Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes begin the 2019 season with a new name, increased sponsorship, a larger roster and some of the most exciting young riders on the British Continental scene. They may have lost their talisman of last year, Harry Tanfield, to Katusha-Alpecin, but they have gained 2018 Tour de Normandie winner Tom Stewart alongside ten other new signings. These include talented up-and-coming British prospects Jacob Hennessy, Jacob Vaughan and Matthew Bostock, as well as two promising young Belgians. The team also retain a strong core of riders, including track sensation Charlie Tanfield, Tour of Quanzhou Bay winner Max Stedman and trackie-turned-roadie Andy Tennant.
This preview provides you with key facts about the team and a comprehensive list of who is in the squad and who is out. It also features the verdict on the team from our newly signed British Conti Insider…
I’m going to make a bold statement and say that I think Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes is going to be one of the two teams to beat this year
British Conti Insider
Key facts and figures
| Team Manager | Tim Elverson |
| Established | 2015 (Conti team since 2016) |
| Previous team names | Canyon Eisberg (2018) Bike Channel – Canyon (2017) Pedal Heaven (2015-16) |
| Squad size | 19 – largest British Conti squad |
| UCI World Ranking points (at 28.01.2019) | 377 – 92nd in UCI team rankings / 2nd out of 6 British Conti teams |
| No. of new signings | 11 |
| No. of retained riders | 8 |
| No. of departing riders | 8 |
| Average rider age (at 15.01.2019) | 23.2 – 2nd youngest British Conti squad |
| UCI race wins 2018 | Stg 1, Tour de Yorkshire, 2.HC (Tanfield) GC, Tour of Quanzhou Bay, 2.2 (Stedman) Stg 2, Tour of Quanzhou Bay, 2.2 (Stedman) |
| National A race wins 2018 | None |
| First 2019 race | 31.01 Trofeo Ses Salines, 1.1 (SPA) |
2019 kit
They have strength and depth, and a numerical advantage the like not seen previously on the domestic scene
British Conti Insider
Verdict: the British Conti Insider’s view
Our ‘British Conti insider’ is an active DS with experience in the UK and abroad. Here is their verdict on the 2019 Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes squad.
“I’m going to make a bold statement and say that I think Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes is going to be one of the two teams to beat this year, and I mean that with the greatest of respect to all of the other squads. They have strength and depth, and a numerical advantage the like not seen previously on the domestic scene. Sure, numbers don’t guarantee wins but numbers give options, and almost as important, the ability to rest riders and drop in fresh legs (and heads) where necessary. This will take careful planning from management, so Tim Elverson and Simon Holt need to be on their “A-Game”, especially as this is Elverson’s strongest team to date.
I like the mix of experience and youth, and I like the addition of some foreign riders in the squad. British riders can become complacent and almost staid in their ways racing the same races, the same competitors, week in week out, so with De Bock, Colman and Christensen vying for selection along with wise old heads like Tom Stewart, Robert-Jon McCarthy, and Andrew Tennant the team has many cards to play. It’s also worth mentioning that many of the riders bring experience from Pro Conti level, and foreign teams, again opening up scope for the squad.
It’s hard to find a weakness in this current team line-up to be honest. The roster covers track (Bostock, Wood, Tanfield, Tennant), GC, TTs, crits, sprints, climbs, even cyclo-cross if Colman and young Macleod are factored in. It is also very encouraging to see the team is targeting some specific under-23 races, and a strong overseas calendar and programme is mooted, starting with the four Challenge Mallorca races, and Le Samyn in Belgium (all being UCI 1.1 events).
Material and equipment are on point, with some superb looking machines from the Canyon stables, and continued supply and sponsorship from Hunt wheels. As always, there will be some conjecture as to the choice of rubber, but with Madison Genesis also moving onto Maxxis it should level the playing field in the Tour Series.
My tips for wins and big performances in 2019: Bostock, Hennessy, Stedman, McCarthy, Wood, Tanfield. Look also to a rejuvenated Rory Townsend back from injury, and young Jacob Vaughan who with the correct leadership could prove to be a real powerhouse. However, it would be a foolish DS to discount any of the riders I haven’t mentioned by name; such is the depth of quality in Canyon DHB.”
2019 squad
| Rider | Country | Previous team | |||
| Matthew Bostock | GBR | GB senior academy | |||
| Ryan Christensen | NZL | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Alex Colman | BEL | Lotto-Soudal U23 | |||
| Stijn de Bock | BEL | Cibel – Cebon | |||
| Jacob Hennessy | GBR | Mitchelton – BikeExchange | |||
| Callum MacLeod | GBR | Zappi Racing | |||
| Robert Jon McCarthy | IRL | JLT Condor | |||
| Charles Page | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Alex Paton | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Daniel Pearson | GBR | Aqua Blue | |||
| Alex Richardson | GBR | Independent | |||
| Louis Rose-Davies | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Max Stedman | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Tom Stewart | GBR | JLT Condor | |||
| Charlie Tanfield | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Andrew Tennant | GBR | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Rory Townsend | IRL | Canyon Eisberg | |||
| Jacob Vaughan | GBR | Lotto-Soudal U23 | |||
| Ollie Wood | GBR | JLT Condor |
Departures
| Rider | Country | 2019 status |
| Joe Fry | GBR | Retired (May 2018) |
| Dexter Gardias | GBR | Unknown |
| Sam Lowe | GBR | Unknown |
| James Lowsley-Williams | GBR | Retired |
| Matt Nowell | GBR | Saint Piran |
| Chris Opie | GBR | Retired (May 2018) |
| Jack Pullar | GBR | Retired |
| Harry Tanfield | GBR | Katusha – Alpecin |
