Gifford Road Races
A long running season opener to the Scottish Road Racing calendar, the Gifford Road Races have something for everyone. Three races. Two for the best racers in Scotland and beyond (women and open), as well as a race suitable for those starting out in road racing (n.b. we'd suggest that women new to road racing enter the Women's only race). Enter the 2026 edition at the British Cycling website in due course. Discounted entries are available for students, juniors and women riders.
2026 Edition
In 2026 there are three races:
- 10am - an open race over 4 laps of the 13km/8mile circuit (see below) - total distance 53km/33miles. This includes those new to racing, and a day licence can be bought on the day (but please enter the race as soon as possible to book your space.) More experienced category 3 and 4 racers are also welcome.
- 12 noon - women's race over 4 laps - total distance 53km/33miles. Again, this is a good starting point for those starting out. All categories of women can enter and there is no need to have a race licence as you can get a day licence on the day.
- 2.30pm - the main race for category E, 1, 2 & 3 riders - 120km/75miles. Who will win the first big race of the Scottish racing season?
Cash prizes to the top 6 in each race, with £100 to the winner of the main race. Plus first junior (those with their 17th or 18th birthday in the year), veteran (those turning 40 in the year, or older) and category prizes.
Starting out in Road Racing
Road racing can be a daunting sport to get into. To help, ERC will be running events in the lead up to the Gifford. This will be a chance to learn more about road racing, hear from experienced members of the club and to ride the course. The club have a very active Men's and Women's race team who regularly participate in races around the country.
"The team made me feel really welcome and I got to surf a few wheels. I was surprised during the race when I was asked by one of the team, "do you think you can win it?" I think this was the offer of a lead out but I responded "no way!" I must have been doing something right. The buzz was great, and I was flying..."
We're looking for new members - contact edinburghrcracing@gmail.com if you are interested!
The Course
The Gifford course
is a varied 13km/8 mile loop along fairly quiet roads in the East
Lothian countryside 40km/25miles east of Edinburgh. (Please note that
the route will not be closed to traffic, but the event is marshalled
with lead cars, motorcycle outriders and corner marshals and other
officials to make sure that traffic is aware of our prescence and the
event is as safe as possible.)
The race starts in Gifford village
itself, outside of the hall with a mandatory rider race briefing
normally 10 minutes before the start. There is then a short neutralised
zone as the race route turns left towards the first uphill of the lap - Broun's hill.
This isn't all that long, or steep, but it feels sore enough in the
neutralised section, never mind at race speed, and there's a long false
flat drag after the "top" at the right hand turn, that keeps you
working. A long, straight descent of Cockles Brae leads to Cockles Corner.
A sharp 90 degree left hand turn means some heavy braking beforehand -
the best way to take it is to take it easy into the corner and get ready
to sprint back to speed on the exit
A long straight first on the road to Haddington, which is often
subject to crosswinds and echelons (keep to the left lane of the road
though!), then onto a smaller backroad skirting past Lennoxlove estate
that is more sheltered. A left turn onto the B6368 towards Bolton
quickly sees the road climb again. This is a shorter, steeper climb that
flattens out towards Bolton village - but this section
is usually straight into a headwind, and is often the scene of a
breakaway attempt, and so the effort levels may not let up much.
After Bolton, a left hand turn takes you onto the main section of the Bolton climb - a steep ramp before a right hander, then a long drag that gets steepest towards the final junction of the lap at Bolton woods crossroads.
This isn't quite the top of the climb, which is just around the corner,
but if you've made it to the corner in the group, you can breathe a
sigh of relief.
The lap finishes with the rollers through Bolton
woods - this can feel like a rollercoaster when you're feeling fresh -
or neverending when you're not. The last of the ramps is the run to the finish line,
which is on the crest of the hill by the golf course, but if it there
is a lap counter displayed rather than the chequered flag it's then a
left hand turn and a plunge down into Gifford to start another lap.
Race HQ
The race is based at the Gifford Village Hall, where sign-on will be open a couple of hours before the race, and food will be provided after each race, along with the results ceremony. Toilets and changing facilities are available, although are likely to be busy in the lead up to the race. More details on things such as timetable, parking and the start list will be provided in the rider pack in the week before the event.
Volunteering
We can't run events without a small army of volunteers. This includes such roles as marshaling at a corner on the course, driving a car in the race convoy, to handing out numbers at sign-on, as well as more specialist jobs such as finish line and first aid. If you, or a friend or relative is able to help out at this or future events, please contact Jarlath, our volunteer coordinator for Gifford, and/or join our volunteers WhatsApp group.
More details of how you can help are on our volunteering page - for those new to helping out then rest assured you'll be paired with someone more experienced .
Volunteering is fun way to help road races happen, but there will be food and hot drinks provided to volunteers, travel expenses can be claimed and ERC members even get volunteer points towards kit purchases. If you need transport to the race, then please speak to the volunteer co-ordinator about lift sharing, or riding out with other volunteers.
A Look Back to 2025...
The 2025 edition was a
classic! Great weather and even better racing. So good it was the only
road race nominated for Scottish Cycling event of the year. Please see some more race photos here.
Alba Series race (Open National B for categories E/1/2/3)
Logan Maclean tasted the 2025 victory with an excellent win from the breakaway..
A glorious day in the village of Gifford saw the first round of the Alba Road Race series – the 120km Elite Race to top off the day’s racing.
An early break was established on the second of nine tours of the 12km course. First formed by Sam Chisholm (Edinburgh Bike Fitting RT) and Toby Tanfield (Leadout Performance) who was joined by teammate Ross Turner, after he bridged across a lap later.
The trio were kept on a tight leash by the bunch, and their advantage would not grow more than 30 seconds, before eventually they would be reeled in by an interested bunch.
The key move would come with four laps remaining, Maclean would be clear of the bunch alongside Alex Ball (BCC Race Team), Noah Bleteau (Paris Cycliste Olympique) and James Jobber (Hurricane and Thunder CT).
The four would work well together and continue to grow their advantage of the field – which itself had fractured in two.
Coming into the finish – held just outside the village – Bleteau would launch his effort early in the final kilometre. Jobber would be unable to follow, while Alex Ball would launch his sprint early also to pass the former Cycling Academy rider. Maclean would follow over the top of the rise and manage to cross first – a bike length clear of Ball – with Bleteau coming third.
Women's Race (for all categories of female riders)
2025 saw the first female edition of the Gifford Road Race with 30 entrants taking part in the 30 mile race in lovely lunchtime sunshine.
There was a great mix of abilities and ages - with a number of first time racers through to riders that have competed at the highest level.
It was Jenny Holl (Loughborough Lightning) who claimed the victory in the race.
The Stirling native was part of a four rider move alongside Anna Flynn (Spectra Racing), Amy Gornall (Handsling-Alba) and Rebecca Saunderson (Studio Velo). The quartet worked well over the four laps to build a decent advantage over the peloton behind and come the final lap it was clear that the leading four would contest the win.
Holl was able to use her track speed to her advantage and was able to power her way to the line, with a great dash in the final few metres enough for Flynn to claim second, and Saunderson rounding off the podium.
28 of the 30 starters finished the race, with one of our first time riders Mia Padmanabhan finishing in ninth place.
We caught up with her, to find out about her story of the race - see here.
Open Category 3/4 Race
With a full field, packed with those racing for the first time as well as more experienced, it was inevitably going to be tight!
Lewis Reynolds (Edinburgh Bike Fitting) won with a solo attack late on. Craig Cochrane (Dunfermline CC) won the bunch sprint for second, ahead of Gregor Calvert (West Lothian Clarion CC).