The National 25 Mile Championships will see a showdown of the country’s best riders on the A46 in Leicestershire on Sunday.

Reigning champion Christopher Fennell (The Independent Pedaler–Nopinz) will start as scratch man having only been beaten once this season.

That loss was in the National 10 to Dan Bigham (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling) who his hoping to complete the double.

Bigham is unbeaten this season but competition will come from within his own team with John Archibald starting second from last and veteran Simon Wilson posting some impressive times this season.

However, all of them will have to see off the challenge of World Tour professional Alex Dowsett (Israel Startup Nation).

The winners will receive a Kalas Jersey for their efforts, as shown in our picture. More details of their services are available at https://www.kalas.co.uk/

Reigning women’s National 25 Champion Emily Meakin (The Independent Pedaler–Nopinz) has already sealed a crown this season in the National 10 and will be hoping to retain her crown.

Hayley Simmonds (AeroCoach) missed the National 10 and last year’s National 25 but is due to challenge in Leicestershire on Sunday.

Amongst the veterans hoping for category honours are Angela Carpenter (a3crg) along with TrainSharp duo Sally Turner and Lisa Davies.

 After finishing second in the junior category in the National 10 Oscar Nilsson-Julien (VC de Londres) will be looking to go one better in the National 25.

He will face a host of competition including that from National Youth Champion Joshua Tarling (Team Backstedt Bike Performance).

The junior women’s category will see National 10 Champion Abi Smith (Moonglu CC) start as scratch rider.

She could again be pushed by juvenile and National Youth Champion Isabel Sharp (Drag2Zero).

On Saturday the Kettering CC 10 will see riders complete a loop around the countryside with veteran Nick Cave (The Lutterworth Cycle Centre) going off last man.

Veteran rider Wendy Gooding (Team Bottrill) will be looking to take the women’s category.

The road bike event will be equally as competitive with George Fox (45 RC) heading the field.

Unbeaten Andrew Feather (HuntBikeWheels.com) will be looking to continue his emphatic form in Saturday’s Halifax Imperial Whls HC.

The Stocks Lane Hill Climb starts outside Luddenden and is 1.5 kilometres in length with the coming as the gradient reaches 21.6% before levelling out before going back up to 14.9%.

The Velo Club Cumbria event on Whinlatter also takes place on Saturday over 1.3 kilometres with a maximum gradient of 12.7%.

Jonathan Morris (AeroCoach) and Andy Cunningham (Ilkley CC) will be searching for their first open wins of the season but will face a host of challengers.

Henrietta Colborne (Biehler Krush Pro Cycling) will star in the women’s event in her first open since the 2017 National Hill Climb Championships finishing 13th.

A huge field are down to start the East Anglian VTTA 25 with professional rider Harry Tanfield (AG2R La Mondiale) the only non-veteran listed as final reserve.

The out and back E2/25 is a popular one heading out from Newmarket and Kevin Tye (VeloRefined Rule 5) will be one of the veterans to beat.

Amy Pritchard (Giant Camden Team Liv) will be battling for victory in the women’s event.

Sunday begins with the Poole Whls 10 which sees a full field of 120 riders due to test their legs on the P415 taking in the A3049 and A35.

Lee Frost (NOPINZ Symec Race Team) will be looking to add to his win tally for the season but could face tough competition with Conrad Moss (Primera-Teamjobs) and Simon Alexander (Richardsons- Trek RT) amongst the starters.

Veteran Julia Shaw (Drag2Zero) will be one to beat in the women’s field.

After listed as a reserve the previous day professional Tanfield is scratch rider in the Lee Valley CC Crescent 30.

Lisa Hurrell (Maldon & District CC) is amongst the women’s field.

Despite clashing with the National 25 the Epsom CC 25 has also attracted a big field.

Chris Boddy (AeroCoach) starts as last man but he could face competition in the form of Andrew Meilak (VeloRefined Rule 5).

The road bike event will be headed off by Marcel Mavronicholas (North Hampshire RC).

The Edinburgh Road Club 15.5 between Tranent and Haddington on the A199 will see veteran Douglas Watson (GTR- Return to Life) start as last man looking for a second win of the season.

Hazel MacLeod (Lanark Race Team) is amongst the women’s field.

Veteran rider Joel Stewart (Team Ohten Aveas) will be one of the riders to watch in the Berkhamsted CC 10 over a looped course near Aylesbury.

The women’s field has a strong showing from team Lovelo who have six riders down to start.

The lumpy Godric CC 25 will provide a tough test on the A143 out and back course near Bungay.

Para-cyclist Ryan Gray (Tri Harder) will go off as last man while Kerry Tate (Newmarket Cycling & Triathlon Club) is amongst the women’s entrants.

With three wins to his name this season Nick Livermore (Bristol South CC) will be hoping to add to his tally in his host club’s 10-mile event.

Lindsey Lyes (VeloVitesse/Allcap/James Barry) will be hoping for success in the women’s event.

In hill climb action on Sunday, Cameron Biddle (Vredestein Basso) will be looking for a first victory of the season in the Mid-Devon CC event on Widdecombe after recording three second places so far this season.

Josh Coyne (Bpm Coaching) goes off last man while CAMS- Tifosi team-mates Illi Gardner and Natalie Grinczer go in the women’s event.

National Hill Climb Champion Ed Laverack (VAMos.CC) will be looking to back his victory last weekend up in the Newbury Velo event, the Walbury Hill Climb.

A huge start list is set to compete over the 1.3-kilometre climb which has a maximum gradient of 14.7 per cent.

Laverack will have competition from course record holder Richard Gildea (Didcot Phoenix CC) while Max Steadman (HuntBikeWheels.com) is also in action.

Veteran Vicky Gill (Drag2Zero) starts as one to watch in the women’s event and will face the challenge of scratch rider Frances Owen (Wrexham RC).

There are also strong fields in the junior and juvenile categories.

Up in the North East the Sunderland Clarion event on the Silver Hills will see riders climb out of Lamesley.

Rafe Williams (Team Bikestop Tyrekey) starts as last man while junior Grace Castle (Mountain Goat Performance Cycle Coaching) will be one to watch in the women’s event.

Feather will be hoping for a weekend double when he takes on the Cleveland Whls CC event on the Clay Bank climb.

Hannah Farran (Team Boompods) will be targeting victory in the women’s event.

A strong field are set to line-up to climb the Peaslows Hill in Chapel-en-le-Frith for the Withington Wheelers event.

The men’s competition will see former National Champion Adam Kenway (Vitus Pro Cycling) take on the Team Lifting Gear Products/Cycles in Motion duo of Andy Nichols and Calum Brown.

After winning over 25 miles last weekend Sarah Storey (Storey Racing) takes on her first hill climb of the season.

She will face tough competition in the form of Rebecca Richardson (Team Brother UK) and Jo Tindley (CAMS- Tifosi).

Nichols and Richardson will be hoping for a Sunday double in the men’s and women’s event as both travels to take on the Cycles in Motion HC on Mill Lee Road in the afternoon.