Isle of Man to host 2017 British national road championships

This year's HSBC UK National Road Championships will be held on the Isle of Man, which has produced three of the last four winners of the men's road race through Mark Cavendish in 2013 and Peter Kennaugh in the following two years.

The time trials, where Alex Dowsett and Hayley Simmonds will both be targeting a third successive win in, respectively, the men's and women's events, take place on Thursday 22 June.

Sunday 25 June sees the road races, with Adam Blythe the reigning men's champion, and Hannah Barnes winning the women's title in Stockton-on-Tees last year.

The island in the Irish Sea hosted the Isle of Man International Cycling Week from 1936 to 2003, with star names racing there including the great Eddy Merckx.

Jonny Clay, British Cycling’s director of cycling, commented: “We are thrilled to be returning to the Isle of Man for the biggest date in the British road racing calendar. The island is steeped in cycling heritage, passion and tradition, making it the ideal venue for such a prestigious event.

“In addition to its unrivalled cycling history, the Isle of Man enjoyed a hugely successful return to hosting elite cycle racing in 2016 with the Manx International Grand Prix, so we have great confidence that this year’s HSBC UK National Road Championships will be a tremendous occasion and help to underpin elite road racing on the island and raise its profile nationwide.”

Isle of Man Chief Minister Howard Quayle MHK said: “This will be a wonderful opportunity to welcome some of the world’s best cyclists to our shores and to showcase the Isle of Man to a wider audience. We have vast experience of hosting international sporting events and can take great pride in being chosen to stage what is undoubtedly one of the most prestigious championships on the British cycling calendar.”

In 2014, when it was rumoured that a bid was being prepared to bring the event to the island, former world champion Cavendish told the BBC: "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.

He added: "I would be thrilled to come home and race" in the event, which was originally envisaged for 2016.