With so little racing going on over the summer due to the Covid-19 pandemic, it seems like we went straight from the end of the 2019-2020 cyclocross season to hill climb season – and that means it’s time once again for Neutral Service’s annual Teams and Transfers list.
Each year, we try to compile the most comprehensive list available dedicated to detailing any new teams to look out for in the following year, new riders signing up to teams from clubs, rider transfers, rider retirements and closing teams – the latter, thanks to continuing financial uncertainty resulting from the double blow of Brexit and the pandemic on top of the ever-present difficulty in finding commercial enterprises sufficiently progressive to understand the potential returns from sponsoring women’s sport, being something of which we may see more this winter than we have for a few years. We live in interesting times; if you happen to be in a position to back women’s cycling, any of the managers of any of the teams listed here would love to hear from you.
Got info? We’d love to hear from you!
The women’s domestic racing scene in this country is fantastic and the number of spectators continues to grow every year, but with the mainstream media still devoting only a small fraction of their attention to the women’s racing scene in Britain keeping up to date on changes is not easy. Our aim in compiling this list is to make it easier to find out what changes are taking place without having to trawl through countless social media posts: because, if it’s easy to be a women’s cycling fan more people will be women’s cycling fans, and more fans attracts more sponsorship – which benefits us all. To keep it as comprehensive and accurate as possible, we rely on info from riders and team managers themselves so, if you have any news for us regarding transfers, new teams or closures, we’d be very grateful to know more. You can contact us at NSWomensCycling@outlook.com or through Facebook and Twitter (please see the note at the foot of this page if you have concerns about confidentiality).
British Teams
1904RT
Club team running alongside Norwood Paragon – hence the name, which is the year the club was established. They have a men’s team too; we, of course, haven’t the faintest idea who any of the men on the team are.
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Army Cycling
Leaving: Bexy Dew (to Saint Piran)
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AWOL-O’Shea Cycling Team
Formerly Liv-AWOL. Junior and U23 development team, with new sponsors for 2021. The AWOL women are to be seen at many of the races up and down the land and always seem to be having a great time in addition to constantly striving to improve their skills and performance – very much the model of what development teams ought to be! Unusually, AWOL is not run alongside a men’s development team – manager Pat Hayes has dedicated himself to women’s cycling and ensuring its future.
In Autumn, Pat announced via social media channels that AWOL would also be doing its bit to help more women into team management roles, and invited women who were interested in such roles to apply for two positions. He’s proud to announce that he has taken on Megan Chard (formerly riding for Lviv Cycling and Healthmate-Cyclelive) as the team’s new directeur sportif and Isla Rush (formerly riding for Matrix Procycling, Wyndymilla and Aprire-HSS, currently riding for AWOL) as assistant directeur.
Leaving:
Joining: Ella Coleman (from Flamme Rouge), Maya Teufel Tarlton (from Lee Valley Youth),
Staying: Charlotte-Louise “Lotte” McGreevy, Connie Hayes, Bethany Barnett, Savannah Hewson, Poppy Wildman, Zoe Brookes, Emily Bridson, Emily Ashwood, Louise Scupham, Hannah Graveney, Charlotte Broughton, Isla Rush, Libby Smithson, Rosie Wallace, Freya Richardson, Victoria Lovett, Lydia Watts, Elizabeth Marvelly, Cecilia Hime, Eva Callinan, Hannah Bayes
Backstedt-Hotchillee
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Beeston CC Women’s Race Team
Beeston’s women’s-team-within-a-club, popularly known as the Queen Bees and with separate sponsorship of their own.
Leaving:
Joining: Zoe Langham (from Beeston CC)
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Bianchi Dama UK
Resplendent in their celeste kit aboard matching bikes and always welcoming toward spectators at the races, Bianchi Dama have risen in only a few seasons to become one of the best-known and best-loved teams in British women’s cycling, with a large fanbase in Europe as well as here at home. Make no mistake, though: they have the go to go with the show and have also built up one of the most impressive combined palmares of any British team, which is why they’re among the first squads to be upgraded to British Cycling’s new Elite Development Team status – a category for teams that have big plans and the talent to make them happen.
Manager David Walters tells us, “We’re very happy to be in a position to go into 2021 with fantastic levels of support from our sponsors, as well as establishing new relationships heading into next year.” Those sponsors include Bianchi UK, Fenwick’s, Milltag, Hunt Wheels, Rawvelo, Goodyear, Michelmore’s and Assure Financial, with new backers to be added to the list soon.
Next season, the team will be targeting the National Road Race Series, the Matrix Series and the National Championships in addition to standalone time trials and road races, and will continue attracting more overseas fans when they race a number of events in Northern Europe.
Leaving:
Joining: Alderney Baker (from Empella)
Staying: Anneleen Bosma, Emma Cockroft, Charlotte Colclough, Jazz Jones, Holly MacMahon, Georgie Panchaud, Tasha Reddy, Bethany Taylor
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Boompods
Leaving: Gaby Homer, Hannah Larbalestier (to Spectra-Wiggle p/b Vitus)
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Bowlphish Racing
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Breeze
British Cycling’s women’s development squad.
Leaving: Anna Doherty (to Torelli), Anna Shackley (to SD Worx)
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
Brother UK – On Form
Leaving:
Joining: Daisy Barnes (from Racing Chance), Sian Botteley (from Cero Wheels-Cycle Division), Imogen Chastell (from Flamme Rouge), Abi Cooper (from Bourne Wheelers), Holly Hoy (from Cero Wheels-Cycle Division), Laura Pittard (from Team Vision), Becky Storrie (from Synergy Cycles), Maddie Verdegaal (from Poole Wheelers)
Staying: Maire Claffey, Leona Ellis, Hannah Lancaster, Imani Pereira-James, Rebecca Richardson
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Campinense-VeloPerformance
Leaving: Amy Gornall (to Finish Line), Charlotte Berry (to Finish Line)
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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CAMS-Tifosi
Probably the strongest team on the British circuit and definitely a squad to look out for – also worth looking out for is what their rivals are going to do to try to beat them, which is why strong teams improve cycling as a whole rather than damage it through being overly dominant, as some people fear.
Leaving: Charmaine Porter and Grace Garner (both retiring)
Joining: Hayley Simmonds (from Cyclotel)
Staying: Rebecca Durrell, Jo Tindley, Natalie Grinczer, Megan Barker, Jessica Finney, Katie Scott, Illi Gardner, Gaby Shaw, Clover Murray, Jenny Powell, Kate Wootton
In addition, the team has signed 30-year-old American rider Emma Edwards,who brings with her a wealth of experience earned in races such as the Chrono de Gatineau and the Colorado Classic. Meanwhile, on the team management side, Cams-Tifosi has recruited Emma Trott as directeur sportif and Jenny Gretton as assistant DS. Emma, the sister of Olympic gold medal winner Laura Kenney, was a pro cyclist with Boels-Dolmans between 2012 and 2014 and since then has been a successful coach both in the UK and New Zealand. Jenny has, for over a decade, been one of the driving forces in British women’s cycling, having served on the British Cycling Commission and as North-West Regional Events Officer, as well as acting as Future Stars Co-ordinator in Revolution Cycling and also coaching. They both bring a wealth of experience and expertise.
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Cero Wheels-Cycle Division
Formerly known as RST-Cycle Division.
Leaving: Morven Yeoman (to Tofauti Everyone Active), Samantha Fawcett (to Finish Line), Holly Hoy (to On Form), Sian Botteley (to On Form)
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Crimson Performance
Once a small development team, Crimson has grown to become a real force on the women’s cycling scene under the management of Melissa Greaves. She remains at the helm in 2021 and it’ll be interesting to see what the team – with new riders to be revealed in the new year – can achieve next season.
Leaving: Laura Tissiman
Joining: Mary Wilkinson (from Jadan)
Staying: Melissa Greaves, Sophie Earl, Sammie Stuart, Gwenno Hughes, Jo Ryding
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DAP CC
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Datalynx-Parenesis
Leaving: Lucia Bruton (to Saint Piran)
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Drops
Britain’s only UCI women’s team for the last couple of years, Drops have faced a great deal of sponsorship difficulties during their existence but have somehow always found a way to pull through -and this year hope to move up from Continental level to top-rung World Team status. With several respected continental riders, they’ll hopefully find more security this year and be able to continue getting results.
Leaving:
Joining: Alice Towers (from Eneicat-RBH), Maike van der Duin (Dutch; from Biehler Krush), Dani Christmas (from Lotto-Soudal),
Staying: Elizabeth Bennett, Anna Christian, Joscelin Lowden, Emily Meakin, April Tacey, Maria Martins (Portugal), Emilie Moberg (Norway), Elise Marie Olsen (Norway), Sara Penton (Sweden), Finja Smejkal (Germany) and Marjolein Van’t Geloof (Netherlands)
also remain onboard.
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Empella-Cyclocross.com
Tragically, Empella’s rider Josie Gilbert (formerly with Starley, Torelli and others), lost her life in a road accident involving a lorry whilst she was on a training ride in January 2020. Josie, who was 25, was an enormously popular rider among fans and her fellow racing cyclists alike; her palmares, already impressive, suggested many more top results to come. She will be sadly missed.
Leaving: Alderney Baker (to Bianchi Dama), Xan Crees (to Spectra-Wiggle p/b Vitus)
Joining: Melissa Baker (from Rotor)
Staying: Ellie Dilks, Isla Blain, Alicia Lisle, Alison Forvargue, Kate Eedy
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Flamme Rouge
Leaving: Ella Coleman (to AWOL), Imogen Chastell (to On Form),
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Garden Shed UK – Scott Verge Sport
A new team focusing on cyclocross, though we may see their riders on the road over summer too.
Leaving:
Joining: Sophie Thackray (from Scott Racing)
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GB Cycles
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Independent Pedaler
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Iris Race Team
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Jadan-Cyclespace p/b Vive le Velo
Leaving: Gemma Sargent (to Saint Piran), Poppy Thompson (to Finish Line), Corinne Side (to Finish Line), Sophie Enever (to Lviv Cycling), Kinga Ingram (to Storey), Mary Wilkinson (to Crimson)
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JAM Cycling
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JRC-Shutt-Ridley
Leaving: Charlotte Sheridan (to Torelli)
Joining: Gwyneth Parry, Holly Bailey, Annabel Parker
Staying: Ellen Inglis, Hannah Paton-Harris, Chloe Vickers, Claire Whitworth, Annabel Ramsay, Shona Mosley, Molli Keenor, Emma Jeffers, Darcey Ellis, Morgan Crussell
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Les Filles
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Liv-Epic
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Lovelo Squadra Donne
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Magspeed Racing
Though the team is primarily focused on off-road racing, with eight riders who literally live and breathe women’s cycling their unmistakable orange kit (among the most lovely on the UK cycling scene, in our opinion) is already a regular sight at road races, time trials and hill climbs up and down the country and we can expect to see much more of them in 2021 -both at the races and in the press, as they’ve been instrumental in driving forward the #climbhighertogether movement than sprang up around the National Hill Climb Championships.
Leaving:
Joining:
Staying: Becky Hair, Natalie Creswick, Phoebe Sneddon, Diane Lee, Tracey Fletcher, Caroline Mansfield, Sally Reid, Natalie Jenks
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Montezuma’s RT
Sponsored by artisan chocolate company Montezuma’s, which was set up by Helen Pattinson (a racing cyclist herself and a well-known face on the British racing scene) and partner Simon. Combining cycling and chocolate – what’s not to like?
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Project 51
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Pro-Noctis–Redchilli-Heidi Kjedsen (formerly Finish Line RT)
Directeurs sportif are frequently the unsung heroes of cycling – yet a really good one, with experience, expertise and the ability to inspire his or her riders, is a vital component in any team with a chance at success. Finish Line, setup and managed by Rick Lister (who also worked with Campinense and Ford Ecoboost, among others) ought to be off to a good start, then.
Joining: Samantha Fawcett (from Cero-Cycle Division), Amy Gornall (from Campinense-Veloperformance), Poppy Thompson (from Jadan), Millie Skinner (from Southdown Velo), Corinne Side (from Jadan), Charlotte Berry (from Campinense-Veloperformance)
Team Twitter – Team Facebook
Note: Olivia Bentley, who had signed up to join up from Team LDN, will instead ride for a Spanish team.
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RFDA-Polypipe
Yorkshire-based junior/development women’s team
Leaving: Erin Avill (to Storey)
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Saint Piran
An all-new women’s team based in Cornwall,managed by noted racer Jenny Bolsom.
“Saint Piran is very excited to be launching a Women’s race team for the 2021 season. We are passionate about supporting all groups of cyclists and feel that, as the Saint Piran name is becoming increasingly well known, there’s a real opportunity to offer a platform for aspiring females within the race scene.
2021 will see an initial line up of six women with the goal of taking part – and being competitive – in high level races such as the Tour Series and the National Road series, as well as international races.” – read more
Joining: Gemma Sargent (from Jadan), Bexy Dew (from Army), Jenny Bolsom (returning to cycling after taking time out to have baby Lowen), Evie Lane (from Complete Cycle Works), Laura Senior (from MB Cyclery), Lucia Bruton (from Datalynx-Paranesis)
Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Scarpa Racing
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Sigma Sport X Threo
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Spectra-Wiggle p/b Vitus
Not so long ago, there were very few women’s cycling teams that did not exist alongside a men’s team of the same (or at least a very similar) name but, as women’s cycling has grown and developed over the last decade or so it’s common to find teams that are solely women’s teams. Spectra-Wiggle p/b Vitus follows a new model entirely – it’s made up of (currently) twelve riders, six of them women and six of them men, but is resolutely one team rather than two, the women will be given equal billing, backing and support. That it is now possible to create a team such as this, after all the years of women playing second fiddle to the men even in cases where enlightened directeurs sportif wanted a better deal for them simply because it was so much harder to secure adequate sponsorship for them, is a very promising indication indeed that things are heading in the right direction. Hopefully, there will be many more teams like this in the near future; so a big chapeau to DS Bruce Dalton for setting it up.
Secondly, checkout the roster – this is a team that is guaranteed to make an impact.
Joining: Xan Crees (from Empella), Beth Crumpton (from Tarteletto-Isorex), Hannah Larbalestier (from Boompods), Amira Mellor (from Albion Cycling Co., formerly with On Form, Matrix Pro Cycling and others), Hannah Payton (from Stourbridge CC, formerly with Drops), Abbie Taylor (from Sheffield Dirt Society)
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Storey Racing
Leaving:
Joining: Beth Morrow (from Edinburgh RC), Cat Ferguson (from Cyclesport Pendle), Erin Avill (from RFDA), Katie Toft (from Mossley CRT), Kinga Ingram (from Jadan)
Staying: Sarah Storey, Chanel Mason, Charlotte Parnham, Corrine Hall, Lucy Gadd
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Team 22
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Team Brother-LDN
One of the strongest teams in the UK since they were established just three seasons ago, LDN soon picked up more than sufficient results to attract backing from Brother UK and looked all set to enjoy great success in 2020. There’s little doubt they’ll stop the likes of Cams-Tifosi and Bianchi Dama having it all their own way in 2021.
Leaving: Olivia Bentley (to VIB-Natural Greatness), Molly Patch (to Sopela)
Joining: Lucy Lee (from University of Bath CC), Ruth Shier
Staying: Fran Cutts, Harriet Dodd, Lauren Higham, Ione Johnson, Amy Marks, Kerry Middleton, Dani Shrosbree
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Tekkerz CC
According to their Twitter early in 2020, Tekkerz are a “new team run by Alec Briggs, with Ben Sumner, Dan Tulett, Neil Philips, Symon Lewis and friends. We’re coming to rag bikes and shake up cycling.” They’re certainly going to get noticed, especially as they’ve signed a certain Elinor Barker.
Leaving:
Joining: Alexandra “Ali” Sheehan
Staying: Honor Elliot, Elinor Barker
Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Tofauti – Everyone Active
Covid-19 meant 2020 didn’t go quite how the Colchester-based junior team planned their first season, but they’ve remained active on social media throughout the year and look all set to be a force to be reckoned with in 2021.
“Ours is a cycling team for junior men and women, aged 16-18, that empowers young people to take control of their cycling development. To achieve this we will provide a supportive team environment that provides opportunity for them to showcase their talents and the team’s charity partner and commercial sponsors. Bike racing is a sport where team effort can lead to individual success and we encourage riders to race as a team and to celebrate, and work towards, the success of teammates. In a world of walls rather than bridges, we feel it is vitally important for young people to take a wider view of the world. To this end, we plan to race regularly across Europe. We have seen first hand the value of International racing, the benefit of cross-border friendships forged through a shared love of sport and the exhilaration of competition and the achieving of personal goals. We will be promoting the amazing community and wildlife work done in Africa by the Tofauti Foundation.”
Leaving:
Joining: Grace Castle (from Mountain Goat Performance Coaching), Ella Maclean-Howell (from Cardiff JIF), Domini Radway-Fatuga (from Velo Club Londres), Eilidh Shaw (from Edinburgh RC), Morven Yeoman (from Cero Wheels-Cycle Division)
Staying: Martha Lebentz, Penny de Brett, Connie McLaughlin
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Torrelli-Assure-Scimitar
Leaving: Georgia Bullard (to VIB-Natural Greatness)
Joining: Anna Doherty (from Breeze), Aoife O’Brien (Ireland), Caoimhe O’Brien (Ireland), Amalie Winther Olsen (Denmark), Elne Owen (South Africa), Fiona Schroeder (Germany), Fatemha Yousefi (Iran), Amelia Harper (from London Dynamo), Roisin Lally (from Scott Quanta), Jennifer Bates (Ireland), Charlotte Sheridan (from JRC-Shutt-Ridley), Emily Kay (Ireland)
Staying: Alice Lethbridge, Laura Massey, Nicole Coates, Isabel Ellis
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TW1 Racing
Another club team, this time running alongside Twickenham CC and managed by Lisa West.
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Unknown Rider Development Team (URDT)
Unknown Rider Development Team is committed to supporting up and coming riders in their journey as competitive cyclists within the sport – and is currently looking for new riders from the Brighton area, find their contact details below.
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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VCL Juniors
Velo Club Londres are launching a new Junior Women team – fantastic news for young riders in the capital and beyond, not least of all because VCL is based at the legendary Herne Hill Velodrome with all of its splendid facilities and inspiring history. We don’t have many details yet, but have been told some highly promising riders have signed up.
Joining:
Team Twitter – Team Facebook
Velociposse
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Will Houghton Race Team
Formerly Team Vision-Innovative Leisure. In its new guise, the team will work closely with the Will Houghton Foundation, an organisation which supports charities to help 14–24 year olds to reach their potential through education and sport
Leaving: Laura Pittard (to On Form)
Joining:
Staying: Becca Kearney, Ileia Spyropoulou, Charlotte Brass
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WXC World Cycling
THE team to beat in junior women’s off-road racing – WXC have been dominant in cyclocross and mountain biking for several seasons and will, no doubt, continue on that path this year and for many more to come.
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Team Twitter – Team Facebook
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Team GB Senior Academy
Paralympic Podium
Lora Fachie, Sarah Storey, Corrine Hall, Crystal Lane-Wright, Aileen McGlynn, Kadeena Cox, Megan Giglia, Helen Scott
Track Endurance
Katie Archibald, Elinor Barker, Ellie Dickinson, Neah Evans, Laura Kenny, Josie Knight
Track Sprint
Lauren Bate, Sophie Capewell, Katy Marchant
Pro Road
Elynor Backstedt, Elizabeth Banks, Alice Barnes, Dani Christmas, Lizzie Deignan, Pfeiffer Georgi, Anna Henderson, Lizzie Holden, Nikki Juniper, Abby Mae Parkinson, Anna Shackley, Hayley Simmonds, Sophie Wright
Endurance
Meg Barker, Ella Barnwell, Jenny Holl, Eluned King, Josie Knight, Sophie Lewis, Jess Roberts, Amelia Sharpe, Abi Smith
Sprint
Lauren Bell, Emma Finucane,Lucy Grant,Blaine Ridge-Davis, Charlotte Robinson, Lusia Steele, Ellie Stone, Milly Tanner
Junior Endurance
Millie Couzens, Kinga Ingram, Maddie Leech, Grace Lister, Imani Pereira James,Anna Wadsworth
Junior Sprint
Elodie Gage, Jade Hopkins
British Riders Abroad
Lizzy Banks‘ team Équipe Paule Ka ia closing (in rather questionable circumstances – as a Swiss team, that news is out of our jurisdiction but Lizzy gives details on her Instagram). After two Giro Rosa stage wins and several top ten finishes in a number of prestigious races over the last two seasons Lizzy doubtless had at least a few tempting offers in her inbox and has opted for (formerly British, now German) team Ceratizit-WNT. Sophie Wright, her team mate at Paule Ka, is joining Alé BTC Ljubljana Cipollini.
Dani Christmas is leaving Lotto Soudal to join British team Drops. Meanwhile, Abby-Mae Parkinson is staying with the team.
Leah Dixon remains with Tibco-SVB.
In addition to racing domestically with Torelli, Anna Doherty will compete internationally with Isorex-NoAqua, joinimg fellow Brit Milly Knight who remains with the Belgian team.
Claire Steels is staying with the Spanish team Sopela, where she will be joined by Molly Patch, formerly of Team LDN.
Lizzie Holden is staying with the Basque Bizkaia-Durango team.
Annabel Fisher, formerly with the Russian Cogeas-Mettler-LOOK team, has joined French squad Stade Rochelais Charente-Maritime.
Olivia Bentley, who rode for Team LDN in 2020, and Georgia Bullard (formerly Torelli) are joining Bahrainian team VIB Sports-Natural Greatness.
National Points Champion Anna Shackley, who raced in 2020 with Team Breeze, has signed her first pro contract with SD Worx, the new name for the Dutch team formerly known as Boels-Dolmans. Amelia Sharpe, also formerly Breeze, is off to another Dutch team: NXTG. Chapeau Anna and Amelia!
Belgium-based Ukrainian team Lviv Cycling has signed Sophie Enever (from Jadan) and the British-born Irish rider Lauren Creamer (from Spanish team Massi-Tactic). They’ll join Fiona Turnbull, who remains with Lviv for a second season. Meanwhile, Emma Grant is moving to Lauren’s old team Massi-Tactic from US team Sho-Air Twenty20.
Henrietta Colborne remains with Dutch squad Biehler Krush Pro Cycling, formerly known as Swabo Ladies.
Two-time National TT Champion Hayley Simmonds is leaving Ciclotel, and has signed a new contract with the British team CAMS-Tifosi..
Lucy Van Der Haar (née Garner) is retiring, and thus leaves Norwegian team Hitec Products. Her sister Grace is also retiring and thus leaves CAMS-Tifosi.
Pfeiffer Georgi remains with Sunweb. Her team mate Anna Henderson, meanwhile, is departing for Jumbo-Visma.
Barnes sisters Hannah and Alice are both to remain with Canyon-SRAM.
Kim Baptista has joined Eneicat-RBH Global-Martin Villa from the Restore Cycling Team.
Rachel Langdon remains with Canadian team Instafund-La Prima, where she will be joined by fellow Brit Harriet Owen who previously raced for Hagens Berman-Supermint.
Abi Van Twisk is currently on maternity leave from Trek-Segafredo. Her teammate, former World Champion Lizzie Deignan, remains with the team.