Elizabeth Hermolle & Connor Swift Crowned 2025 British Gravel Champions
Dalby Forest played host to an unforgettable day of racing at the 2025 British Gravel Championships presented by Ribble, where the Men’s and Women’s Elite races delivered relentless attacks, dramatic finales, and a new national champion.
Early morning fog made for testing conditions in the Men’s race, while later in the day the Women’s race unfolded in challenging conditions. Fans across the globe were treated to the action like never before, with a landmark 10-hour Livestream broadcast reaching over 28,000 views worldwide, showcasing the very best of British gravel racing to a global audience.
Men’s Elite Race: Cousins Connor and Ben Swift in a Battle for Glory
The Men’s Elite contest exploded from the gun as a 15-strong lead group quickly distanced the peloton, with household names including defending champion Connor Swift, his cousin Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers), Jenson Young (Ribble Outliers), Ben Thomas (Ribble Outliers), Thomas Armstrong (Wheelbase Cabtech Castelli), Matthew Holmes (OGT Factor Racing) and Cameron Mason (Seven Racing). The group’s relentless pace saw them build a buffer of over two minutes from a peloton led by Olympic medalists Alistair and Jonathan Brownlee (Alba Rosa).
Halfway through Lap 2, Armstrong’s attack briefly split the group, but the move was neutralized. As the laps ticked by, the favourites began to test each other. Connor Swift launched a decisive acceleration, stretching the elastic and whittling the chase down to just five riders.
On the final lap, Ben Swift surged clear and opened a gap of over 30 seconds, looking certain to claim victory. But in a gripping finale, Connor clawed his way across with 4km to go. The stage was set for a dramatic showdown between the cousins. As the pair rounded the final corner, Ben suffered a cruel mechanical, dropping his chain, leaving Connor to surge past and retain his title with just 0.6 seconds to spare.
1st – Connor Swift (INEOS Grenadiers)
2nd – Ben Swift (INEOS Grenadiers) +0:00.60
3rd – Matthew Holmes (OGT Factor Racing) +0:56
Women’s Elite Race: Hermolle’s Stunning Late Charge
By the time the Women’s Elite race rolled out, temperatures had dropped and wet air hung over Dalby Forest. With defending champion Annabel Fisher sidelined by injury, anticipation was high for a new champion to emerge.
Olympic triathlon star Georgia Taylor-Brown wasted no time asserting herself, powering clear in the opening lap to establish a 90-second lead, which ballooned to over three minutes by halfway. A determined chase group of Abi Smith (Team Picnic PostNL), Sophie Wright (Ribble Outliers) and Elizabeth Hermolle (DAS Hutchinson) fought valiantly, but Taylor-Brown appeared untouchable heading into the final lap.
Yet as the race reached its closing stages, Hermolle delivered a masterclass in pacing and grit. Eating into the lead over the rolling Dalby terrain, she halved the deficit and then pressed on as Taylor-Brown began to fade in the freezing conditions. With just 3km remaining, Hermolle surged past the Olympic champion, powering away to claim a career-defining victory.
1st – Elizabeth Hermolle (DAS Hutchinson)
2nd – Georgia Taylor-Brown +0:37
3rd – Sophie Wright (Ribble Outliers) +1:02
2025 BRITISH GRAVEL NATIONAL CHAMPIONS
2025 British Gravel Champions
Junior Men: Isaac Oliver (HARROGATE NOVA)
Junior Women: Bethany Goodwin (ONFORM)
M19-34: Dylan Humber-Kelly (LA VETTA)
W19-34: Rebecca Saunderson (STUDIO VELO)
M35-39: John Skelton (HUB VELO)
W35-39: Louise Hart
M40-44: Graham Briggs (CLANCY BRIGGS ACADEMY)
W40-44: Ewa Mitka
M45-49: James Parker (DEEKA)
W45-49: Ceris Stylker (ROTOR RACE)
M50-54: C. McNamara (SIMGA SPORTS)
W50-54: Helen Taylor-Canter (BEDS ROAD RACE)
M55-59: Nick Craig (SCOTT PIONEER)
W55-59: Nicola Kent (WHITBY WHEELERS)
M60-64: Roy Chamberlan (RIDE REVOLUTION)
W60-64: Lesley Wilkinson (ADDISCOMBE CC)
M65-69: Gregor Grant (MORAYFIRTH CC)
W65-95: Carolyn Heeps
M70-74: Roy Hunt
M75-79: Paul Daly (CONDOR ROUGH STUFF)]
M80+: Mike Smith
Full 2025 British Gravel Championships results are available at: www.britishgravelchampionships.com/results
Landmark Broadcast Reaches Global Audience
This year’s Championships marked a watershed moment for British gravel racing with a landmark Livestream broadcast. Nearly 10 hours of live coverage from Dalby Forest drew more than 28,000 views, taking the excitement of the Elite races beyond the trails and into living rooms worldwide.
Produced by Red On Sports in collaboration with 4 Season Collective, Commuter Films and Stream7, the broadcast delivered unprecedented visibility for the sport. Fans enjoyed expert commentary from David Reeve and former pro James McCallum, whose insights brought every attack, chase, and sprint finish to life.
Viewers also enjoyed exclusive rider interviews, behind-the-scenes coverage, and in-depth analysis, making the event not just a race but a true celebration of British gravel.
Watch the full Livestream and rider interviews here: https://youtube.com/live/Azhp2Ks8YgQ?feature=share
