Saint Piran: A pro team working across all levels of cycling
Saint Piran is a UCI (Union Cycliste Internationale) continental professional cycling team based in Cornwall. Saint Piran’s three tier structure - from the elite level pros, through emerging men and women’s talent, to enthusiastic amateurs and grassroots riders - makes us unique in the professional cycling world. Saint Piran Pro Cycling consists of five teams:
1. Men’s UCI Continental Team
2. Women’s Elite Race Team
3. Women’s Elite Mountain Bike Team
4. Men’s 05-03 Feeder Team
5. Women’s 05-03 Feeder Team
In 2022, the men’s team competed against World Tour and Pro Tour teams across Europe achieving podium finishes in over a quarter of the races in which they competed, across 40 UCI race days in the UK, France, Netherlands, Belgium, Spain, Italy and Estonia. At the 2022 Tour of Britain, Saint Piran was the most talked about and most televised British team in the race, with the team widely credited for creating excitement through their aggressive race style. In 2023, the team will see several GB Cycling riders joining, including Commonwealth, World and Olympic medallists who are on the pathway to the the Paris 2024 and Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Saint Piran Pro Cycling
The UCI Continental Team started out making quite an impact on the racing scene, culminating in our first appearance alongside UCI teams in the Ovo Energy Tour Series in May 2019. Saint Piran finished as the highest-placed Elite Team, while Team Leader Steve Lampier won the points jersey. After a year, when racing was halted by Covid-19, Saint Piran successfully applied for UCI Continental status at the end of 2020 in order to compete at the top level in the UK and beyond. A strong roster of local and national riders mixes seasoned pros with emerging young talent, overseen by a highly experienced management team. As life returns to normal, Saint Piran will compete annually in more than 30 races, including the HSBC Road series , the HSBC National Circuit Series, the Tour Series and the National Road Championships, as well as races in France and Belgium.
Perhaps the most significant achievement, however, is securing a place on the start line of the Tour of Britain, one of the world’s premier international stage races. This had particular significance in 2021 since, for the first time ever, the race started in Cornwall, providing a unique opportunity for the team to race on home roads against some of the world’s top teams.
Saint Piran feeder Teams And Saint Piran WOmen’s team
Our feeder teams reflect Saint Piran’s commitment to identifying and nurturing new talent with the potential to step up to the top level. This is the platform for riders looking for the opportunity to race within a professional setup, gaining knowledge from riders and a management team with many years’ experience in the sport. We are committed to helping those with the ability to make the jump to a higher level.
The Women’s Team was formed in 2021, and embodies our desire to increase the number of active women racers, particularly in the South West, through support and regular training. The team now competes in a wide range of races, from the National Road Series and the Tour Series down to smaller local events.
There are also two tiers within the women’s team. The first team consists of six riders, fully supported by the Saint Piran setup, who will compete at the top level in the UK. The second team is open to a wider range of riders, offering the chance to join training camps and coaching sessions. Riders interested in applying for a place in the Women’s Team should contact jennybolsom@hotmail.co.uk.
Saint Piran Delivra
The foundation of the Saint Piran pyramid is Delivra. Delivra encompasses keen amateur level cyclists - competing in local time trials, circuit races and sportives – and those who enjoy purely social rides. We also welcome non-riders keen to show their support for the team. Through Saint Piran Cycling, the Pro team is in touch with, and supported by, the grassroots level of the sport. We host events throughout the year including time trials, monthly organised social rides, a summer sportive and a range of social events at our Saint Piran Café in Bissoe. All are advertised in the news section of the website. If you would like to show your support for Saint Piran and become part of the supporters and social set up, please get in touch.
Saint Piran has a unique financial structure
The world of pro cycling finance is precarious, with teams constantly at risk of the withdrawal of support by headline sponsors. Saint Piran’s goal is to build a sustainable team by diversifying our revenue sources across three distinct income streams. These are:
Sponsorship & Partnerships
Saint Piran enjoys the support of a wide range of companies, both from within and outside of the world of cycling. They are a mix of industry partners and local businesses in Cornwall supporting our efforts to create a world-class team based in the Duchy.
A full list of our current sponsors and partners can be found HERE
2. Branded Products & Retail
The Saint Piran brand, which is becoming increasingly recognised as a sign of quality and local provenance, adorns a growing range of products. Working with high-quality Cornish businesses such as Cornish Coffee, Callestick Ice Cream, Healey’s Cornish Cyder and Furniss Biscuits, we are building a recurring revenue base to underpin our ambitions on the road. Saint Piran is working with Falmouth University’s highly-regarded Launchpad scheme to develop new product lines that will broaden the Saint Piran offering and build the brand’s future value.
Saint Piran is also supported by sales through Team Owner Richard Pascoe’s two retail businesses. The Bike Chain Ricci store has been operating for more than 25 years and carries a comprehensive range of bikes, components, clothing and accessories. Bissoe Cafe and Bike Hire is located on the Cornwall Mineral Tramways Trail between Truro and Falmouth and offers a range of food and drinks as well as a full selection of hire bikes.
Saint Piran’s branded items and selected cycling products from the Bike Chain Ricci range can be found HERE
3. Community and Grant Support
Saint Piran has a strong regional identity with support down to the grassroots level. We will continue to build on this through our amateur and social organisation, Saint Piran Cycling and the associated Supporters Club. In addition, we will take advantage of local and national grants available to support the development of cycling right from the professional level down to the grassroots participation level.
Click here to download the Saint Piran 2020 booklet
