Saint Piran launch programme for the sports Stars of tomorrow

Cornwall-based Saint Piran Pro Cycling has today (16/11) launched its Under-23 Elite Team, opening up a new exciting pathway for riders to achieve their cycling ambitions.

The team, wearing the iconic black kit with enhanced tartan has been established to provide riders who may not be ready to step up into the UCI Continental level (parent team level) to learn their sport, facing higher-level competitors and honing their racecraft participating in elite races in the UK and Europe. They will be fully supported by the Saint Piran structure.

The team has already signed a number of exciting prospects from across the UK for 2024 including Olympic GB hopeful Rhys Britton. Rhys will also be road captain for the team during the season. More riders will be announced over the next two weeks.

John Trott, newly appointed Director of Cycling at the Saint Piran Cycling family said: “There is an incredible pool of talent in the UK and beyond. It is crucial that as a cycling community we provide opportunities for that talent to be realised. Jack Rootkin-Gray and Zeb Kyffin are both examples of our riders moving to higher level teams recently and we believe we can do more.

“Trinity provides an outstanding U23 pathway for riders. We are different. We are casting our net broadly for riders that may need more development and would benefit from joining the Saint Piran family.”

All riders that join the Saint Piran U23 team will have access to the team’s innovative mental health programme that develops the riders’ mental resilience and leadership. This complements their growth and training on the bike physically to give them a stronger future both in and out of the sport.

To capture the best talent, the Saint Piran group has been working closely with many of the UK’s national governing bodies and clubs across the country. These relationships will continue to grow.

Ricci Pascoe, team owner, sees the importance of a blossoming U23 scene. He said: “You only have to go to places like Herne Hill Velodrome or Fort William to see the passion young people have for our incredible sport. There is a lot of focus on where cycling is struggling but the excitement of competition and participation is there in abundance. We need to capture it.

“That’s why we are passionate about youth development. We have a growing off-road set up, women’s road programme and men’s and women’s development 0503 team. Now we have an U23 men’s team. For women, the UK has an incredible set up with so many UCI Conti-level teams and we will also look to support that going forward. We need to celebrate this.”