New Lancaster GP bolsters British racing calendar
Former UCI president Brian Cookson lends his weight to organising new race in his home county

Junior riders Tom Pidcock and Rob Scott give it everything they've got to stay ahead of Ian Wilkinson during the Clayton Velo Classic in Lancashire on Sunday. Pidcock would take the win.
Former UCI president Brian Cookson has unveiled his latest project the Lancaster Grand Prix race, which has been added to the British Cycling road series calendar.
The 160km race is set to take place on Sunday June 9 and will feature seven laps of a circuit based largely on roads through the Forest of Bowland Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty.
The event is being organised by Lune Racing Cycling Club in association with Lancashire and Lancaster councils.
Cookson, who organised many events prior to his stints as the president of the UCI and British Cycling, said the race had been planned to be “like an Ardennes classic” and will feature 2,673m of climbing.
He said: “We don't expect any large groups of riders to be together at the finish. It's a leg-breaker.”
After a short ride out from the start to the Forest of Bowland the race will start its circuit which has previously been used for regional championship road races in the area and the now defunct Fred Atkinson Trophy and the Levy Moores Two Day.
That route passes through the villages of Dolphinholme, Marshaw, Emmetts and Abbeystead before heading back to the start at Ashton Memorial where the race will finish.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
No women’s race is planned for the inaugural edition as the date clashes with the women’s Cicle Classic UCI-level race.
The organisers hope that the race will one day grow to UCI-level status.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Having trained as a journalist at Cardiff University I spent eight years working as a business journalist covering everything from social care, to construction to the legal profession and riding my bike at the weekends and evenings. When a friend told me Cycling Weekly was looking for a news editor, I didn't give myself much chance of landing the role, but I did and joined the publication in 2016. Since then I've covered Tours de France, World Championships, hour records, spring classics and races in the Middle East. On top of that, since becoming features editor in 2017 I've also been lucky enough to get myself sent to ride my bike for magazine pieces in Portugal and across the UK. They've all been fun but I have an enduring passion for covering the national track championships. It might not be the most glamorous but it's got a real community feeling to it.
-
'It was a bit worse than this but the outcome was the same’ - Brutal day out at Paris-Nice leaves Mads Pedersen reminiscing about World Championships win
Former world champion reflects on a hard day of racing on the Côte d'Azur
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'A tough day' - Mads Pedersen outsprints Josh Tarling to win Paris-Nice stage 6 after echelons chaos
Wind forces GC shake-up as Matteo Jorgenson holds race lead
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Class of 2025: Meet the 12 British cyclists who turned pro this year
A bounteous 12 Brits have stepped up to the pro ranks in 2025. Tom Davidson traces the skyward trajectories of a former runner, an adoptive Italian, and the WorldTour’s youngest rider
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We're not at all giving up the ghost, we will be back' - Organiser of major British race vows event will return after brief hiatus
Brian Cookson explains decision to pause Lancaster Grand Prix for a year as organising committee eye 2026 return
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
British Continental team insist they will race in 2025 despite fraud accusations against Swiss backer
Hess Cycling say allegations against team owner are part of a wider 'smear campaign'
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
No elite women met selection criteria for upcoming Cyclo-cross World Championships, says British Cycling
Great Britain also not sending under-23 men’s squad to event in northern France next weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
British Cycling reveals National Road and Circuit Series calendar for 2025
Ryedale GP missing from Road Series after final edition in 2024, while south-west round is added
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tanfield brothers in race against clock to form new UCI Continental team
British riders have until 6 December to form new squad after collapse of Saint Piran and Trinity Racing
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
‘It’s unprofessional and I’m p****d off’: Riders and staff learned of British Continental team’s decision to close via social media
A handful of team personnel only learned on social media that they would not have jobs in 2025 after Saint Piran's demise
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Fancy dressing the next generation of Olympic champions? British Cycling is on the hunt for an apparel engineer
You can earn at least £52,000 a year if you fancy working on skinsuits and overshoes for BC
By Adam Becket Published