Alba Development Road Team has revealed its roster for 2025, looking to build on a remarkable 2024 that saw the Scottish squad step up to UCI Continental status and achieve unprecedented success. Under the leadership of Bob Lyons, the team emerged as a force to be reckoned with, highlighted by Eilidh Shaw’s historic double win of the National Road Series and National Circuit Series. The achievements reflected the steady growth and increased confidence of the team, as noted in a recent Instagram post that praised the collective efforts behind Shaw’s victories.
Aiming for Higher Ambitions
Lyons’ athlete-focused, Scottish-centric development outfit is looking to the future, explaining last year that the team has a five-year vision to establish a two-tier structure: a salaried UCI Continental team and a development squad beneath it. With limited domestic racing opportunities likely to continue, the 2025 season will see an expanded European race programme as Alba aims to expose its riders to higher competition levels and accelerate their development.
Beth Morrow. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Reflecting on the team’s objectives, Lyons told The British Continental: “The ethos and goals of the team remain unchanged, in that we are totally focussed on the development of the riders in order to deliver them to the WorldTour. The depth and balance of the squad for 2025 give us a lot of flexibility in regard to how we achieve such objectives.”
The loss of Shaw to the UAE Development Team will undoubtedly be felt; her standout performances, both domestically and abroad, were instrumental in putting Alba on the map. Additionally, Millie Skinner, Lulu Bartlett, Emma Matthews, Daisy Barnes, and Vicky Smith will be departing, while Evie White and Erin Murphy have retired. Despite these departures, Alba is retaining a core group of six riders who will be pivotal to the team’s ambitions in 2025.
Returning Riders Poised for Growth
The team has re-signed six riders from the 2024 squad: Keira Bond, Lauren Dickson, Arianne Holland, Beth Morrow, Abi Plowman, and Amelia Tyler. Bond, the talented American rider, delivered several top-ten finishes in the National Circuit Series last season, including a standout victory at the prestigious Sheffield Grand Prix. Her aggressive racing style and consistent results suggest she will be a key player for Alba in 2025.
Beth Morrow. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Dickson, who joined midway through 2024 after a strong showing with Edinburgh RC, has made an impressive transition from triathlon to road racing. Her win at the Scottish Hill Climb Championships and second-place finishes at the Lancaster and Ryedale Grand Prix indicate she could be a valuable asset for the team’s European campaign. Tyler, the Irish all-rounder, adds depth to the squad, having finished 5th at the CiCLE Classic and 7th at the Curlew Cup, while Morrow’s podium at the Scottish road race championships solidifies her as another rider to watch.
Strengthening the Squad with Experienced Talent
To bolster the lineup, Alba has brought in five new signings. Leading the arrivals are El King and Maddie Leech from Lifeplus-Wahoo, which folded unexpectedly in mid-2024. King, 22, endured a challenging year due to illness, injury, and her team’s dissolution, but she is a proven winner, having taken the Women’s CiCLE Classic in March and placing 6th at the Curlew Cup. King’s history of top-10 finishes in UCI races, as well as her 8th place at the 2022 Commonwealth Games road race, demonstrates her potential to make a significant impact next season.
Leech, a 21-year-old versatile rider, finished 2nd in the U23 national time trial championships and aims to balance her road racing ambitions with her goal of competing in the track cycling events at the LA 2028 Olympics. Her determination and strong time trial capabilities could make her a valuable contributor to the team’s European endeavours.
Mari Porton. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Joining them is Neah Evans, whose illustrious career on the track includes two Olympic silver medals in the team pursuit, a World Championship points race title, and multiple European Championships. The 34-year-old’s wealth of experience will bring leadership to the team, while her second-place finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games road race indicates that she remains a serious contender on the road.
Mari Porton and Amy Gornall complete the new signings. Porton, a promising young sprinter from Tofauti Everyone Active, showed her potential with a victory at the Solihull CC road race and 4th place at the Grand Prix CERATIZIT Women Junior. Meanwhile, Gornall, an experienced road captain formerly with Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting, will provide valuable guidance to the team’s younger riders.
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for the Alba Development Road Team. With an expanded European race schedule, the squad will have the opportunity to test itself against tough international competition and develop its riders in the UCI Continental ranks. The blend of youthful talent, experienced campaigners, and a visionary development strategy positions the team well to continue its upward trajectory.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Alba Development Road Team has revealed its roster for 2025, looking to build on a remarkable 2024 that saw the Scottish squad step up to UCI Continental status and achieve unprecedented success. Under the leadership of Bob Lyons, the team emerged as a force to be reckoned with, highlighted by Eilidh Shaw’s historic double win of the National Road Series and National Circuit Series. The achievements reflected the steady growth and increased confidence of the team, as noted in a recent Instagram post that praised the collective efforts behind Shaw’s victories.
Aiming for Higher Ambitions
Lyons’ athlete-focused, Scottish-centric development outfit is looking to the future, explaining last year that the team has a five-year vision to establish a two-tier structure: a salaried UCI Continental team and a development squad beneath it. With limited domestic racing opportunities likely to continue, the 2025 season will see an expanded European race programme as Alba aims to expose its riders to higher competition levels and accelerate their development.
Reflecting on the team’s objectives, Lyons told The British Continental: “The ethos and goals of the team remain unchanged, in that we are totally focussed on the development of the riders in order to deliver them to the WorldTour. The depth and balance of the squad for 2025 give us a lot of flexibility in regard to how we achieve such objectives.”
The loss of Shaw to the UAE Development Team will undoubtedly be felt; her standout performances, both domestically and abroad, were instrumental in putting Alba on the map. Additionally, Millie Skinner, Lulu Bartlett, Emma Matthews, Daisy Barnes, and Vicky Smith will be departing, while Evie White and Erin Murphy have retired. Despite these departures, Alba is retaining a core group of six riders who will be pivotal to the team’s ambitions in 2025.
Returning Riders Poised for Growth
The team has re-signed six riders from the 2024 squad: Keira Bond, Lauren Dickson, Arianne Holland, Beth Morrow, Abi Plowman, and Amelia Tyler. Bond, the talented American rider, delivered several top-ten finishes in the National Circuit Series last season, including a standout victory at the prestigious Sheffield Grand Prix. Her aggressive racing style and consistent results suggest she will be a key player for Alba in 2025.
Dickson, who joined midway through 2024 after a strong showing with Edinburgh RC, has made an impressive transition from triathlon to road racing. Her win at the Scottish Hill Climb Championships and second-place finishes at the Lancaster and Ryedale Grand Prix indicate she could be a valuable asset for the team’s European campaign. Tyler, the Irish all-rounder, adds depth to the squad, having finished 5th at the CiCLE Classic and 7th at the Curlew Cup, while Morrow’s podium at the Scottish road race championships solidifies her as another rider to watch.
Strengthening the Squad with Experienced Talent
To bolster the lineup, Alba has brought in five new signings. Leading the arrivals are El King and Maddie Leech from Lifeplus-Wahoo, which folded unexpectedly in mid-2024. King, 22, endured a challenging year due to illness, injury, and her team’s dissolution, but she is a proven winner, having taken the Women’s CiCLE Classic in March and placing 6th at the Curlew Cup. King’s history of top-10 finishes in UCI races, as well as her 8th place at the 2022 Commonwealth Games road race, demonstrates her potential to make a significant impact next season.
Leech, a 21-year-old versatile rider, finished 2nd in the U23 national time trial championships and aims to balance her road racing ambitions with her goal of competing in the track cycling events at the LA 2028 Olympics. Her determination and strong time trial capabilities could make her a valuable contributor to the team’s European endeavours.
Joining them is Neah Evans, whose illustrious career on the track includes two Olympic silver medals in the team pursuit, a World Championship points race title, and multiple European Championships. The 34-year-old’s wealth of experience will bring leadership to the team, while her second-place finish at the 2022 Commonwealth Games road race indicates that she remains a serious contender on the road.
Mari Porton and Amy Gornall complete the new signings. Porton, a promising young sprinter from Tofauti Everyone Active, showed her potential with a victory at the Solihull CC road race and 4th place at the Grand Prix CERATIZIT Women Junior. Meanwhile, Gornall, an experienced road captain formerly with Pro-Noctis – 200 Degrees Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting, will provide valuable guidance to the team’s younger riders.
The 2025 season marks a new chapter for the Alba Development Road Team. With an expanded European race schedule, the squad will have the opportunity to test itself against tough international competition and develop its riders in the UCI Continental ranks. The blend of youthful talent, experienced campaigners, and a visionary development strategy positions the team well to continue its upward trajectory.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
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