Saint Piran announces the closure of their UCI Continental Team Read the full story here: 🔗 buff.ly/3CVby3z #SaintPiran #cornishelitecycling
British cycling in big trouble: No more British teams at continental level in 2025
CyclingWednesday, 27 November 2024 at 16:41
British cycling is facing a significant crisis. After Trinity Racing announced a few weeks ago that it would stop operating as a road team, Saint Piran Pro Cycling has now followed suit. This means that in 2025, there will be no British teams competing at the continental level. With no British teams at the pro-continental level either, INEOS Grenadiers will be the only British team left across all levels — continental, pro-continental and WorldTour.
The news of Trinity Racing’s departure was already a major blow for British cycling. The team has a stellar history of nurturing talent, producing riders like Paul Magnier, Luke Lamperti, Lukas Nerurkar, Thomas Gloag, Ben Healy, Ben Turner and Tom Pidcock. Now, the closure of Saint Piran adds to the growing crisis. Just four years ago, there were five British Continental teams; by 2025, there will be none. It’s clear that British cycling is in serious trouble.
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Saint Piran Pro Cycling gained attention this year for a bizarre incident involving illegal bikes. Unfortunately, their latest headlines are no better. The two issues are somewhat connected. According to their press release: "With a tough season behind us, and more recently turbulent media coverage hitting sponsorship opportunities for next year, it has been decided that Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team and Saint Piran WRT Elite Development Team will not take to the startline in 2025."
"This has been an incredibly difficult decision for all at Saint Piran but one that we believe is right. While the Saint Piran door closes, another opens for a team wishing to step into our shoes, it is an incredible opportunity. Unfortunately for us, the stars did not align in 2024 and it has taken its toll. Bad luck, poor health and an unfair reminder we have made mistakes over the eight years of development have contributed to this decision," the team explained.
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Trinity continues as mountain bike team
The end of Trinity is excruciating, especially given the numerous talents that emerged from the team. What makes it extra impressive is that they were only founded in 2020. Yet that is now over. It was announced in September that Trinity Racing was struggling with declining sponsorship income and rising costs. "Trinity, I think they're going to continue, but only as a mountain bike team," sport director Pete Kennaugh told Cycling Weekly. ''That's not confirmed yet, just from the last conversations I've had with some of the guys who work there. [It will be] almost like a small feeder team for the Specialized Factory [Racing] team, I guess."
Kennaugh, meanwhile, has found a spot with Astana Qazaqstan for 2025, but many of Trinity's talents have not yet. "The last time we talked to some of them, they still didn't have a team, which is a real shame," the former pro said.
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Kennaugh as a rider
"The team was his baby," according to seasoned pro Kennaugh
In 2023, Trinity lost a sponsor, and in early 2024, another sponsor reduced its funding. In September, owner and cycling agent Andrew McQuaid said he was "under pressure" because of the sponsorship problems. Cycling Weekly now reports that the decision has been made to discontinue road races in 2025, with hopes of picking up again where they left off in 2026, although such wishes often do not come true.
"The team was sort of his baby, so to speak, and he put so much effort, time, and passion into it," Kennaugh said. "From my point of view, [McQuaid] hasn't failed. It's just how it is at the minute. I just think fair play and chapeau to him for putting so much time and effort into the team for the years he has done. So many other managers or team owners would have pulled the plug years ago. He tried hard to ensure Trinity could continue as a road team next year. But unfortunately, it's not the case."
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Latest Comments
- Well explained, thanks for the clarity! Daniel DantasDanieldantas20-12-2024
- This is the kind of 'news' that belongs in a cheap tabloid. No matter how boring the offseason gets, nobody wants to read this.
santiagobenites19-12-2024 - I wish we could have seen him try. He'd absolutely get dropped before Pogi overtakes his domestiquesVeganpotter10-12-2024
- Talk is cheap! Next year barring crashes with a healthy team... all well be on track! Some need to talk to make a headline!mootman27-11-2024
- I do not see this event listed on HBO Max Sports Online? Can anyone confirm? Thanks!
MrYuck23-11-2024 - It seemed that he was focusing forward at the time of the crash, after seeing a quick video snippet. But one thing I think he should focus on more intently is breaking a bad habit he has, right now. And that is his constant looking over his shoulders. He does that so much, that I am very sure it is not good for him. Simply watch videos of the greats of CX and you will see very little of that constant looking over their shoulders. That is a behavior that betrays a bit of insecurity on his part. He shouldn't be so concerned, incessantly, about what is over his shoulder. He needn't worry they didn't all disappear. He neds to keep his focus more ahead of himself, and he needs to pay a bit more attention to himself, in a confident manner. It is very frustrating to watch, because it is apparent that he has a lot of potential, and is in much better shape thwan many of his competitors, but the mental game needs to be sharpened more, because that part of strategy plays a huge part in the final results
reemmo022-11-2024 - hahahaha love this shit! I didnt even watched the race, but reading all the gossip articles of how stupid this is!Zatoichi19-11-2024
- Van Aert is really handsome. He can influence me all day! Ditto for Philipsen. Why do you think many of us love cycling?: to see heroic attempts at climbing mountains at high altitudes or to watch speedsters sprint for the finish line or to watch a human being ride at break neck speed down a tricky descent? No, it's all about their lean physiques and muscular legs. (apologies for objectifying these dedicated and amazing athletes).BarwonHeadsUp25-10-2024
- It is unfortunate that the author can't feel the joy that Pogacar brings to the sport and his fans who are legion and I for one feel lucky to have watched such a memorable performance and historic season From the Strada until yesterday with multiple wins in stages in both tours and beyond dominance in the World's. He is proud to wear the Rainbow stripes, shows his leadership to protect his fellows and is as courteous and sportsman-like as the sport allows. He goes early to not have to respond to each attack as all the rest would make him do it. Any racer who could would do the same. Don't "grow tired" of greatness as it is always fleeting.ccrider13-10-2024
- What load of rubbish. Pog is likely a once in a generation cyclist, the like of which hasn't been seen since 'the Cannibal '. How many people were complaining that Merckx was making racing predictable? I remember this year's World RR as one of the most exciting I've watched. Mainly BECAUSE Pog was the favourite and launched what everyone thought (Pog included) was a suicidal attack with 80km to go. For the next 2 hours, I was on the edge of my seat thinking "this is too much, even for Pog". Maybe Zonnefeld prefers the snooze-fest that is a bunch sprint? Like most people I know, I can't watch two hours of the bunch riding very fast... I wait for the final 5km and watch just the sprint. In any event, most races are won from a sprint or lone break. What difference does it make who makes the lone break? Ultimately, the other contenders will have to figure out a way to beat Pog. Even if that means collaboration between teams. It's going to be an exciting few seasons, until the next Pog arrives on the scene. If this is boring, heaven knows what exciting looks like!Michael513-10-2024