The decision aims to ensure the participation of its riders in domestic races while adhering to the regulatory framework set forth by the governing body. The new regulation, only published last month, stipulates that teams under the same ownership cannot compete in the same National Road Series or National Circuit Series races. This posed a significant challenge for Saint Piran, which had planned to operate both a UCI Continental team and its new USKIS Saint Piran development team this season.
Saint Piran initially appeared accepting of the regulation. The USKIS team were announced as one of British Cycling’s Elite Development Teams in February. And when asked about the new regulation, Saint Piran team owner Ricci Pascoe had told The British Continental that, “I’m happy to support anything that promotes cycling in this country, and that supports the domestic road racing ecosystem.”
Huw Buck Jones (USKIS Saint Piran) and Sam Culverwell (Saint Piran) at the Portsdown Classic, 11 Feb 2024. Credit: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
However, faced with the prospect of limited opportunities for its development team riders, Saint Piran has opted for a strategic restructuring, with the USKIS team being closed just months after being created.
The consolidation of the teams has seen a reshuffling of Saint Piran’s UCI Continental team. 15 riders are currently listed with the team on the UCI website. This includes 13 of the 14 riders previously registered as Saint Piran UCI riders, as as well as former USKIS riders Huw Buck Jones and Alexandre Mayer. We understand that the other five USKIS riders (Dylan Westley, Joshua Ludman, Finn Mason, Rhys Robotham and Rhys Britton) are also in the process of being registered to the UCI squad. If this happens it will mean that Saint Piran’s UCI team will have the maximum of 20 riders permitted by the UCI for a Continental squad (16 regular riders and 4 ‘specialists’).
Matt Gibson is the one previously registered UCI rider who is not on the current squad list. Gibson has been sidelined by a long-term injury, which may explain his absence, and we understand that the intention is that he will remain an integral part of the Saint Piran setup.
The timing of the merger aligns with the upcoming East Cleveland Classic, the opening round of the National Road Series. Saint Piran’s squad for the races comprises a blend of existing UCI Continental riders and fresh recruits from the USKIS team.
Dylan Hicks, Sam Culverwell and Rowan Baker (all Saint Piran) at the 2024 RCR FatCreations Road Race. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
In a statement addressing the decision, the team said:
“We have two responsibilities within the Saint Piran family – to use cycling as a force for good and to help empower and enable our athletes and staff to be the best they can be.
“We have been in discussions with British Cycling regarding the National Series regulation change since December 2023 and completely understand their reasoning to limit men’s teams from the same stable racing in UK races. However, the change has a direct impact on the development of our young U23 riders. Given the closure of a British Cycling road pathway, this regulation change means up to 50% fewer domestic races for some of our riders, hindering their development pathway as world-class athletes away from track cycling. We have therefore had to take the very difficult decision to close our USKIS U23 team and redesign our programme.
“From 1st April 2024, all USKIS riders have transfered to the Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team. This ensures they have access to both National A and B races, allowing them to develop fully as riders in our exciting and competitive domestic scene. But we also must balance our commitment to riders with our responsibility to the wider community of elite UK racing and will continue to support domestic races and race organisers in any way we can to further our sport in the UK.”
In a strategic move to circumvent new regulations imposed by British Cycling for the National Road Series and National Circuit Series, Saint Piran, the dominant team on the men’s domestic scene, has closed its USKIS Saint Piran development team. Riders from the USKIS squad will be absorbed in Saint Piran’s UCI Continental squad instead.
The decision aims to ensure the participation of its riders in domestic races while adhering to the regulatory framework set forth by the governing body. The new regulation, only published last month, stipulates that teams under the same ownership cannot compete in the same National Road Series or National Circuit Series races. This posed a significant challenge for Saint Piran, which had planned to operate both a UCI Continental team and its new USKIS Saint Piran development team this season.
Saint Piran initially appeared accepting of the regulation. The USKIS team were announced as one of British Cycling’s Elite Development Teams in February. And when asked about the new regulation, Saint Piran team owner Ricci Pascoe had told The British Continental that, “I’m happy to support anything that promotes cycling in this country, and that supports the domestic road racing ecosystem.”
However, faced with the prospect of limited opportunities for its development team riders, Saint Piran has opted for a strategic restructuring, with the USKIS team being closed just months after being created.
The consolidation of the teams has seen a reshuffling of Saint Piran’s UCI Continental team. 15 riders are currently listed with the team on the UCI website. This includes 13 of the 14 riders previously registered as Saint Piran UCI riders, as as well as former USKIS riders Huw Buck Jones and Alexandre Mayer. We understand that the other five USKIS riders (Dylan Westley, Joshua Ludman, Finn Mason, Rhys Robotham and Rhys Britton) are also in the process of being registered to the UCI squad. If this happens it will mean that Saint Piran’s UCI team will have the maximum of 20 riders permitted by the UCI for a Continental squad (16 regular riders and 4 ‘specialists’).
Matt Gibson is the one previously registered UCI rider who is not on the current squad list. Gibson has been sidelined by a long-term injury, which may explain his absence, and we understand that the intention is that he will remain an integral part of the Saint Piran setup.
The timing of the merger aligns with the upcoming East Cleveland Classic, the opening round of the National Road Series. Saint Piran’s squad for the races comprises a blend of existing UCI Continental riders and fresh recruits from the USKIS team.
In a statement addressing the decision, the team said:
“We have two responsibilities within the Saint Piran family – to use cycling as a force for good and to help empower and enable our athletes and staff to be the best they can be.
“We have been in discussions with British Cycling regarding the National Series regulation change since December 2023 and completely understand their reasoning to limit men’s teams from the same stable racing in UK races. However, the change has a direct impact on the development of our young U23 riders. Given the closure of a British Cycling road pathway, this regulation change means up to 50% fewer domestic races for some of our riders, hindering their development pathway as world-class athletes away from track cycling. We have therefore had to take the very difficult decision to close our USKIS U23 team and redesign our programme.
“From 1st April 2024, all USKIS riders have transfered to the Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team. This ensures they have access to both National A and B races, allowing them to develop fully as riders in our exciting and competitive domestic scene. But we also must balance our commitment to riders with our responsibility to the wider community of elite UK racing and will continue to support domestic races and race organisers in any way we can to further our sport in the UK.”
Listen to the latest podcast episode to hear more discussion of this news, including insights from Saint Piran’s James McKay.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Share this:
Discover more from The British Continental
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.