Revolution in Motion: Jake Hales interview and RideRevolution 2025 squad reveal
Exclusive interview with RideRevolution's Jake Hales featuring a reveal of the team’s expanded 2025 squad as well as Hales’ ambitious plans for the season ahead
In just a few years, Jake Hales has transformed RideRevolution from a modest coaching company into a significant presence in British domestic cycling. Initially established in 2019 to support amateur riders, the business has grown into a team that blends talent development with competitive aspirations. With two National B race wins, multiple podiums across the domestic calendar, and a 6th overall at the Rás Tailteann in 2024, the team has already begun to make its mark.
Speaking exclusively to The British Continental to unveil the team’s 2025 squad, Hales reflects on the journey so far. Both coach and racer, he has steered RideRevolution through its evolution with a hands-on approach, balancing ambition with sustainability. “The team was set up in 2023 as an offshoot of the coaching brand,” Hales explains. “It really came about because a few teams folded at the end of 2022.”
Now, as RideRevolution prepares for its most ambitious season yet, the team is poised to build on its successes with an expanded elite roster, a restructured development squad, and plans for a busier international race calendar. From the roads of Belgium to the Rás Mumhan and potential French stage races, 2025 promises to be a defining year for the team—and a step closer to realising Hales’ vision of a sustainable and supportive environment for riders to thrive.
Jack Hales. Image: Mark James
The decision to establish a race team aligned with Jake’s broader vision of creating a more holistic pathway for riders. “We’ve always wanted to provide the environment and the community for the people that we train,” Hales says. “If somebody went out the top of my team, I’ve done my job.” This developmental ethos became the backbone of the RideRevolution team, which now operates with both an elite squad and a development squad to support riders at different stages of their careers.
The team was designed to cater to both existing coached riders and new talent, offering opportunities to race in a structured and supportive environment. “It’s not just about having a team for racing,” Jake reflects. “It’s about providing riders with a system to step up.” He emphasises the importance of sustainability and growth, noting that the team’s aim is to “take a little step forward each year without being anything too crazy.”
Although the team began modestly, it has quickly grown into a respected force in the domestic scene. The team counted two National B road race wins and podiums aplenty, as well as 6th overall at the Rás Tailteann amongst its successes in 2024. Heading into 2025, an expanded elite roster and a revamped development programme look poised to build on that.
The elite squad boasts four eye-catching new signings, adding depth and versatility to the team’s roster:
Joe Adlam-Cook (Cambridge University CC): An under-23 who has raced very little in his young career but already made an impression, finishing 3rd at the Bec CC Road Race and 5th at the Jef Schils Memorial this season.
Alex Pickering (Elysium Kalas Race Team): Fresh off a breakout year, the time triallist’s win at the Sherpa Performance Stage Race in 2024 signalled his ability on the road.
James Ambrose Parish (TAAP Kalas): A dual-discipline athlete, the track and road rider took two Nat B road race victories in 2024, underlining his ability on the road.
Harry Macfarlane (TAAP Kalas): The new national hill climb champion, Macfarlane adds climbing prowess and a fine 7th-place finish at the East Cleveland Classic to the team’s arsenal.
In addition to the new signings, the backbone of RideRevolution remains its returning riders. These include Hales himself, a rider who often featured in and around the top ten at National Circuit Series events this year; Clay Davies, who was fourth in the national road race rankings and a two-time Nat B road race winner in 2024; and Daniel McDermott, whose 6th-place finish at the Rás in 2024 showed resilience and determination in one of the most challenging international amateur stage races.
Other returning riders are: Gav Howell and Matt Bailey (national champions in their respective age categories), Blake Roberts, Caleb Pain, Cameron Still, Adam Robertson, Gabriel Taylor, Matt Wilson, and Bob McGlue.
Clay Davies and Jake Hales. Image: Mark James
For 2025, the team’s newly structured development squad will include ten second-category riders aiming to step up to the elite ranks. Hales points to the success of the current elite squad as evidence of this pipeline’s effectiveness: “Four of our elite team for 2024 started in the development team. It’s proof that the structure works.”
Hales emphasises the importance of giving these development riders a solid foundation and a pathway to progress. “For a lot of them, this is their first experience of racing in a team setup. It gives them a chance to learn, build confidence, and see what they’re capable of,” he says.
The 2025 calendar is ambitious yet calculated, with plans to add racing in Belgium, the Rás Mumhan, and potential French stage races, in addition to the races that the team targeted this year, such as the Rás Tailteann and the National Road Series and National Circuit Series. “It’s all about exposing the team to the highest level of competition we can access,” Hales explains.
Hales, ever pragmatic, acknowledges the balancing act of ambition and sustainability. “We’re just trying to take a little step forward each year without being anything too crazy or taking too many risks financially,” he notes. “It’s about making sure the team keeps providing a better programme and support every year.”
He acknowledges the financial realities of running a team and the need to balance ambition with practicality. “At the moment, all the funding is internal,” he notes. “It’s a fine line – you want to grow, but you have to do it in a way that doesn’t jeopardise the future of the team.”
Image: Mark James
“I’ve seen how easy it is for teams to overstretch, to try to do too much, and then fall apart,” Hales says, reflecting on his own racing experiences. “It’s not just bad for the team; it’s bad for the riders who are left without support.” He emphasises the need to avoid making short-term decisions that could undermine long-term stability, adding, “For me, it’s about creating something that lasts, something that riders can rely on.”
It’s clear that Hales’ dual role as coach and racer gives him a unique perspective on what it takes to build a team from the ground up. For Hales, RideRevolution is more than a team—it’s an extension of his own journey in cycling and his commitment to developing his business and supporting the riders he works with. “It’s effectively part of my job now,” Hales explains. “It is a job to run the team, to run the coaching, et cetera. So it’s definitely something I don’t see myself stepping away from.”
As a rider, he has balanced domestic racing with his coaching responsibilities, making him something of a ‘player-manager.’ It’s a demanding role, but one he embraces fully. “I think I’m going to be one of these people that’s still racing when I’m 60,” he quips, reflecting his passion for the sport. His hands-on approach allows him to connect with riders not just as their coach but as someone who truly understands the challenges they face on the bike.
As Hales looks ahead, his goals for the team extend beyond results. He wants to provide an environment where riders can grow, learn, and thrive—whether that means winning races or developing the skills needed for the next step in their careers. For Hales, it’s this balance of performance and development that defines success. “If somebody went out the top of my team, I’ve done my job,” he says simply.
In just a few years, Jake Hales has transformed RideRevolution from a modest coaching company into a significant presence in British domestic cycling. Initially established in 2019 to support amateur riders, the business has grown into a team that blends talent development with competitive aspirations. With two National B race wins, multiple podiums across the domestic calendar, and a 6th overall at the Rás Tailteann in 2024, the team has already begun to make its mark.
Speaking exclusively to The British Continental to unveil the team’s 2025 squad, Hales reflects on the journey so far. Both coach and racer, he has steered RideRevolution through its evolution with a hands-on approach, balancing ambition with sustainability. “The team was set up in 2023 as an offshoot of the coaching brand,” Hales explains. “It really came about because a few teams folded at the end of 2022.”
Now, as RideRevolution prepares for its most ambitious season yet, the team is poised to build on its successes with an expanded elite roster, a restructured development squad, and plans for a busier international race calendar. From the roads of Belgium to the Rás Mumhan and potential French stage races, 2025 promises to be a defining year for the team—and a step closer to realising Hales’ vision of a sustainable and supportive environment for riders to thrive.
The decision to establish a race team aligned with Jake’s broader vision of creating a more holistic pathway for riders. “We’ve always wanted to provide the environment and the community for the people that we train,” Hales says. “If somebody went out the top of my team, I’ve done my job.” This developmental ethos became the backbone of the RideRevolution team, which now operates with both an elite squad and a development squad to support riders at different stages of their careers.
The team was designed to cater to both existing coached riders and new talent, offering opportunities to race in a structured and supportive environment. “It’s not just about having a team for racing,” Jake reflects. “It’s about providing riders with a system to step up.” He emphasises the importance of sustainability and growth, noting that the team’s aim is to “take a little step forward each year without being anything too crazy.”
Although the team began modestly, it has quickly grown into a respected force in the domestic scene. The team counted two National B road race wins and podiums aplenty, as well as 6th overall at the Rás Tailteann amongst its successes in 2024. Heading into 2025, an expanded elite roster and a revamped development programme look poised to build on that.
The elite squad boasts four eye-catching new signings, adding depth and versatility to the team’s roster:
In addition to the new signings, the backbone of RideRevolution remains its returning riders. These include Hales himself, a rider who often featured in and around the top ten at National Circuit Series events this year; Clay Davies, who was fourth in the national road race rankings and a two-time Nat B road race winner in 2024; and Daniel McDermott, whose 6th-place finish at the Rás in 2024 showed resilience and determination in one of the most challenging international amateur stage races.
Other returning riders are: Gav Howell and Matt Bailey (national champions in their respective age categories), Blake Roberts, Caleb Pain, Cameron Still, Adam Robertson, Gabriel Taylor, Matt Wilson, and Bob McGlue.
For 2025, the team’s newly structured development squad will include ten second-category riders aiming to step up to the elite ranks. Hales points to the success of the current elite squad as evidence of this pipeline’s effectiveness: “Four of our elite team for 2024 started in the development team. It’s proof that the structure works.”
Hales emphasises the importance of giving these development riders a solid foundation and a pathway to progress. “For a lot of them, this is their first experience of racing in a team setup. It gives them a chance to learn, build confidence, and see what they’re capable of,” he says.
The 2025 calendar is ambitious yet calculated, with plans to add racing in Belgium, the Rás Mumhan, and potential French stage races, in addition to the races that the team targeted this year, such as the Rás Tailteann and the National Road Series and National Circuit Series. “It’s all about exposing the team to the highest level of competition we can access,” Hales explains.
Hales, ever pragmatic, acknowledges the balancing act of ambition and sustainability. “We’re just trying to take a little step forward each year without being anything too crazy or taking too many risks financially,” he notes. “It’s about making sure the team keeps providing a better programme and support every year.”
He acknowledges the financial realities of running a team and the need to balance ambition with practicality. “At the moment, all the funding is internal,” he notes. “It’s a fine line – you want to grow, but you have to do it in a way that doesn’t jeopardise the future of the team.”
“I’ve seen how easy it is for teams to overstretch, to try to do too much, and then fall apart,” Hales says, reflecting on his own racing experiences. “It’s not just bad for the team; it’s bad for the riders who are left without support.” He emphasises the need to avoid making short-term decisions that could undermine long-term stability, adding, “For me, it’s about creating something that lasts, something that riders can rely on.”
It’s clear that Hales’ dual role as coach and racer gives him a unique perspective on what it takes to build a team from the ground up. For Hales, RideRevolution is more than a team—it’s an extension of his own journey in cycling and his commitment to developing his business and supporting the riders he works with. “It’s effectively part of my job now,” Hales explains. “It is a job to run the team, to run the coaching, et cetera. So it’s definitely something I don’t see myself stepping away from.”
As a rider, he has balanced domestic racing with his coaching responsibilities, making him something of a ‘player-manager.’ It’s a demanding role, but one he embraces fully. “I think I’m going to be one of these people that’s still racing when I’m 60,” he quips, reflecting his passion for the sport. His hands-on approach allows him to connect with riders not just as their coach but as someone who truly understands the challenges they face on the bike.
As Hales looks ahead, his goals for the team extend beyond results. He wants to provide an environment where riders can grow, learn, and thrive—whether that means winning races or developing the skills needed for the next step in their careers. For Hales, it’s this balance of performance and development that defines success. “If somebody went out the top of my team, I’ve done my job,” he says simply.
Featured image: Mark James
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