Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team Announces New Squad for 2025
The Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team reveals its 2025 roster, blending new talent with established riders, aiming to enhance their competitive edge and race calendar
The Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team has unveiled its roster for the 2025 season, featuring an exciting mix of fresh talent and established riders. The announcement follows the team’s recent rebranding after a three-year title sponsorship deal with the Irish packaging giant Smurfit Westrock. Known as Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd this season, the squad aims to leverage its new backing to expand its race programme and enhance its position in the UCI Continental ranks.
New Signings Bring Fresh Strength
The team has added six new riders, each bringing notable strengths to the squad. Among the signings are three promising young riders making the transition from the junior ranks. Amelia Cebak, the 2023 junior national road race champion and 2024 Gent-Wevelgem junior road race winner, is set to step up to senior racing. Lucy Glover arrives with a reputation as a sprinter to watch; she was the youngest ever winner of a National Circuit Series race, having claimed victory at the 2023 Dudley Grand Prix, and continued to impress in 2024 with podiums in the series. Alice Colling, a cyclocross specialist, adds off-road versatility after finishing second in the Junior National Cyclocross Championships and representing Great Britain at the Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships.
2024 British Cycling Lloyds Bank Elite National Circuit Series – Round 6 – The Colne Grand Prix – Women’s GP – Lucy Glover of Shibden Apex RT. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Irish rider Grace Reynolds, who was one of the domestic breakthrough riders of 2024, joins following a strong season that included top-ten finishes at the Lancaster and Ryedale Grand Prix events, as well as a second-place finish at the Irish National Road Race Championships. Niamh Murphy, who brings European racing experience with podiums at the junior Ronde van Vlaanderen and top finishes at Gent-Wevelgem and the GP Ceratizit, will be entering her second year as an under-23. Adding depth to the roster is Sian Botteley, a seasoned rider who brings a wealth of experience to help guide the younger talents. Meanwhile, Lucy Nelson, who specialises in track racing and boasts a powerful sprint, completes the new signings after finishing tenth at the UCI 1.2 Grote Prijs CHW Beveren.
Retaining the Core: Returning Riders
The Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team has also retained several key riders from the 2024 squad, preserving much of the team’s established strength. Jo Tindley, a former national circuit race champion, continues as one of the UK peloton’s most experienced riders. Lucy Harris, a regular fixture in the top ten in the National Road Series, remains, along with Bexy Dew, Lucy Ellmore, Lucy Gadd, and Annabel Ramsay, all of whom have played important roles in the team’s success. Gadd, a journal contributor for The British Continental, is looking to bounce back after an injury-interrupted season.
2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women – Stage 1: Welshpool to Llandudno, Wales – Lucy Harris of Pro-Noctis-200° Coffee-Hargreaves Contracting. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Departures Signal a Changing of the Guard
The team will say goodbye to several riders as it embarks on this new chapter. Departures include Lizi Brooke, Jessy Carveth, Amy Gornall, Maddie Heywood, and Lowri Richards, with their future plans yet to be confirmed. Team captain Gornall’s exit will leave a leadership gap, while Zoe Langham, a longstanding team member, has decided to retire, marking the end of an era after three years with the squad.
The Smurfit Westrock Era Begins
The new sponsorship represents a significant shift for the team, ensuring its continued status as a UCI Continental squad and enabling a more ambitious race calendar. The team’s precarious position before the sponsorship had led manager Rick Lister to indicate that the team could fold. The deal with Smurfit Westrock has provided a much-needed lifeline, allowing the team to not only survive but presenting an opportunity to build on its previous successes under the Pro-Noctis banner, with new riders, an expanded calendar, and greater ambitions.
The Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team has unveiled its roster for the 2025 season, featuring an exciting mix of fresh talent and established riders. The announcement follows the team’s recent rebranding after a three-year title sponsorship deal with the Irish packaging giant Smurfit Westrock. Known as Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd this season, the squad aims to leverage its new backing to expand its race programme and enhance its position in the UCI Continental ranks.
New Signings Bring Fresh Strength
The team has added six new riders, each bringing notable strengths to the squad. Among the signings are three promising young riders making the transition from the junior ranks. Amelia Cebak, the 2023 junior national road race champion and 2024 Gent-Wevelgem junior road race winner, is set to step up to senior racing. Lucy Glover arrives with a reputation as a sprinter to watch; she was the youngest ever winner of a National Circuit Series race, having claimed victory at the 2023 Dudley Grand Prix, and continued to impress in 2024 with podiums in the series. Alice Colling, a cyclocross specialist, adds off-road versatility after finishing second in the Junior National Cyclocross Championships and representing Great Britain at the Junior Cyclo-cross World Championships.
Irish rider Grace Reynolds, who was one of the domestic breakthrough riders of 2024, joins following a strong season that included top-ten finishes at the Lancaster and Ryedale Grand Prix events, as well as a second-place finish at the Irish National Road Race Championships. Niamh Murphy, who brings European racing experience with podiums at the junior Ronde van Vlaanderen and top finishes at Gent-Wevelgem and the GP Ceratizit, will be entering her second year as an under-23. Adding depth to the roster is Sian Botteley, a seasoned rider who brings a wealth of experience to help guide the younger talents. Meanwhile, Lucy Nelson, who specialises in track racing and boasts a powerful sprint, completes the new signings after finishing tenth at the UCI 1.2 Grote Prijs CHW Beveren.
Retaining the Core: Returning Riders
The Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team has also retained several key riders from the 2024 squad, preserving much of the team’s established strength. Jo Tindley, a former national circuit race champion, continues as one of the UK peloton’s most experienced riders. Lucy Harris, a regular fixture in the top ten in the National Road Series, remains, along with Bexy Dew, Lucy Ellmore, Lucy Gadd, and Annabel Ramsay, all of whom have played important roles in the team’s success. Gadd, a journal contributor for The British Continental, is looking to bounce back after an injury-interrupted season.
Departures Signal a Changing of the Guard
The team will say goodbye to several riders as it embarks on this new chapter. Departures include Lizi Brooke, Jessy Carveth, Amy Gornall, Maddie Heywood, and Lowri Richards, with their future plans yet to be confirmed. Team captain Gornall’s exit will leave a leadership gap, while Zoe Langham, a longstanding team member, has decided to retire, marking the end of an era after three years with the squad.
The Smurfit Westrock Era Begins
The new sponsorship represents a significant shift for the team, ensuring its continued status as a UCI Continental squad and enabling a more ambitious race calendar. The team’s precarious position before the sponsorship had led manager Rick Lister to indicate that the team could fold. The deal with Smurfit Westrock has provided a much-needed lifeline, allowing the team to not only survive but presenting an opportunity to build on its previous successes under the Pro-Noctis banner, with new riders, an expanded calendar, and greater ambitions.
Featured image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
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