ELITE road race cycling will return to Teesside next month, with a testing course and "spectacular" finish in store for riders at the newly created East Cleveland Classic.

The newest event in the National Series - which will be held at Saltburn on Sunday, April 14 - builds on the already great relationship the area has with elite road racing after the success of last year's British Championships and the popular Klondike Grand Prix, which last took place in 2019.

The East Cleveland Classic will be the curtain raiser of the men’s National Series. It's the second race of the season for the women’s peloton after their first round in Melton Mowbray at the CiCLE Classic, where Eluned King sprinted to victory.

The National Road Series is the only series of road races in the UK which features Britain’s best riders from both Continental and elite-level teams and with the Stockton Cycling Festival Grand Prix remaining off the menu, the East Cleveland Classic will be the only one-day race in Teesside in 2024.

The undulating road race will follow a similar route to what was used at the National Road Race Championships last year.

It will start and finish in Saltburn and pass through Skelton, Guisborough, Boosbeck, Lingdale and Brotton before heading back to the finish line at the bandstand.

The women’s race will be four laps of the circuit, which is around 68 miles. The men will face six laps of the same circuit which totals just over 100 miles. Racing will get underway at 9am for the women and 1pm for the men and is expected to be finished by 6pm.

Robyn Clay of team Das-Hutchinson-Brother raced the 2023 National Road Race and said: "I think the Saltburn finish is spectacular, and very special. It’s a course that only the strongest riders can win on.

"I’m looking forward to being back in Saltburn this year and hopefully being in good enough condition to get a good result.”

Jonathan Day, managing director of British Cycling Events, said: “We are delighted to return to Redcar and Cleveland to deliver another prestigious event in the region.

"Last year’s national championships saw many of our best riders do battle against the stunning backdrop of Saltburn, and we look forward to more great racing at the East Cleveland Classic.”

British Cycling recently announced that following the success of the 2023 National Road Championships, the event will be returning to the region for a second successive year and the National Road race will follow the same route as the East Cleveland Classic.  Darlington will host the circuit races on Friday, June 21.

Spectators will be able to watch next month's East Cleveland Classic multiple points throughout the course as it’s a multi-lap race. Key areas will be at St Nicholas Church in Guisborough, where riders will fight for the intermediate sprint points, the climb of Saltburn Bank and the start and finish line at the bandstand in Saltburn.