Development Team. He’s there. Yeah, good spot. He’s just at the back of this group. And as you say, Bob Donaldson rolling through there, the national champion of the under 23 TT, Callum Thornley, very aggressive in the early stages of this race. And look at that. You just see Connor Swift, one of the uh former national champions in here, trying to urge everybody on as one of the riders from Visma Lisa Bike jumps across. That’s Thomas Patterson of the team at Visma Lisa Bike Development. Out also with Ben Wiggins there as well from Hogens Burman. And also there Josh Giddings. Four powerful riders now trying to bridge across the gap. It’s only about 100 m, but it’s so so difficult at this ridiculously high pace.
When you see the the camera shot from behind this trio, it gives you an indication how how difficult grippy you were on those false flats and they are hard to to close gaps.
Certainly is. We’re just going through the feed zone here. This is at the far corner of the farthest po point of the circuit as we do a double right hand and back over the climb. So, uh, lovely little catch there in between the teeth, but this group has, uh, settled down just at the back of that group there. That was a Matt Walls, an Olympic champion nonetheless, Matt Walls on the comeback trail. Good to see him back in action.
Brilliant to see him him back in action, particularly after a pretty difficult few years with crashes, injuries, the the concussion. Great to see the the support of the roadside. That was Connor Swift’s wife, Sean, and and his little boy cheering him on at the the end of the feed zone there. So brilliant support for Connor Swift and he’s got a a big realistic chance of trying to regain the title today.
He certainly has. He loves this sort of attritional racing. Again, even the big world tour teams, he cannot race this race from the back. This is Josh Goliker, I think, moving here for the uh EF Education Easy Post. Just moving back to the back of the Pelon here. This is George Kimber having a word with his Spirit Racing team. And this group now is starting to move clear, but they’ve only got a gap of around 30 seconds or so. So hard. It’s been so aggressive. Oh, this narrow pinch. There’s a crash. A big crash here in the center road. Look at the narrow pinch point. These high hedge and the back of the race here, Hannah, has drawn to a complete halt. Unbeknownsted, of course, to the riders in front. Nothing to do with them, but chaos has ensued here. That’s an awful pileup.
It’s awful, isn’t it? And and such a shame for for those riders who have been caught up there. Sincerely hope that everybody is okay. Take a little look at the replay what it’s done. the crash. It’s spread across the road and it’s blocked the the the other riders from behind. It’s so difficult to find a way through. Even the mechanics having trouble here. Indeed. You can just see the riders. Well, that was one of the in grenaders mechanic. Somebody trying to lift a bike up. Now, the whole road is blocked here. Now, we’ve seen situations in the past and I think you’ll agree with me Hannah where we might be looking at a potential I can’t be sure of potential neutralization because at the moment the front of the race that looked like 50 or 60 riders were clear on their own. They’ve got no race support. We’ve also got no um medical support either. So at the moment it’s fair to say that’s the crucial part. No medical support.
Yeah. We need to run this race safely from A to B. So this break at the moment as you can see no vehicles behind. Um they haven’t been asked to slow down. So right now all we can assume is that the racing is on and very unfortunate to see few riders here with injuries walking wounded. Let’s just wish everybody the very best and hope everybody gets up and is okay. Matt Matt Holmes there as well. Now we’re just starting to open up the road. Most devastation one or two riders still on the floor there. What an awful, awful crash to happen at this point in the race. But that is indeed bike racing sometimes. Coming into those final bends for the penultimate time. This is the race leaders. Owend leads this group through. Ethan Vernon in that group though. And the defending champion Ethan hater. One lap to go in about 100 meters time. Now the race was never neutral neutralized at all. We lost about 40 riders in that group. Eventually the race convoy got back on terms and so the race is on. And this is a really elite group of riders that we have out in the front here. Hannah,
we certainly do. And this is a a stacked field of of riders. Samuel Watson, here’s the belly. Rolls through a slight acceleration. Well, he’s just rolled off the front. No ma real reaction from from behind. Matty Brennan is there at the back of the group bringing up the rear. This is Ollie Knight of Coffus in the red and yellow jersey. Three Risers from IPT and Alex Beldon there number 83.
Well, that was what I call a stealth maneuver. That was a stealth attack. He just floated off the front. A gentle I think it’s fair to say a gentle seated acceleration. Had a quick glance round and Sam Watson has opened up a gap. Remember he was second the silver medalist back a couple of years ago in Scotland when Mark Cavendish took the title. Look at the amount of road between him and the brake behind. There’s only one more lap to go and Watson has flown the coupe. Disarray behind. Where’s the chase going to come from now? But this climb is hard, isn’t it? We know he’s got the engine. Has he got the legs though? Will he be starting to fatigue? But he certainly sees this opportunity.
But look, this final lap is only 12 1/2 km. And so if you gain an advantage of of 20, 30, maybe even 40 seconds here, given the fact that the descent is so fast, right, this this chasing group aren’t going to be able to bring back any of that advantage deficit, sorry, on the descent. So they’ve got to try and do it on this climb. And he’s been in sublime form this season. In his first year with Unio Grenaders, look at the the way that he’s pedaling. He still looks so full of of suppress, full of class, rock solid on the on the bike and behind they’re just weaving across the road.
Yeah, that’s Matthew Brennan there in the yellow team of Vismalike Risma Lisa bike riders. Had such a great season but so is this man. He won his first world tour race won the prologue of the tour of Rameni and now it’s Matt Brennan on the front. Also took of course the four days of done to it. But Brennan now everybody’s going to be looking to Brennan here. Okay, he hasn’t got any teammates but he is one of the pre-race favorites. He’s so so fast, so strong, but the gap is going out. Nobody’s giving him any assistance here, but it’s Bush that goes.
This is a big big move from Jacob Bush. And he’s another rider whilst he’s racing for the picnic pastel development team. He’s shown his class and his big potential today. The the young rider in that indigo and orange jersey. Whilst Matty Brennan’s one of the pre-race favorites, he’s not shied away from doing all the work.
He hasn’t. He’s never looked he’s looked pretty composed. He’s going to be slightly frustrated at the moment, but uh he can’t do anything about it because the the lead is continuing to open up. Now on the front is Callum Thornley adding a little bit of firepower. But again, Thor, there’s a couple of riders there from IPT, but Callum Thornley willing to get in the mix there. That’s an interesting maneuver. Clearly the IP riders, it looks like Jake Stewart has now been dropped from that group. So it’s only Joe Blackmore and Ethan Vernon. And it’s still Matty Brennan doing most of the pace raking trying to bring back an absolutely flying Sam Watson.
He’s putting some world class riders into some difficulty. Look at the shoulders rocking and rolling at Lewis Aski. He’s the rider in that navy blue jersey of Karma FDA. He’s looking to try and take the title before he heads off to the tour to France. Wouldn’t that be fantastic to see Luis Asi from Canic Chase in the British stripes in the tour to France, but he’s got class riders around him who he’s got to try and beat. And first of all, he’s got to try and bring back Samuel Watson, who has completely flown the nest.
Yeah, he’s coming towards the top of this climb again. A little bit of a break and this little plateau. This is this hard 90° or more left-hander. Just hear the brake squeal as he banks the bike in. Perfect cornering like he was on rails. And there’s another acceleration. Bush again goes over the top of this climb, putting several riders into in difficulty. Good ride. at the back there from Alex Beldon, the only rider from the the domestic scene who is in this group of world tour pros, pro team riders, and also developers. So, Chapper, whatever happens, the man of the back number 83 has rode superbly today. 25 seconds though.
25 seconds. But Alex Belden, don’t forget he’s only a second year under 23. This is a mightily impressive performance and I hope bigger teams are watching how impressive it’s been from Beldon. I
certainly think that will be the case. But look at the way that Sam Watson is carving his way down this descent. Hold on to your hats, ladies and gents. Sat at home with your cups of tea, your scones, your fish and chips. This is a pure demonstration of class. 25 seconds is the lead as he banks into the corner, banks into the next one. These series of chicanees, which takes us down to the bottom of the descent. This is a masterclass of descending prowess from Sam Watson, 23 years of age. Look at him fly.
He’s flying down this descent. is hitting the apex and he’s giving the motorbike camera motorbike a hard run for his money here. He can’t even keep up.
He is well he’s dropped a motorcyclist. He’s dropped the rest of the field and now he is rumping to potentially the biggest victory of his career. But still it’s around 4 and 1/2 km to the finishing line. But it’s his pan flat. He affords himself a look behind. What he will see is empty road. Just the space between him and the chases behind. Where is the chase going to come from? Because with only 4 km to go, give or take, Hannah, 30 seconds or so is a big gap to cross.
Honestly, I’m surprised that IP didn’t have more commitment on the front to to do the chasing, knowing how much of a danger Samuel Watson would be in this scenario in this situation. You don’t want to give him an inch, never mind 25 seconds. It was such a strange move when he won. But sometimes you just take the opportunity. the way he drifted off the front through the finishing line and then just squeezed on the power and has never been seen again. It’s Joe Blackmore on the front now by the looks of things. Blackmore is sacrificing himself for Ethan Vernon. Ethan Vernon himself, world tour wins this year for him. He’s a very fast sprinter indeed. He sits in second wheel. Matty Brennan, the other pre-race favorite, sits in his wheel. But meanwhile, this man continues to pile on the pressure. TT mode, remember, he’s already a silver medalist in the individual tro behold behind Ethan. Ethan hater who’s in that chasing group behind defending champion.
Yeah, defending champion of course. But it looks like this is going to be a the road to glory for Sam Watson. Despite the best efforts of Blackmore, they’re not eating into that lead at all. It still remains steady at between 25 and 30 seconds.
I fear that it’s it’s too little too late. They should have been fully committed like this as soon as they saw Samuel Watson gain an advantage and gain the gap and they should have got themselves organized to to bring him back to heal. Sadly for for Ethan Vernon this it could be all but too late. I mean Matty Brandon’s still there. Thornley’s had a wonderful performance so far. Max Walker still in the group. He’s the rider in the pink jersey
Knight as well who had a mechanical earlier on as well out of side of the camera. He’s got back on as well for Coppy. A lot of classy bike riders in this group, but it is indeed Joe Blackmore. What a year he had last year. He’s heading to the tour to France as well. He’s got Ethan Vernon in his slipstream. Again, as we saw in the the women’s race, sacrificial riding from one particular teammate, but can he shut the gap? They’re still making no inroads into this lead. Just look at the effort that Blackmore is putting in. His shoulders rocking now from side to side, displaying evidence of the fatigue that is deeply set within his body now. But still, the gap remains the same. And Sam Watson is flying into the outskirts now of Aberris with
you get the sense that barring any incident and this is not to give the the commentators curse but barring any crash or or mechanical it it’s going to be Samuel Watson who’s going to ride to to glory but Ethan Vernon he he clearly still believes that he can try and take this this victory and Blackmore now finally committing himself a winner of the the tour 11 last year no less and arguably Vernon is is the fastest Well, now this Blackmore starts to pull over. He’s a little bit of a rofal shake of the head. I think they know now that they have not done enough. It’s a case of too little too late. No crit direct criticism of Joe Blackmore. He has worked tirelessly, but they maybe just left it a little bit late. It’s such a complicated circuit to balance your effort, but once this man had opened up a gap, there was just no stopping him. We’ve got around 2 km to go now and the clock continues to tick. This man continues to drive. And Blackmore again files on the front. He looked around. It looked as if he’d given up, but he’s giving it some more now.
Perhaps just assessing the the situation. Olly Knight’s pulled out of the line. He’s assessed the situation. Big big move on the left hand side there from the defending champion Ethan hater of Sudol. Quickstep takes a look over his shoulder. Acute to the move is Lewis Aski whilst hater flicks the elbow. Yeah, Ethan hater tried to use the traffic island, use the width of the road to his advantage, but as you say, Lewis Aski straight on the wheel of the defending champion and again yet again they lose momentum. This uh stop start style of chasing behind is not reaping the dividends and Bush goes on the right hand side and he nearly gets taken out but he’s okay. That was the door was shut not intentionally that was just a racing instant there. Uh interesting to see but look out in front what can we see? Nothing just empty tarmac. 1 km to go. This is going to be almost like a mini lap of honor of this little mini circuit that will take him onto the prominard. What can you say about this man? Silver medal a couple of years ago and it looks like he’s going to take the biggest win of his career. Hannah, what a ride by Sam Watson.
Beautiful performance from Samuel Watson. So richly deserved. He’s had a wonderful season already in his first year with the Inos Grenaders. A couple of victories, a time trial victory in the tour to Ramen. But don’t forget, for the majority of the the back end of this race, he’s been alone, the sole representative from the Inios Grenaders. He’s not had teammates. He’s not had the luxury of that after the two riders were were caught out from the the crash around halfway through. Connor Swift not able to to follow the moves. And so for Samuel Watson bited his time, one stealth move tactically put. Wonderful. Well, here he is. I couldn’t uh couldn’t say it better myself really, Hannah. Look at that. A shake of the head from the man from lead, Sam Watson. checks the gap once more. He slaps his thigh. He cannot believe it. There’s a smile writ large across his face. The man in his first year with the Inos Grenaders. He was the silver medalist two years ago to Sir Mark Cavage and now he wins solo in fine fine style. There is your new national elite road race champion for 2025. Sam Watson wins solo. A beautiful, beautiful solo victory that will remain wow in his mind for the rest of his lives. He gets to wear the bands for the next 12 months. And there’s a furious chase behind for the sprint. The man with the dog moved out the way just in time. It’s that of Brennan that open things up on the left hand side. Vernon on the inside, but it looks like the man from Bisma Lisa Bike is going to take the silver medal. A big punch clear. Takes it by a length. Vernon home just in front of Ethan there for third place. A fine sprint by Brennan, but unfortunately no championship win for him today. But what can you say about this man? Absolutely superb riding from Sam Watson. And he had to do it alone as well.
He had to do it alone. 12 months in the British National Stripes. Wonderful for the man from Leads. Just a sensational performance all round. He’ll be delighted with that one. Sam Watson then crossing the finishing line 29 seconds ahead of the Chasing Group. Consolation for second place Matt Brennan who claimed the under23 title. Ethan Vernon completed the podium in third. Time trial winner Ethan hater came just off the podium in fourth. Unbelievable feeling to be honest. It’s a bit of a dream, you know, to have these these bands at least once in your career and yeah, to have the stripes on your jersey for the rest of your career. So yeah, amazing to be honest. Uh yeah, I didn’t feel good all race, but yeah, probably like everyone just because it’s so hard and you’re kind of like a bit on your limit all race. So that probably helped me cuz I was uh yeah, willing to lose the race to win. And yeah, as soon as I got a gap, you know, with guys like Ethan Vernon and Brennan in that front group, all I had to do then was just go full gas to the line. And yeah, once you get a gap on the last line at nationals, it’s pretty KY. No one wants to carry each other around, you know. So, uh, yeah, it is, uh, perfect scenario. We won the 23 jersey, which is really nice. Um, a little bit disappointed I just missed out on the on the elite title, but it happens. So, I think did everything I could today to try and get there, but Sam made a really good move in the end and I think it’s a really good winner. It was a hard race with the road surface and the undulating circuit. It was a really hard day. One of the hardest days I’ve had. So, um to be there at the finish I was quite happy with with the shape and yeah, normally I’m just a sprinter. So, bit of different racing for me today.
Sam Watson. So Sam Watson tops the final podium of the 2025 National Road Championships while Matt Brennan can also celebrate his under 23 win. A great way to end three days of racing in Kedadigian. We hope you enjoyed it. Thanks for joining us and goodbye. [Music]