There stands to be no British males’s Continental groups in 2025, after the ultimate one, Saint Piran, has introduced its closure.
The Cornwall-based crew, which has competed at Continental stage since 2021, revealed on Tuesday night time that it “won’t take to the startline in 2025”.
The choice was made following a “robust season”, the crew stated in a assertion. It comes lower than two weeks after it was revealed that fellow Continental squad Trinity Racing won’t race on the highway subsequent season.
The Saint Piran assertion learn: “With a troublesome season behind us, and extra lately turbulent media protection hitting sponsorship alternatives for subsequent yr, it has been determined that Saint Piran Professional Biking UCI Continental Workforce and Saint Piran WRT Elite Growth Workforce won’t take to the startline in 2025.”
“This has been an extremely tough choice for all at Saint Piran however one which we imagine is correct. Whereas the Saint Piran door closes, one other opens for a crew wishing to step into our sneakers, it’s an unbelievable alternative. Saint Piran has proved which you could efficiently run an unbiased UCI Continental Workforce within the UK and tackle among the largest challenges and groups within the World.
“Sadly for us, the celebs didn’t align in 2024 and it has taken its toll. Unhealthy luck, poor well being and an unfair reminder we now have made errors over the eight years of growth have contributed to this choice.”
Biking Weekly understands Saint Piran is at present beneath investigation from the UCI after making use of frameset approval stickers to imported Chinese language bikes that had not been formally accredited.
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The crew’s closure comes as a blow to the British home racing scene, which has shrunk in measurement lately. In 2021, the nation had 5 males’s Continental groups in Saint Piran, Trinity Racing, Ribble Weldtite, Canyon dhb SunGod and SwiftCarbon Professional Biking. Subsequent yr, there stands to be none for the primary time since 2004.
Based by Richard Pascoe, Saint Piran counted 21 riders on its males’s roster in 2024, together with a variety of observe world champions. It’s at present unsure how lots of the riders have secured contracts for 2025.
“There’s a brilliant future for UK biking,” the crew assertion learn. “However that thrilling future will occur with out Saint Piran Professional Biking.
“We want to take this chance to thank everybody who performed a component in our progress and success over our eight years. It couldn’t have been potential with out you.”
