The first day of the 2025 British National Track Cycling Championships, held at Manchester’s National Cycling Centre, delivered a spectacle of top-tier racing. Several high-profile British riders shone in the opening session, including Anna Morris, Matthew Richardson, Josh Charlton, and the para-cycling duo of Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl. Here’s a look back at the key moments from day one.
Anna Morris Dominates Women’s Scratch Race.
The women’s scratch race saw a tactical and physical masterclass from Anna Morris. Fresh from winning the European individual pursuit title just a week prior, she added another gold to her collection with a dominant display. The race began cautiously, with Katie Archibald launching the first serious attack with 27 laps to go, sparking a flurry of moves. Morris then made her move alongside Imogen Wolff, opening up a significant gap with around 15 laps remaining. Holding off a fast-finishing peloton, including the legendary Archibald, Morris crossed the line first, ahead of the multiple Olympic champion and the hugely promising Erin Boothman
Matthew Richardson Claims First British Sprint Title
The men’s sprint event was dominated by Matthew Richardson in emphatic fashion. Competing in his first British Championships after previously representing the Australian track cycling team, the Olympic silver medallist, riding for Team Inspired, was in imperious form, winning every head-to-head contest without dropping a single heat. In the final, he dispatched Peter Mitchell in two straight races, confirming his status as the man to beat. Marcus Hiley took the bronze, overcoming 17-year-old Oliver Pettifer in the third-place playoff.
Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl Break Tandem Pursuit Record
The para-cycling tandem pursuit witnessed a historic moment as Sophie Unwin and Jenny Holl stormed to victory with a sensational time of 4:36.737—an unofficial world record pending ratification. They edged out Lora Fachie and Charlotte Deykin in a closely contested final, while the Krishna-Hague pairing completed the podium.
In the men’s tandem pursuit, Steve Bate and Chris Latham were in a class of their own, catching Chris Wilkins and Henry Latimer before the halfway point to secure their first national title of the competition.
Josh Charlton Dominates Individual Pursuit
Already an established force on the European stage and a former brief holder of the world record, Josh Charlton reaffirmed his dominance in the individual pursuit. Facing defending champion Michael Gill, Charlton paced himself perfectly before catching his opponent with a quarter of the race still to go. Despite already sealing the win, he pushed on to clock an outstanding time of 4:00.918. Will Perrett claimed bronze, defeating Matthew Bostock with a well-timed final surge.
Archie Atkinson Stuns Jody Cundy in Para-Cycling Time Trial
One of the day’s biggest upsets came in the C1-5 time trial, where Archie Atkinson got the better of Jody Cundy—the multiple-time world and Paralympic champion. The Paris 2024 Paralympic silver medallist put in a superb ride, stopping the clock at 1:06.295 to take the title. Elsewhere, Matthew Robertson (C2), Jacob Smith (C3), and Alex Jones (C5) all secured national titles in their respective categories.
Team Inspired Trio Dominate Women’s Team Sprint
The evening concluded with the women’s team sprint, where Team Inspired’s top squad, comprising Lauren Bell, Rhian Edmunds, and Lowri Thomas, all of whom have medalled at either world or European level, delivered a commanding victory. Their time of 47.437 seconds put them well clear of Team Inspired’s B squad, which featured a youthful trio aged 22, 21, and 18, finishing over a second and a half behind. Wales rounded off the podium, narrowly defeating Scotland in the bronze-medal ride-off.
