News

Lloyds National Road Championships Road Race Preview

Published

12 months ago

June 25, 2025

THERE are only a few days to go until the 2025 Lloyds National Road Championships concludes in Ceredigion with a high intensity road race through the town of Aberystwyth. Riders will compete in front the Welsh crowd for glory and the national crown in the last of the three-event championship.

The stage

Sunday 29 June will see the 2025 Lloyds National Road Championship get underway as some of the strongest names in the British road scene battle a through the Welsh countryside

After a presentation start on the seafront, the road races will head out of town towards Y Gors as far as Trawsgoed on a picturesque yet testing 23.4km anti-clockwise loop, heading back towards Aberystwyth, passing Abermad.

With a maximum gradient of 9.1% at the beginning of each lap, the peloton will be thinned out as the action moves onto the finishing circuit after three laps for the women’s race and five laps in the men’s race.

Racing begins early doors, with the elite and under-23 women kicking things off at 08:45, before the elite and under-23 men close things out at 13:45.

The riders

The road race is jam packed with talent across both races. Three-time national road race champion Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Picnic PostNL) will hope to defend her title in the women’s race this year, but will be under stiff competition.

Anna Henderson (Lidl-Trek) will aim to do one better after having to settle for second last year in the road race, while the Fenix-Deceuninck duo of Flora Perkins and Millie Couzens, as well as Alice Towers (CANYON // SRAM Racing Team) are some of the other favourites.

Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) is also fresh off the back of an impressive 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women earlier this month, which saw her claim both the points classifications and best young rider jerseys and a career-first stage win in Kelso.

Speaking on the upcoming championship, Pfeiffer Georgi said: “Nationals holds such a special meaning to me, as I’ve been lucky to enjoy success over the last few years. Heading into this years’ Championships as back-to-back champion has its pressures, and it’s been a tough process coming back from injury, so I know it won’t be easy, but I’m focused, motivated, and ready to give it everything I’ve got.

“The level of competition in British women’s road racing just keeps getting stronger, and that pushes me to raise my game every time I take to the start line.”

In the men’s race, Ethan Hayter (Soudal Quick-Step) returns to defend his national title in the road race from 2024, as do the other podium finishers in Lewis Askey (GROUPAMA – FDJ) and Max Walker (EF Education – EasyPost).

Brothers Connor Swift and Ben Swift (both Ineos Grenadiers) will also line up to challenge for the title, with Ben Wiggins (Hagens Berman Jayco CT) one to watch.

A host of Welsh riders will be set to be some of the crowd favourites in the event, including Owain Doull (EF Education – EasyPost), Huw Buck-Jones (Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme) Zoe Backstedt (CANYON-SRAM zondacrypto), Elinor Barker (Uno-X Mobility) and Megan Barker (Tekkerz CC).

How to Watch

For fans not able to watch the races unfold from the roadside, you can watch along live on the British Cycling Youtube channel, Discovery+ online and TNT, plus a full highlights programme on Discovery+ and TNT2 at 7pm on Tuesday 1 July.

You can also follow along on the British Cycling social media channels. A full report and imagery of the time trial can also be found on the British Cycling website shortly after the last event finishes.

Join the conversation!

Whether you’re in Aberystwyth or watching at home, send thoughts and photos to us on Facebook, X and Instagram, where we’ll be sharing our exclusive content and behind the scenes footage throughout the event.

Health

Woman jailed assaults on police, harassment and XL Bully possession

Published

3 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CARMARTHEN woman has been jailed after admitting a lengthy catalogue of offences including assaults on police officers, harassment, breaching a Community Protection Notice, shop theft, possession of an XL Bully dog and assaulting a paramedic.

Tilly Rees, 25, of Llys Caermedi, Carmarthen, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday (Jun 18).

The court heard that Rees admitted multiple breaches of a Community Protection Notice issued in 2025, including incidents in which she shouted abuse in public, caused distress to residents and repeatedly targeted individuals named in court proceedings.

Harassment campaign

Among the offences was a harassment charge relating to a course of conduct against a Carmarthen man between March and May this year.

Prosecutors said Rees approached him on multiple occasions, shouted abuse, called him a paedophile and video-recorded him and his home.

She also admitted a series of Community Protection Notice breaches linked to the same behaviour.

Police assaults

The court heard that Rees assaulted a number of police officers during incidents in Llanelli on May 1 and May 5.

Several assault charges against serving police constables were taken into account by the court when sentence was passed.

A further charge of assaulting a paramedic at Dafen Police Station on June 12 was also admitted.

Shop theft and XL Bully

Rees also admitted stealing items including sanitary products, deodorant, skincare products and reading glasses from a Carmarthen pharmacy.

In a separate matter, she admitted possessing an XL Bully dog contrary to the Dangerous Dogs Act. The court ordered the dog to be forfeited and destroyed after Rees relinquished her rights to it.

Restraining orders imposed

District Judge M Layton imposed a number of restraining orders preventing Rees from contacting named individuals or referring to them online.

The orders prohibit direct or indirect contact and restrict social media activity relating to those protected by the orders.

Jailed for 26 weeks

Magistrates concluded that only an immediate custodial sentence could be justified.

Rees was sentenced to a total of 26 weeks’ imprisonment.

The court heard that some of the offences were committed while she was already subject to a suspended sentence, while others involved assaults on emergency workers carrying additional aggravating factors.

Crime

Bomb hoax allegation lands Carmarthenshire man before court

Published

10 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

A CARMARTHENSHIRE man has appeared before magistrates accused of making a bomb hoax and assaulting police officers.

Anthony Mold, 38, of Sandy Road, Llanelli, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Mold is charged with communicating false information by alleging that a bomb or other explosive substance was present at Dafen Police Station.

The allegation relates to an incident on May 6 this year.

The defendant also faces charges of assaulting two police officers, damaging a police vehicle, and breaching a Community Protection Notice.

Court records show the damage charge relates to a Dyfed-Powys Police vehicle.

Mold entered guilty pleas to the offences before the court.

District Judge M Layton remanded him in custody for the preparation of reports ahead of sentencing.

The case was adjourned until Thursday, July 2, when Mold is due to be sentenced at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court.

Crime

Carmarthenshire pensioner, 86, accused of causing prostitution for gain

Published

13 minutes ago

June 20, 2026

Court Reporter

AN 86-YEAR-OLD Carmarthenshire pensioner has appeared before magistrates accused of causing or inciting prostitution for gain.

Hywel Charles, of Rhandirfelin, Llanelli, appeared before Llanelli Magistrates’ Court on Thursday (Jun 18).

Charles is charged under the Sexual Offences Act 2003 with intentionally causing or inciting another person to become a prostitute for, or in expectation of, gain for himself.

The allegation relates to an incident said to have taken place at Llanelli on October 9, 2025.