In a surprise announcement, British team Lifeplus-Wahoo, which started out as the Drops Cycling Team, has revealed that it will cease operations. The news marks the end of an era for Britain’s longest-running UCI Continental women’s team.
The team has set the bar as the most professional of the British women’s teams, regularly riding a top class programme of racing. Last year, the team competed in the Tour de France Femmes, showcasing their talent on one of the sport’s biggest stages. However, the disappointment of not being selected for this year’s edition has been a significant blow to their morale and financial stability.
In June, team manager Tom Varney spoke on our podcast with ambition and optimism about the future. He shared plans to elevate the team to the new ProTeam tier in 2025. However, those ambitions have now been shelved after struggling to find the budget required to move the team up to the next level.
024 – Rapha Women’s Lincoln Grand Prix – Kate Richardson of Lifeplus Wahoo wins with her teammates Eluned King and Madelaine Leech. Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
“Our aim has always been to progress to Pro Team level and ultimately become a World Tour team,” a statement from the team reads. Unfortunately, despite their aspirations and a full roster of premium product partners lined up for 2025, the team has faced what it regarded as insurmountable financial challenges.
According to the team’s statement the core issue has been the inability to secure a title sponsor willing to meet the financial demands necessary for a UCI ProTeam Licence application. This, combined with the rising costs of racing, loss of sponsor bonus income due to the absence from the Tour de France Femmes, bike thefts at the Tour of Britain Women, and an ongoing partnership dispute involving unpaid installments, has culminated in an unsustainable situation for the team.
“With uncertainty surrounding the viability of the project at Continental level, we no longer have the appetite to struggle to deliver our professional vision on a minimum budget at this largely unregulated level,” the team stated in their press release.
Furthermore, the team says it has ridden its last race, meaning it will not complete the remainder of its 2024 programme, making last month’s Baloise Tour its last ever race appearance.
The cycling community will undoubtedly feel the absence of Lifeplus-Wahoo. Over the past nine years, the team has been instrumental in promoting women’s cycling in Britain and beyond, giving a platform to many British riders. Its closure will be a big loss for British road racing.
In a surprise announcement, British team Lifeplus-Wahoo, which started out as the Drops Cycling Team, has revealed that it will cease operations. The news marks the end of an era for Britain’s longest-running UCI Continental women’s team.
The team has set the bar as the most professional of the British women’s teams, regularly riding a top class programme of racing. Last year, the team competed in the Tour de France Femmes, showcasing their talent on one of the sport’s biggest stages. However, the disappointment of not being selected for this year’s edition has been a significant blow to their morale and financial stability.
In June, team manager Tom Varney spoke on our podcast with ambition and optimism about the future. He shared plans to elevate the team to the new ProTeam tier in 2025. However, those ambitions have now been shelved after struggling to find the budget required to move the team up to the next level.
“Our aim has always been to progress to Pro Team level and ultimately become a World Tour team,” a statement from the team reads. Unfortunately, despite their aspirations and a full roster of premium product partners lined up for 2025, the team has faced what it regarded as insurmountable financial challenges.
According to the team’s statement the core issue has been the inability to secure a title sponsor willing to meet the financial demands necessary for a UCI ProTeam Licence application. This, combined with the rising costs of racing, loss of sponsor bonus income due to the absence from the Tour de France Femmes, bike thefts at the Tour of Britain Women, and an ongoing partnership dispute involving unpaid installments, has culminated in an unsustainable situation for the team.
“With uncertainty surrounding the viability of the project at Continental level, we no longer have the appetite to struggle to deliver our professional vision on a minimum budget at this largely unregulated level,” the team stated in their press release.
Furthermore, the team says it has ridden its last race, meaning it will not complete the remainder of its 2024 programme, making last month’s Baloise Tour its last ever race appearance.
The cycling community will undoubtedly feel the absence of Lifeplus-Wahoo. Over the past nine years, the team has been instrumental in promoting women’s cycling in Britain and beyond, giving a platform to many British riders. Its closure will be a big loss for British road racing.
Featured image: SWpix.com
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