Isle of Man bids for 2016 National Championships

The BBC reports that the Isle of Man Cycling Association has submitted a bid to host the 2016 British Cycling National Road Championships. The island has produced the. The island can lay claim to being something of a hotbed of British cycling having produced the last two men’s champions despite having a population of just 85,000.

Peter Kennaugh took the 2014 national title in Monmouthshire, while Mark Cavendish won in Glasgow in 2013. Speaking to the BBC last year, Cavendish described himself as ‘thrilled’ that a bid was likely and said that he had already been thinking about possible routes.

"It would be great to choose a course that shows off the Isle of Man to the full and brings thousands of people over to watch. For sure I think it needs to take in the TT course - maybe as a final lap.

"Hopefully I can share my views with the organisers and the (Manx) government. I would be thrilled to come home and race in 2016."

Isle of Man Cycling Association (IoMCA) chairman, Richard Fletcher, said that a successful bid would enhance the island's reputation as a world-class cycling destination capable of staging world- class sporting events.

The Isle of Man has a rich cycling history having staged Isle of Man International Cycling Week between 1936 to 2003. The festival attracted a number of top competitors down the years, including Eddy Merckx.

It is not yet known what other bids the Isle of Man will be up against, but British Cycling said the winner would be announced on or before March 20.

The 2015 National Road Championships are to be held in Lincoln on a circuit featuring the cobbled Michaelgate climb which is a major feature of the Lincoln Grand Prix.