The Saint Piran UCI Continental team didn’t just participate in the 2023 National Road Series; they owned it. Winning across individual, team, and under-23 competitions, they didn’t just beat their rivals—they often left them minutes behind. A brutally impressive feat.
In the off-season, Saint Piran not only celebrated their victories but also announced their expansion with a development team, USKIS Saint Piran, featuring rising stars like Dylan Westley and national junior road race champion Finn Mason. The USKIS team has since been awarded Elite Development Team status, one of the perks of which is the guaranteed entry of eight riders into all National Road Series and National Circuit Series races.
Rowan Baker and Sam Culverwell (both Saint Piran) form an alliance with Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) as part of the break at the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
With two strong squads assembled then, questions were raised. Could the two teams genuinely race alongside each other as separate entities? Was there a possibility of tacit collusion? What impact would the two connected teams competing together have on rival teams and on the health and vibrancy of the Series?
It seems we will never know the answers. For British Cycling has introduced a new regulation for the National Road Series effectively preventing teams under the same ownership from competing in the same race:
“Teams with the same paying agent or owner may not compete in the same race.“
It means the Saint Piran UCI Continental team and the USKIS Saint Piran teams will not be permitted to participate in National Road Series events. This rule appears designed to head off any concerns over potential collusion and the overall health of the Series. We understand the same rule will apply in the National Circuit Series in 2024 too.
Interestingly, the new rule does not apply to the women’s Series, where teams like Doltcini-O’Shea and its development squad, Doltcini-Cycle Division, can still compete together. This discrepancy highlights different approaches to managing competition across the Series.
Sam Culverwell and Rowan Baker after the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
With both Saint Piran teams also bound by minimum participation requirements, it’s unclear how they’ll navigate this new landscape. The regulations compel British UCI Continental teams to field a team at all National Road Series events, while Elite Development Teams are required to ride at least 80% of rounds with a minimum of four riders. Given that it will be impossible for both teams to comply with these rules if they are not allowed to enter the same races, we assume that one or both of the squads will be exempt from these minimum participation rules. We have asked British Cycling to clarify this and are awaiting their response.
For Saint Piran’s part, the team accepts the changes and is adjusting its plans accordingly. “I’m happy to support anything that promotes cycling in this country, and that supports the domestic road racing ecosystem,” Saint Piran owner Ricci Pascoe told The British Continental.
More broadly, however, the new rule could set a precedent for how teams are structured and compete in the future. It also poses questions about how the rider development pathway evolves in the UK. Alba Road Development Team manager Bob Lyons, for example, told us in October that his five-year plan was to create a similar structure for his team. Could it force teams like his to think twice about setting up development teams if they risk exclusion from the National Road Series? It’s a topic we’ll be keenly monitoring in the coming months.
The Saint Piran UCI Continental team didn’t just participate in the 2023 National Road Series; they owned it. Winning across individual, team, and under-23 competitions, they didn’t just beat their rivals—they often left them minutes behind. A brutally impressive feat.
In the off-season, Saint Piran not only celebrated their victories but also announced their expansion with a development team, USKIS Saint Piran, featuring rising stars like Dylan Westley and national junior road race champion Finn Mason. The USKIS team has since been awarded Elite Development Team status, one of the perks of which is the guaranteed entry of eight riders into all National Road Series and National Circuit Series races.
With two strong squads assembled then, questions were raised. Could the two teams genuinely race alongside each other as separate entities? Was there a possibility of tacit collusion? What impact would the two connected teams competing together have on rival teams and on the health and vibrancy of the Series?
It seems we will never know the answers. For British Cycling has introduced a new regulation for the National Road Series effectively preventing teams under the same ownership from competing in the same race:
“Teams with the same paying agent or owner may not compete in the same race.“
It means the Saint Piran UCI Continental team and the USKIS Saint Piran teams will not be permitted to participate in National Road Series events. This rule appears designed to head off any concerns over potential collusion and the overall health of the Series. We understand the same rule will apply in the National Circuit Series in 2024 too.
Interestingly, the new rule does not apply to the women’s Series, where teams like Doltcini-O’Shea and its development squad, Doltcini-Cycle Division, can still compete together. This discrepancy highlights different approaches to managing competition across the Series.
With both Saint Piran teams also bound by minimum participation requirements, it’s unclear how they’ll navigate this new landscape. The regulations compel British UCI Continental teams to field a team at all National Road Series events, while Elite Development Teams are required to ride at least 80% of rounds with a minimum of four riders. Given that it will be impossible for both teams to comply with these rules if they are not allowed to enter the same races, we assume that one or both of the squads will be exempt from these minimum participation rules. We have asked British Cycling to clarify this and are awaiting their response.
For Saint Piran’s part, the team accepts the changes and is adjusting its plans accordingly. “I’m happy to support anything that promotes cycling in this country, and that supports the domestic road racing ecosystem,” Saint Piran owner Ricci Pascoe told The British Continental.
More broadly, however, the new rule could set a precedent for how teams are structured and compete in the future. It also poses questions about how the rider development pathway evolves in the UK. Alba Road Development Team manager Bob Lyons, for example, told us in October that his five-year plan was to create a similar structure for his team. Could it force teams like his to think twice about setting up development teams if they risk exclusion from the National Road Series? It’s a topic we’ll be keenly monitoring in the coming months.
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