British Cycling announce 2026 Lloyds National Gravel Championships
Today, British Cycling are proud to announce the inaugural Lloyds National Gravel Championships coming to Scotland this August.
Building on the growth, popularity and success of the discipline in recent years, gravel will now have an official British Cycling sanctioned national championship event, aiming to further grow its reach and awareness.
The Lloyds National Gravel Championships will take place in Ae Forest in Scotland on 22nd and 23rd August, in what looks to be a thrilling weekend of action. Elite open and elite female races will take place on Sunday 23rd with youth, junior and masters’ races also on offer throughout the weekend, allowing riders to enter the history books in the chance to secure the first striped jersey in gravel.
Following a competitive tender process, Outsider Events has been appointed to host the historic and momentous championships. Outsider Events has demonstrated a keen interest in growing the discipline, with a track record of delivering high profile off-road cycling events, including hosting the Scottish National Gravel Championships since 2025.
Further information on the structure, schedule, and format of the national championship will be announced in due course.
Speaking on the announcement, Joe Malik, Head of Talent Development and Sport at British Cycling said:
“We are incredibly excited to welcome gravel to the growing list of British Cycling events. Thanks to the hard work and dedication of the devoted community in its formative years, we know that there is already a strong foundation from which we can help grow the discipline to further heights.
“Achieving our goal of bringing the joy of cycling to everyone means we need to meet people where they are cycling, whether it’s in Ae Forest or a gravel path in Grimsby. We hope that by incorporating gravel into the British Cycling National Championship line-up, we can get more eyes and more interest into a thrilling discipline.”
Cameron Balfour, Director of Outsider Events, said:
“Following a hugely successful inaugural Scottish Gravel Championships, we’re delighted to be hosting the first affiliated British Gravel Championships in the South of Scotland. From an Outsider Events perspective, this is a significant moment for both the region and the discipline, reflecting the growing momentum behind gravel riding. As with many of our flagship gravel festivals within the GrALBA Series, the focus won’t rest solely on the pointy end of the racing.
“We’ll also look beyond the finish line, creating a vibrant festival atmosphere that appeals to riders, families, and spectators alike, and encourages more people to experience the joy of riding a bike.”
Fraser Johnston, Head of Events of Scottish Cycling, said:
“We’re delighted that the first sanctioned British Gravel Championships is coming to Scotland later on this Summer. Our stunning landscapes, coupled with our 1000s of kms of trails and right to roam, lend themselves so well to this exciting discipline.
“We’ve already seen a range of bold and thrilling events take place in Scotland in recent years, firmly placing us on the map as a real destination for Gravel racing. Off the back of an exciting first officially-sanctioned Scottish National Championships last August, we’re also looking forward to seeing what Cameron and the team at Outsider Events can deliver at Ae.
“Ae Forest itself is a venue that’s no stranger to racers, a regular venue for all type of mountain bike events, and is also set to host the British MTB XC Champs this July.”
