[British Cycling has entered into a "landmark" partnership with Velo Birmingham & Midlands Sportive. [In 2022, Birmingham will host the Commonwealth Games, giving British professional athletes a taste of the terrain they will be fighting over medals in two years' time.

The road race, which starts in Birmingham and finishes in Wolverhampton, will be based on an undulating 18km circuit in South Staffordshire, including the Church Road climb. The elite men's and U23 men's races will be 159.7 km with an elevation gain of 1,611 m.

The time trial will be based on a 23.6 km "rural, undulating and picturesque" circuit in North Warwickshire. Elite women and U23 men and women will do one lap, and elite men will do an additional lap. [The Velo Birmingham & Midlands is said to be the second largest closed road cycling event in the UK, with 15,000 riders expected to take part in the 100-mile or 45-mile route. Organizers of both events hope to attract unprecedented crowds to the national event, as well as boost cycling in the region.

"This partnership is great news for the Midlands, HSBC UK｜National Road Championships, and our riders as we prepare to host the Commonwealth Games at home in 2022," British Cycling CEO Julie Harrington said.

"Winning medals at the international level is a big part of our mission, but the value of those medals, and the impact of elite riders' performances, is critical to unlocking the benefits cycling brings to society and partnering with organizations like Active Sports will help us realize these ambitions.

Last year, Alice Burns won the elite women's category with a double victory in the road race and time trial. On the men's side, Ben Swift won the road race in a thrilling finale in Norfolk (opens in new tab), and Alex Dowsett took the crown in a record-breaking sixth time trial.

"It's great to hear that the HSBC UK | National Road Championships will be held in the Midlands in 2020," Swift said. The championships are a key focus for most elite British riders and we hope to be able to defend our title in the Midlands this June."

Barnes added, "This is a huge advantage in riders' preparation for the Commonwealth Games. Familiarity with the terrain and a strong roadside crowd can have a huge impact on the day." It's great to be able to maximize the benefits of a home competition.