Solas Race Team expands to U23s in 2025 with a focus on rider development and retention
The Solas Race Team expands in 2025 to include U23 riders, focusing on developing young female talent and bridging the support gap between junior and senior cycling levels in Scotland
Scottish-based Solas Race Team is taking a significant step in 2025 by expanding its roster to include U23 riders alongside juniors. Now entering its second year, the team’s commitment to developing young female talent remains its cornerstone, with a bold aim to create a nurturing environment that supports riders from youth levels through to elite ranks.
The move comes as the team identifies a gap in support for women transitioning between junior and senior competition. “After 12 months of learning and development, it felt like a logical move,” explained Team Manager Paul Easto. “The opportunity to work with riders for an extended period to help them progress is something we’re really looking forward to.”
Founded in 2024 as Scotland’s first race team dedicated to junior women, Solas was created to “bridge the gap between youth and senior racing for 16-18-year-old Scottish riders.” Its mission—to race bikes, have fun, and promote women’s cycling while supporting a long-term approach to rider development—has guided the team since its inception.
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The inaugural squad featured eight riders: Kayla Dinnin, Isla Easto, Molly Evans, Evelyn Field, Harriet Hendry, Isla McCutcheon, Daisy Taylor, and Millie Thomson. Now, as the team transitions to its expanded format, some riders will depart, others will move up to the U23 category, and fresh talent will join the roster.
The team will field eight riders in 2025, including a mix of retained riders, promotions from within, and new signings:
New Signings (U23): Sophie Smith (Cycling Club Isle of Man)
New Signings (Junior): Abigail Chaplain (Discovery Junior Cycling Club), Tess Byrne (West Lothian Clarion CC)
Millie Thomson, a member of the inaugural squad, remains with the team but will be taking a step back from racing as she starts university. Meanwhile, Kayla Dinnin and Daisy Taylor are departing the team.
With 80% of the roster hailing from Scotland, the team is set to strengthen ties with Scottish Cycling’s performance pathways and regional racing scene. New partnerships will also play a critical role in Solas’s growth. In 2025, The Athlete Lab, led by Cameron Richardson and Women’s WorldTour pro Becky Storrie, will support the team with rider development and education. Storrie highlighted the significance of their involvement:
“Cameron and I wanted to share our experiences to address the clear gap with girls dropping out of the sport in their teenage years.”
Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
The Athlete Lab partnership will complement coaching support from 360 Cycling. The team plans an ambitious calendar, targeting the National Senior and Junior/U23 Road Series, key National B races, and a summer block in Belgium, while continuing to feature prominently in Scotland’s Scotia Road Series.
This strategic evolution underscores Solas’s mission to foster young women’s involvement in cycling, keeping them in the sport while nurturing their potential.
Scottish-based Solas Race Team is taking a significant step in 2025 by expanding its roster to include U23 riders alongside juniors. Now entering its second year, the team’s commitment to developing young female talent remains its cornerstone, with a bold aim to create a nurturing environment that supports riders from youth levels through to elite ranks.
The move comes as the team identifies a gap in support for women transitioning between junior and senior competition. “After 12 months of learning and development, it felt like a logical move,” explained Team Manager Paul Easto. “The opportunity to work with riders for an extended period to help them progress is something we’re really looking forward to.”
Founded in 2024 as Scotland’s first race team dedicated to junior women, Solas was created to “bridge the gap between youth and senior racing for 16-18-year-old Scottish riders.” Its mission—to race bikes, have fun, and promote women’s cycling while supporting a long-term approach to rider development—has guided the team since its inception.
The inaugural squad featured eight riders: Kayla Dinnin, Isla Easto, Molly Evans, Evelyn Field, Harriet Hendry, Isla McCutcheon, Daisy Taylor, and Millie Thomson. Now, as the team transitions to its expanded format, some riders will depart, others will move up to the U23 category, and fresh talent will join the roster.
The team will field eight riders in 2025, including a mix of retained riders, promotions from within, and new signings:
Millie Thomson, a member of the inaugural squad, remains with the team but will be taking a step back from racing as she starts university. Meanwhile, Kayla Dinnin and Daisy Taylor are departing the team.
With 80% of the roster hailing from Scotland, the team is set to strengthen ties with Scottish Cycling’s performance pathways and regional racing scene. New partnerships will also play a critical role in Solas’s growth. In 2025, The Athlete Lab, led by Cameron Richardson and Women’s WorldTour pro Becky Storrie, will support the team with rider development and education. Storrie highlighted the significance of their involvement:
“Cameron and I wanted to share our experiences to address the clear gap with girls dropping out of the sport in their teenage years.”
The Athlete Lab partnership will complement coaching support from 360 Cycling. The team plans an ambitious calendar, targeting the National Senior and Junior/U23 Road Series, key National B races, and a summer block in Belgium, while continuing to feature prominently in Scotland’s Scotia Road Series.
This strategic evolution underscores Solas’s mission to foster young women’s involvement in cycling, keeping them in the sport while nurturing their potential.
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