Wheely Exciting British Cycling Road Championships Hit Tees Valley

Once again, the Tees Valley is riding high, having secured the exciting British Road Cycling Championships for another year. 

After a successful 2023 event, the contest will hit the streets of Darlington on 21 June. There’ll be plenty of places to watch the exciting urban circuit races, with riders battling it out on a tight and technical 1.28km circuit around the centre.  

Starting and ending in the Market Square, it will take in Feethams, Tubwell Row and Crown Street, with both the open and women’s races being contested over 50 minutes of fast and furious racing.  

This will be followed by the road races in Redcar & Cleveland on Sunday, 23 June, with riders starting and ending in the beautiful seaside town of Saltburn. They’ll then head off onto the rolling terrain of East Cleveland, skirt Guisborough and Boosbeck before returning via Kilton Thorpe and Brotton. 

Both the men and women will follow a 26km loop, with women completing five laps and the men taking on seven, facing challenging fast descents and hairpin bends. 

You’ll be able to get a front-row seat to the action right along the routes to see who will grab a coveted jersey.  

There’s lots to see and do in the two boroughs hosting the British Road Cycling Championships – why not check out some activities and great places to eat and drink?  

In Darlington, have a competition of your own in DC Bowl – the new five-lane bowling alley which takes the game to the next level. 

Pit your wits against the clock at Cluedini Darlington’s  live escape room and solve puzzles and cryptic clues in one of three themed challenges. 

Darlington boasts brilliant places to eat - get all fired up with a delicious curry and a cocktail at Babul’s in Darlington, or grab some local coffee and a cake at the dog-friendly Hatch Luncheonette.  

Spending the day in Saltburn for the start and end of the races? Fill some time at the Saltburn Valley Gardens. Check out the Woodland Centre, take a break in the tearoom or jump on the miniature railway for a trip through the gardens from the sea.  

Enjoy the sea air with a walk along Saltburn Beach, and its impressive Victorian pier, which extends out 200 metres in the North Sea. 

If the excitement and sunshine is making you too hot under the collar, Pacitto in Redcar is a legendary ice cream parlour famed for its lemon top ice cream. For something more substantial, visit Tomahawk Steakhouse Saltburn for dry-aged steaks, Wagyu and freshly landed fish. 

Get even more inspiration at visitteesvalley.com

Give yourself time to explore what Redcar and Cleveland truly has to offer by staying a while.  

Brockley Hall, Saltburn’s boutique hotel, offers unique features to make your stay unforgettable. The Spa Hotel provides breath-taking views of the coastline or, if you’d prefer something a little different, why not try a yurt or a shepherd hut or even a stay in Hagrid’s hut at Northshire.  

Nestled under the North York Moors in the charming town of Guisborough is Gisborough Hall, offering a luxury home-from-home retreat.

If you’re staying for both races, Darlington’s Rockliffe Hall is Tees Valley’s only five-star hotel, complete with spa, golf course and three on-site restaurants.

Or if you want a place to stay that’s right at the heart of the action, the Houndgate Townhouse will literally overlook the race route in Darlington town centre, while providing modern, stylish accommodation, wine bar and seafood restaurant.