British Cycling have confirmed the route of the 2012 National Road Race Championships, set to take place in Ampleforth, North Yorkshire, on Sunday June 24.

Both the men’s and women’s races will start from Ampleforth College, with the women’s peloton setting off first on a 107km course which takes in seven laps of a rolling 15.2km circuit .

The men’s race will then begin with three laps of a longer 30.4km circuit that takes the riders by the ruins of Byland Abbey and through the villages of Coxwold, Oulston, Crayke and Brandsby before climbing to Yearsley. The race then moves to a shorter circuit of 15.2km which will be completed six times to make a total race distance of 182km.

Every lap of both men’s and women’s races will pass though Ampleforth College grounds, Ampleforth Village, Yearsley Moor and Gilling East giving spectators plenty of opportunity to see the action unfold.

Team Sky riders have dominated the race since the team’s inception in 2010, with Geraint Thomas winning ahead of Pete Kennaugh and Ian Stannard in 2010, and Bradley Wiggins claiming top honours last year ahead of Thomas and Kennaugh. Lizzie Armitstead is defending women’s national champion.

“It’s great to welcome the national road champs back to Yorkshire,” said race organiser Bob Howden. “Whenever the race has visited the region it’s provided memorable racing and we have a course and a location befitting of a race of this stature in store for the riders in June.”

Jonny Clay, cycle sport and membership director at British Cycling, added: “The winners of the last three National Road Race Championships have nine Olympic and 22 World Championship medals between them, a reflection of what it takes to win this event these days in both the men’s and women’s categories.

“The course in and around Ampleforth is a challenging and impressive backdrop for this event that will no doubt provide a worthy winner on the day.”

Highlights of the races will be broadcast on ITV4 on Monday June 25 at 7pm.