With a new look line-up featuring seven new signings, DAS-Hutchinson head into 2025 looking to build on a successful 2024, the first season for the team after last winter’s merger between DAS-Handsling and Hutchinson-Brother. The UCI Continental squad will again target an ambitious programme both at home and abroad, fielding strong teams for the National Road and Circuit Series as well as racing an extensive calendar across Europe.
There probably aren’t many Conti teams at our level that have a race programme like us around the world
“We’ve always supported UK racing and we will do as much as we can,” says Simon Howes, who manages the team alongside Andrew Paine and Ian Watson. He says the team’s results in 2024 “speak for themselves” as proof of their commitment to the domestic scene, with the team taking a number victories in National level races in 2024, including the team classification in both the National Road and Circuit Series.
On top of racing in Britain, the team will once again race an extensive calendar around Europe, the loss of long-term title sponsor Brother, who continue to support Howes’ development team, Team OnForm, not affecting their plans, with a number of new partnerships being announced this month.
Robyn Clay wins the Curlew Cup 2024. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
“We had an incredible international race programme this year, and we hope to do similar,” says Howes. “Invites are coming in already, which is a real good sign for us, because, as every British team knows, trying to get into races is a real challenge.”
He suggests the team may be more selective in their programme this year in order to be more competitive, having fielded squads in three different countries at least once last season. “It’s quite incredible for a team of our size to be able to do that. But it does bring its challenges with logistics. So that’s the only thing which may change.”
2025 sees another round of major changes to the squad after last year’s merger: 19 riders being reduced to 15, with 11 departures. Among those leaving are Frankie Hall, who will head to Australia with Team BridgeLane and Mia Griffin, who has signed a professional contract. Seeing riders leave the team to continue their journey in the sport at a higher level is something Howes says the team thrives on, also noting that many of the riders who left the team at the end of the season have found new teams or have headed into retirement.
Sometimes the bright lights are appealing, but it’s not always the best thing to do as a rider
Eight riders remain from the 2024 roster, headlined by Curlew Cup victor Robyn Clay. “I don’t doubt she would have been on a Pro Conti or WorldTour team this year had she not had the accident,” says Howes, who is expecting another step up from the 21-year-old after she was sidelined for a large part of 2024 after a crash in Belgium. “Sometimes the bright lights are appealing, but it’s not always the best thing to do as a rider. She’s seen the benefits at our level, getting the races, the opportunities and the chances, rather than potentially going to a larger team where she may end up only riding for other riders and not getting her own chances.”
Lucy Lee wins the 2024 Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Image: Craig Zadoroznyj/SWpix.com
Joining Clay in staying with the team is Ronde van Wymeswold winner Tammy Miller, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 taking a podium at the Lancaster GP, and Scot Morven Yeoman, who endured an injury-hit 2024 after a breakthrough season the year prior.
Sophie Lewis and Lucy Lee will remain with the team for a fourth and fifth year respectively, Lewis having won two rounds of the National Circuit Series, while Lee tasted Ryedale GP success in 2024. Olympians Alice Sharpe and Tiffany Keep add an international flavour to the squad alongside Norwegian sprinter Nora Tveit, who extends her stay for a second season.
Seven new signings – as well as the addition of a new DS, Olly Moors, who joins from Doltcini-O’Shea – give the team a strong mix of youth and experience, with first-year U23 Ruby Oakes stepping up after an impressive two years in the junior ranks, where she finished 6th in Gent-Wevelgem Juniors and 8th in the Ràs na mBan. One of the standout domestic riders in 2024, Lizzie Hermolle, signs from Team Boompods and former triathlete Lizi Brooke will focus on gravel racing as well as hilly road races, having recently claimed a spot on the podium at the National Hill Climb Championships.
Irish rider Aoife O’Brien follows in the footsteps of her sister, Caoimhe, who rode for the team in 2024, the 20-year-old having raced in Belgium over the past three seasons, while Libby Smithson brings UCI experience having raced for Doltcini-O’Shea this year.
Promising U23 Ellie Parry signs from the Grouwels-Watersley R&D team having ridden a European calendar over the past few seasons, impressing in the National Road Race and U23 Time Trial Championships this year. The new signings are rounded out by Julia Van Bokhoven, the Dutch rider hoping to return to the form which saw her finish in the top-25 of the Amstel Gold Race after an injury-hit few years.
Morven Yeoman. Image: Craig Zadoronyj/SWpix.com
“We never really have an age bracket, I like a range of ages and experiences. The youth have massive enthusiasm, the older riders, experienced or not, have a more settled outlook on things.” Howes comments on the makeup of the team, which is selected from a high number of applications.
“We get a lot of interest, and really we should, because there probably aren’t many Conti teams at our level that have a race programme like us around the world,” he explains, the team receiving up to ten CVs a day in September.
Recruitment is done by conversations, results, personalities and opinions of other riders
“Recruitment is done by conversations, results, personalities and opinions of other riders,” he continues, explaining that the team offers riders flexibility to achieve their goals, with Mia Griffin and Alice Sharpe coming to the team with an ambition to compete on the track in the Olympic Games, and Sophie Lewis having ridden on the track throughout the years for Great Britain.
“It’s really difficult to choose because there are so many to choose from,” Howes explains. “Trying to narrow it down and having to say no to riders you’d like to sign makes it really difficult.”
With a new look line-up featuring seven new signings, DAS-Hutchinson head into 2025 looking to build on a successful 2024, the first season for the team after last winter’s merger between DAS-Handsling and Hutchinson-Brother. The UCI Continental squad will again target an ambitious programme both at home and abroad, fielding strong teams for the National Road and Circuit Series as well as racing an extensive calendar across Europe.
“We’ve always supported UK racing and we will do as much as we can,” says Simon Howes, who manages the team alongside Andrew Paine and Ian Watson. He says the team’s results in 2024 “speak for themselves” as proof of their commitment to the domestic scene, with the team taking a number victories in National level races in 2024, including the team classification in both the National Road and Circuit Series.
On top of racing in Britain, the team will once again race an extensive calendar around Europe, the loss of long-term title sponsor Brother, who continue to support Howes’ development team, Team OnForm, not affecting their plans, with a number of new partnerships being announced this month.
“We had an incredible international race programme this year, and we hope to do similar,” says Howes. “Invites are coming in already, which is a real good sign for us, because, as every British team knows, trying to get into races is a real challenge.”
He suggests the team may be more selective in their programme this year in order to be more competitive, having fielded squads in three different countries at least once last season. “It’s quite incredible for a team of our size to be able to do that. But it does bring its challenges with logistics. So that’s the only thing which may change.”
2025 sees another round of major changes to the squad after last year’s merger: 19 riders being reduced to 15, with 11 departures. Among those leaving are Frankie Hall, who will head to Australia with Team BridgeLane and Mia Griffin, who has signed a professional contract. Seeing riders leave the team to continue their journey in the sport at a higher level is something Howes says the team thrives on, also noting that many of the riders who left the team at the end of the season have found new teams or have headed into retirement.
Eight riders remain from the 2024 roster, headlined by Curlew Cup victor Robyn Clay. “I don’t doubt she would have been on a Pro Conti or WorldTour team this year had she not had the accident,” says Howes, who is expecting another step up from the 21-year-old after she was sidelined for a large part of 2024 after a crash in Belgium. “Sometimes the bright lights are appealing, but it’s not always the best thing to do as a rider. She’s seen the benefits at our level, getting the races, the opportunities and the chances, rather than potentially going to a larger team where she may end up only riding for other riders and not getting her own chances.”
Joining Clay in staying with the team is Ronde van Wymeswold winner Tammy Miller, who enjoyed a breakthrough 2024 taking a podium at the Lancaster GP, and Scot Morven Yeoman, who endured an injury-hit 2024 after a breakthrough season the year prior.
Sophie Lewis and Lucy Lee will remain with the team for a fourth and fifth year respectively, Lewis having won two rounds of the National Circuit Series, while Lee tasted Ryedale GP success in 2024. Olympians Alice Sharpe and Tiffany Keep add an international flavour to the squad alongside Norwegian sprinter Nora Tveit, who extends her stay for a second season.
Seven new signings – as well as the addition of a new DS, Olly Moors, who joins from Doltcini-O’Shea – give the team a strong mix of youth and experience, with first-year U23 Ruby Oakes stepping up after an impressive two years in the junior ranks, where she finished 6th in Gent-Wevelgem Juniors and 8th in the Ràs na mBan. One of the standout domestic riders in 2024, Lizzie Hermolle, signs from Team Boompods and former triathlete Lizi Brooke will focus on gravel racing as well as hilly road races, having recently claimed a spot on the podium at the National Hill Climb Championships.
Irish rider Aoife O’Brien follows in the footsteps of her sister, Caoimhe, who rode for the team in 2024, the 20-year-old having raced in Belgium over the past three seasons, while Libby Smithson brings UCI experience having raced for Doltcini-O’Shea this year.
Promising U23 Ellie Parry signs from the Grouwels-Watersley R&D team having ridden a European calendar over the past few seasons, impressing in the National Road Race and U23 Time Trial Championships this year. The new signings are rounded out by Julia Van Bokhoven, the Dutch rider hoping to return to the form which saw her finish in the top-25 of the Amstel Gold Race after an injury-hit few years.
“We never really have an age bracket, I like a range of ages and experiences. The youth have massive enthusiasm, the older riders, experienced or not, have a more settled outlook on things.” Howes comments on the makeup of the team, which is selected from a high number of applications.
“We get a lot of interest, and really we should, because there probably aren’t many Conti teams at our level that have a race programme like us around the world,” he explains, the team receiving up to ten CVs a day in September.
“Recruitment is done by conversations, results, personalities and opinions of other riders,” he continues, explaining that the team offers riders flexibility to achieve their goals, with Mia Griffin and Alice Sharpe coming to the team with an ambition to compete on the track in the Olympic Games, and Sophie Lewis having ridden on the track throughout the years for Great Britain.
“It’s really difficult to choose because there are so many to choose from,” Howes explains. “Trying to narrow it down and having to say no to riders you’d like to sign makes it really difficult.”
Read our women’s team guide here.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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