Saint Piran Pro Cycling announces closure: a new blow for domestic road racing
Saint Piran's closure leaves the UK without a men's UCI Continental team for the first time since 2004, raising concerns about the future of British elite cycling
In a devastating development for British cycling, Saint Piran, the UK’s last remaining men’s UCI Continental team, has announced its closure. The team will not take to the start line in 2025, leaving the UK without a men’s UCI Continental team for the first time since 2004. The closure also includes Saint Piran’s women’s team, marking the end of an era for the Cornish-based outfit.
This announcement follows confirmation of the closure of TRINITY Racing earlier this month, compounding the challenges facing the domestic road racing scene. The departure of Saint Piran deepens concerns about the future of British elite cycling, with frustration already mounting over British Cycling’s slow implementation of the Elite Road Task Force’s recommendations to revitalise the sport.
In a statement, Saint Piran attributed the closure to a mix of factors, including a tough 2024 season, turbulent media coverage, and difficulties securing sponsorships. Despite conducting a ‘six-month strategic review’ to explore growth opportunities, the team concluded that it could not continue.
Saint Piran at the 2024 Tour of Britain Men. Image: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
“With a tough season behind us, and more recently turbulent media coverage hitting sponsorship opportunities for next year, it has been decided that Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team and Saint Piran WRT Elite Development Team will not take to the start line in 2025,” the team said.
“Saint Piran has proved that you can successfully run an independent UCI Continental Team in the UK… Unfortunately for us, the stars did not align in 2024, and it has taken its toll.”
The closure comes in the wake of reports that the team used non-compliant frames and faced allegations of owing tens of thousands of pounds to former staff, issues widely covered in Cycling Weekly.
Saint Piran was founded in 2018 by Ricci Pascoe with an ambitious vision: to develop Cornish cycling talent and ultimately earn a wildcard invitation to the Tour de France. After three years as an elite team, it stepped up to UCI Continental status in 2021. The team became a platform for domestic riders to compete internationally and had become increasingly important for domestic riders in the face of closures of key British UCI Continental teams in recent years.
The news leaves some of Britain’s top domestic riders scrambling for new teams, with many now facing an uncertain future. It is understood that some contracts had already been issued for 2025, and the team was in talks with British Cycling about integrating Academy riders into its roster.
The closure adds to the mounting challenges for British riders, who have already seen opportunities shrink amid rising competition abroad and financial difficulties at home. With Saint Piran and TRINITY Racing gone, the pathway for UK riders to transition to professional racing appears increasingly fragile.
Saint Piran’s closure underscores the precarious state of domestic road racing in the UK. The lack of a UCI Continental men’s team signals a significant regression for British cycling, which has enjoyed a golden era on the world stage in the past decade. The failure to support and sustain teams at the UCI Continental level reflects broader issues in the sport’s governance and funding.
British Cycling’s inability to act decisively on the Elite Road Task Force’s recommendations has drawn criticism from across the community, with many highlighting a lack of progress in developing a sustainable model for domestic racing.
Saint Piran’s closure is a stark reminder of the challenges facing teams in an increasingly volatile environment for sponsorship and funding. As Saint Piran’s door closes, the question looms: who, if anyone, will step in to fill the void? Without urgent action, British cycling risks losing not just its current stars, but its future ones as well.
In a devastating development for British cycling, Saint Piran, the UK’s last remaining men’s UCI Continental team, has announced its closure. The team will not take to the start line in 2025, leaving the UK without a men’s UCI Continental team for the first time since 2004. The closure also includes Saint Piran’s women’s team, marking the end of an era for the Cornish-based outfit.
This announcement follows confirmation of the closure of TRINITY Racing earlier this month, compounding the challenges facing the domestic road racing scene. The departure of Saint Piran deepens concerns about the future of British elite cycling, with frustration already mounting over British Cycling’s slow implementation of the Elite Road Task Force’s recommendations to revitalise the sport.
In a statement, Saint Piran attributed the closure to a mix of factors, including a tough 2024 season, turbulent media coverage, and difficulties securing sponsorships. Despite conducting a ‘six-month strategic review’ to explore growth opportunities, the team concluded that it could not continue.
“With a tough season behind us, and more recently turbulent media coverage hitting sponsorship opportunities for next year, it has been decided that Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team and Saint Piran WRT Elite Development Team will not take to the start line in 2025,” the team said.
“Saint Piran has proved that you can successfully run an independent UCI Continental Team in the UK… Unfortunately for us, the stars did not align in 2024, and it has taken its toll.”
The closure comes in the wake of reports that the team used non-compliant frames and faced allegations of owing tens of thousands of pounds to former staff, issues widely covered in Cycling Weekly.
Saint Piran was founded in 2018 by Ricci Pascoe with an ambitious vision: to develop Cornish cycling talent and ultimately earn a wildcard invitation to the Tour de France. After three years as an elite team, it stepped up to UCI Continental status in 2021. The team became a platform for domestic riders to compete internationally and had become increasingly important for domestic riders in the face of closures of key British UCI Continental teams in recent years.
The news leaves some of Britain’s top domestic riders scrambling for new teams, with many now facing an uncertain future. It is understood that some contracts had already been issued for 2025, and the team was in talks with British Cycling about integrating Academy riders into its roster.
The closure adds to the mounting challenges for British riders, who have already seen opportunities shrink amid rising competition abroad and financial difficulties at home. With Saint Piran and TRINITY Racing gone, the pathway for UK riders to transition to professional racing appears increasingly fragile.
Saint Piran’s closure underscores the precarious state of domestic road racing in the UK. The lack of a UCI Continental men’s team signals a significant regression for British cycling, which has enjoyed a golden era on the world stage in the past decade. The failure to support and sustain teams at the UCI Continental level reflects broader issues in the sport’s governance and funding.
British Cycling’s inability to act decisively on the Elite Road Task Force’s recommendations has drawn criticism from across the community, with many highlighting a lack of progress in developing a sustainable model for domestic racing.
Saint Piran’s closure is a stark reminder of the challenges facing teams in an increasingly volatile environment for sponsorship and funding. As Saint Piran’s door closes, the question looms: who, if anyone, will step in to fill the void? Without urgent action, British cycling risks losing not just its current stars, but its future ones as well.
Featured image: Will Palmer/SWpix.com
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