With two National squad spots still to fill, Team Boompods rebuilds for 2025, welcoming UCI Continental-level talent while bidding farewell to standout Lizzie Hermolle
Team Boompods, led by manager Nikki Metcalfe, continues to push boundaries in women’s domestic racing as they gear up for the 2025 season. Based in the northeast of England, this all-women’s cycling team remains steadfast in its commitment to developing riders and proving that success in cycling transcends age.
Last season, the team’s standout rider was Lizzie Hermolle, who soared to second in The British Continental’s national road race rankings with consistently stellar performances across both National A and National B races. Hermolle’s achievements secured her a spot on a UCI team, continuing the squad’s legacy of nurturing talent for the next level, following in the footsteps of riders like Monica Greenwood and Emma Mathews.
The 2025 National Squad
For the 2025 season, Team Boompods has prioritised assembling a strong National squad, aiming for 10 riders to compete in National road and circuit races. At present, the team has confirmed eight riders, with two spots still available for potential additions. Metcalfe acknowledges the challenges of building a roster in the current domestic cycling landscape: “With so many women’s teams, the riders are spread thinly, and it’s becoming harder to find riders with National experience.”
The eight riders confirmed for the National squad are:
Lulu Bartlett (joins from Alba Development Road Team)
Hannah Bayes (joins from Saint Piran WRT)
Katie-Anne Calton (joins from Saint Piran WRT)
Millie Skinner (joins from Alba Development Road Team)
Rebecca Woodvine (joins from RT23 – runandride.co.uk)
Megan Anderson (re-signed)
Amy Drysdale (re-signed)
Sian Marsh (re-signed).
This roster blends promising young talent with returning riders, aligning with the team’s long-standing ethos of developing athletes and supporting them to perform at the highest domestic level. Among the team’s retentions are 2024 Yorkshire, NW & NE Regional Road Champion Megan Anderson Two new signings and Sian Marsh, 10th at the BUCS Road Race last season and 2nd in the East Midlands Road Championships the year before.
New signings include Lulu Bartlett and Millie Skinner, who bring UCI Continental experience having ridden for Alba Development Road Team in 2024. Bartlett’s best results last season included two top tens in National B road races and third in the Scottish National Road Championships.
Bethany Bennett of Team Boompods at the 2024 Dudley Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
The Umbrella Team
Complementing their National squad, Team Boompods will also field an ‘umbrella team,’ broadening their competitive scope across disciplines like track, time trials, and gravel. These riders remain affiliated with the Boompods name and may be called upon to race in National road and circuit events when needed.
The umbrella team riders include:
Annabelle Greenwood (Unattached)
Joanne Rea (Team Kirkley Cycles)
Gabriella Butler (Glasgow Track Racing Club)
Bethany Bennett (re-signed)
This structure allows the team to support a broader range of riders while maintaining flexibility to field full squads for major domestic events.
Development and Opportunity
Team Boompods continues to centre its season around the National Series, a competition that remains the focus of their racing calendar. Metcalfe explains the team’s enduring commitment to rider development:
“We have always had a view on developing riders. Over the past five years, we’ve successfully had riders step up to UCI teams, including Monica Greenwood, Emma Mathews, and Lizzie Hermolle. This year, we’ve brought in some younger riders to give them a platform to show how they can perform, with a view to them progressing even further.”
Lizzie Hermolle, who stood out as the team’s top rider last season and ranked second in The British Continental’s road race rankings, exemplifies the team’s ethos of progression. Her move to the UCI Continental ranks at DAS-Hutchinson underscores Team Boompods’ reputation as a platform for ambitious talent.
While the team has gained a reputation for fostering emerging talent, they have also championed opportunities for more experienced athletes, showing that age is no barrier to success. This year’s roster reflects that balance, with both younger riders and seasoned competitors set to feature prominently.
Team Boompods, led by manager Nikki Metcalfe, continues to push boundaries in women’s domestic racing as they gear up for the 2025 season. Based in the northeast of England, this all-women’s cycling team remains steadfast in its commitment to developing riders and proving that success in cycling transcends age.
Last season, the team’s standout rider was Lizzie Hermolle, who soared to second in The British Continental’s national road race rankings with consistently stellar performances across both National A and National B races. Hermolle’s achievements secured her a spot on a UCI team, continuing the squad’s legacy of nurturing talent for the next level, following in the footsteps of riders like Monica Greenwood and Emma Mathews.
The 2025 National Squad
For the 2025 season, Team Boompods has prioritised assembling a strong National squad, aiming for 10 riders to compete in National road and circuit races. At present, the team has confirmed eight riders, with two spots still available for potential additions. Metcalfe acknowledges the challenges of building a roster in the current domestic cycling landscape: “With so many women’s teams, the riders are spread thinly, and it’s becoming harder to find riders with National experience.”
The eight riders confirmed for the National squad are:
This roster blends promising young talent with returning riders, aligning with the team’s long-standing ethos of developing athletes and supporting them to perform at the highest domestic level. Among the team’s retentions are 2024 Yorkshire, NW & NE Regional Road Champion Megan Anderson Two new signings and Sian Marsh, 10th at the BUCS Road Race last season and 2nd in the East Midlands Road Championships the year before.
New signings include Lulu Bartlett and Millie Skinner, who bring UCI Continental experience having ridden for Alba Development Road Team in 2024. Bartlett’s best results last season included two top tens in National B road races and third in the Scottish National Road Championships.
The Umbrella Team
Complementing their National squad, Team Boompods will also field an ‘umbrella team,’ broadening their competitive scope across disciplines like track, time trials, and gravel. These riders remain affiliated with the Boompods name and may be called upon to race in National road and circuit events when needed.
The umbrella team riders include:
This structure allows the team to support a broader range of riders while maintaining flexibility to field full squads for major domestic events.
Development and Opportunity
Team Boompods continues to centre its season around the National Series, a competition that remains the focus of their racing calendar. Metcalfe explains the team’s enduring commitment to rider development:
“We have always had a view on developing riders. Over the past five years, we’ve successfully had riders step up to UCI teams, including Monica Greenwood, Emma Mathews, and Lizzie Hermolle. This year, we’ve brought in some younger riders to give them a platform to show how they can perform, with a view to them progressing even further.”
Lizzie Hermolle, who stood out as the team’s top rider last season and ranked second in The British Continental’s road race rankings, exemplifies the team’s ethos of progression. Her move to the UCI Continental ranks at DAS-Hutchinson underscores Team Boompods’ reputation as a platform for ambitious talent.
While the team has gained a reputation for fostering emerging talent, they have also championed opportunities for more experienced athletes, showing that age is no barrier to success. This year’s roster reflects that balance, with both younger riders and seasoned competitors set to feature prominently.
Read our domestic women’s team guide here.
Featured image: SWpix.com
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