Will the last person to leave the British elite domestic racing scene please turn out the lights?
While that comment may be a flippant one, ignoring the great grassroots work being done and the steady stream of UK-based cyclists turning professional in recent years, but it’s difficult to ignore the dark clouds hovering over British cycling at the moment.
That doom-laden atmosphere was furthered last night by the news that Saint Piran – the last remaining men’s UCI Continental team based in Britain, following the demise of Trinity earlier this month – is set to close ahead of the 2025 season.
Saint Piran line up before stage four of the 2024 Tour of Britain Men (Will Palmer/SWpix.com)
The Cornwall-based outfit, which was established in 2018 before stepping up to UCI Continental level in 2021, says the decision to shut up shop follows a “tough season” as the squad was hit by sponsorship troubles following what it called “turbulent media coverage”.
In recent months, the team attracted negative headlines for using non-UCI approved framesets imported from China (sparking an investigation from cycling’s governing body), while founder Richard Pascoe was accused of charging riders looking to join the squad £500 for their performance data to be analysed.
“At Saint Piran Pro Cycling, we have looked closely at how we can move forward and continue to grow,” the team said in a statement issued on Tuesday evening.
“Over the past six months, the senior team at Saint Piran has undertaken a strategic review analysing how we can increase the opportunities for some of the UK’s brightest talents and inspire more to get on bikes to take up our incredible sport. To achieve both we have to move to the next level. It is no longer possible for any professional sports team to stand still.
“But that exciting future will happen without Saint Piran Pro Cycling. 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 start-line in 2025.”
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The statement continued: “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. Saint Piran has proved that you can successfully run an independent UCI Continental Team in the UK and take on some of the biggest challenges and teams in the World.
“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.
(Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)
“The Saint Piran cycling brand will continue to develop and grow in the cycling sector and beyond. The brand goes from strength-to-strength year on year, providing a high-quality cycling-based experience.
“Sadly, the UK cycle industry is not strong enough as yet and the business is still in its infancy to be in a position to underpin the demands of UCI Continental racing as it stands today.
“Before some in our sport celebrate and no doubt sensationalise the closure of the team, it is important to understand how much has been invested in getting this small team to a place at the UCI table. Our decision has a much wider impact that deserves more discussion than just sensationalised headlines.
“We would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who played a part in our growth and success over our eight years. It could not have been possible without you.”
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Saint Piran had 23 riders in their squad for 2024, including Olympic team pursuit silver medallist Oliver Wood, along with brothers Charlie and Harry Tanfield, and won three races internationally this year, including stage six of the Tour of Poyang Lake in China in September, courtesy of Tyler Hannay.
The Cornish squad’s closure means that there will be no British teams in the UCI’s third-tier Continental level in 2025 – the first time this has happened since 2004 – with the Ineos Grenadiers now the only remaining UK men’s pro team at any level.
In stark contrast, and highlighting the rapid demise of the UK’s elite domestic racing scene, at the 2021 Tour of Britain Saint Piran were joined at the start by Ribble Weldtite, Canyon dhb SunGod, SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling, and Trinity Racing, which announced its own closure citing sponsorship troubles just over a week ago.
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And it’s that bleak outlook which has led British cycling fans to describe last night’s news as “very depressing” for the domestic scene.
“And then there were none,” said Anna Mac on BlueSky, while former road.cc contributor Tim Bonville-Ginn branded the announcement “absolutely astonishing”.
“Gutted. Just awful,” wrote Mike. “We needed teams like Saint Piran. It represented Cornwall and it was an important part of the British scene. Really feel sorry for the riders and the team.”
“It’s real shame to see the demise of the last couple of remaining British teams (Saint Piran, Trinity). There seems to be no support from our cycling organisations for homegrown riders/teams,” said another BlueSky user.
“From a film celebrating Saint Piran’s 2023 to its closure in nine months. A really sorry state of affairs. For the team and UK cycling,” added Dan Deakins.
Saint Piran’s Tom Williams at September’s Beaumont Trophy in Northumberland (Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)
But despite the doom and gloom, Saint Piran’s statement did at least offer a glimmer of hope for the UK’s racing scene.
“The UK Elite Cycling scene remains a crown jewel in the landscape of international sport and a golden opportunity for investment,” the team said.
“More riders in the World Tour peloton than ever before, World and Olympic medallists, and the development of cycling infrastructure across the UK are incredible achievements.
“Saint Piran Pro Cycling has contributed in all three of these. There is a bright future for UK cycling.”
Let’s hope so.
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21 comments
Aside from the melted helmet, the more important aspect is that the supposedly closed braking circuit managed to leak. I imagine a melted helmet is a vastly preferable way to discover this than the first 15% gradient you come across with a laden bike!
How big an issue is this with transporting bikes be plane I wonder?
DOT4 is pretty aggresive stuff (nothing melted), mineral oil is probably OK on EPS hemets. I'm surprised this is allowed on planes.
Proof, if twer needed, that hi Vis doesn't work https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/27/deer-high-visibility-jacke...
Bike travel nightmares, #153 - are they sure there wasn't a facehugger in that cargo hold?
Dear Netherlands, While I feel your pain, perhaps it would be worth thinking about 'it's just one year' and get on with the rest of the day. We, as cyclists, do expect the public to tolerate road closures on event days 'for just one....', don't we? Then complain vociferously when Gerald who wants to close the event down as he's always bought his Daily Mail on that day and won't be able to, etc. As cyclists, we're better than Gerald.
Regards.
Never undertake in a queue of traffic !
https://youtu.be/zvdg9QxTCA4?t=582
Not really sure how these 2 two cyclists managed this. Didn't seem to be head down, not looking. Unclear what happened with the injured one.
https://youtu.be/cjxWFjKHZQs?t=197
Hope they were OK.
But I wonder whether that gate post had reflectors or hi viz? I presume that going to the left took them into the farmyard and right was the road?
If the left and right lanes are diverging further up the road, which I expect they are, there's no reason not to drive along the left lane.
It would be better to say never turn across two lanes of traffic without making sure both lanes are clear, even if somebody is waving at you or flashing their lights.
More of an oblique reference to a cyclist being taken out when in the cycle lane in the same scenario. Of course the cyclist pretty much gets the blame!
Some of us working in cycling are not surprised by the announcement that the team doesn't go forward, how could it when there are numerous current investigations ongoing? It would have been impossible to apply for a license with that outstanding. It was just a matter of when it was announced and not if. To try and spin it any other way is just that SPIN.
What are the "numerous" current investigations? There is the use of unapproved framesets in 2022, for what else are they being investigated? (Genuine request for information, not sarcastic)
I'd love to list them, but due to the ongoing processes, I cannot make them public. I'm just trying to highlight there is more than one. Publicly there is the frames being used in 2022 by the UCI, but there is one more I am party to at the UCI and at least 2 I know of are being handled by British Cycling
There is no need for "" around numerous, that is a matter of fact. Similarly, I'm a bit too close to talk freely, but I've been informed that as well as the already documented investigations, there are also investigations relating to potential safeguarding issues. I've heard some fairly seedy stuff, but without first hand experience I won't share.
Going back to Gkam84's comment, whilst anyone with knowledge of this situation would say it would be impossible to apply for a licence with all this going on, my understanding is that a licence was indeed applied for. BC did the right / only thing (based on the information / situation they were facing) and refused it.
And all of this could have been avoided, if one individual had done the right thing and simply paid his bills! But, he thought he was untouchable, could do what he wanted, could bankrupt people who looked up to him as a father... I'm personally happy to see the house burnt down.
That simply doesn't make any sense, you say that there are numerous investigations going on, including safeguarding issues, and that you've heard some "fairly seedy stuff". How would these allegations have been avoided if this one individual had "simply paid his bills"?
Like in all these situations, it takes one brave / desperate / bitter / determined enough person to do the right thing and speak up, or nothing changes and the perpetrators continue to get away with it.
In this case, one individual was effectively told 'whatcha gonna do about it?' when he sought to resolve his issues amicably, and ultimately everything you are reading now is the result of that same individuals response to the challenge.
OK. Sounds pretty poor then if the only time that safeguarding/bullying/"seedy" issues are raised is if somebody doesn't pay their bills.
"Credit expired - please insert another 50p in the blind eye meter."
The safeguarding was prior to anything being made public about anything else. That was already being dealt with.
The rest, while being well known in circles has rumbled on for a long period and it wasn't until one or two reached the end of the road with what they could try to reclaim the debts that they decided to make it public. That gave confidence in many others to speak out, as any time before, their band of merry followers would try and shut down any accusations. They have swiftly dispersed and the floodgates have opened.
You can certainly apply for anything, you are right in it being refused on the grounds of the ongoing investigations. That is why I said it was impossible to apply, as it was never going to happen.
https://bsky.app/profile/dralisonhill.bsky.social/post/3lbwd3gowq22h
Whilst the young lads skills are exceptional, it's the sheer unadulterated joy that touched me.
Can't believe that child threw his bike on the floor at the end of that. Young people today have no respect... ;))