Schils-Doltcini’s 2025 squad: Commonwealth medallist Will Roberts among the new recruits
Schils-Doltcini Racing Team has revealed its 2025 squad, blending seasoned riders with fresh talent as it prepares for another year of international racing across four continents
Essex-based Schils-Doltcini Racing Team has always been a team with an identity far beyond its postcode. For 2025, the squad continues its evolution, bolstering its roster with fresh talent while doubling down on its commitment to competing in the less-heralded but equally captivating corners of the cycling world.
With a racing calendar spanning four continents, Schils-Doltcini thrives on the margins of the sport, where the stories are raw, the races unpredictable, and the opportunities plentiful. The team’s success in these far-flung events has become a hallmark of its ethos. Victories at the Tour of Albania and Tour of Mauritius (both UCI 2.2) in recent seasons stand as testaments to its ability to compete and win on the international stage.
For 2025, the team has made an audacious move by signing Will Roberts, a rider whose pedigree will undoubtedly elevate the squad. The 26-year-old Welshman brings a wealth of experience from two seasons at Saint Piran, highlighted by his Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2022. Renowned for his cunning in circuit races, Roberts claimed victory at the Sunderland round of the Tour Series in 2021 and was a consistent presence in the National Circuit Series last year, racking up four top-ten finishes.
Image: Tour of Martinique
Roberts’ arrival signals a bold step for Schils-Doltcini. As a proven performer, he adds polish and firepower to a squad that already thrives on unpredictability. The addition of such a high-caliber crit racer underscores the team’s ambition to make an impact both at home and abroad. Nicholas Cooper also joins the team. The 27-year-old journeyman, who previously rode for the Sweden Cycling Academy, returns to racing after a long recovery from a very serious crash that left him hospitalised.
The rest of the squad reflects the team’s commitment to blending experience with potential. Returning riders like Archie Cross, a past winner of the Tour of Mauritius, and Dominic Schils (4th on GC at the Tour of Kosovo) provide a backbone of stage-race savvy, while emerging talents like Theo Hester and Matt Ellmore embody the team’s developmental spirit.
At its core, Schils-Doltcini remains rooted in its local heritage. Its connection to the thriving cycling scene around Colchester has always been integral to its success. With a club of over 100 members acting as a feeder system, the team offers riders a unique pathway from grassroots to the global stage. This year’s roster, which also includes returning stalwarts like Eugene Cross, Dominic Schils, and Ollie Wood, is a testament to the value of this approach.
As with any evolving project, farewells are inevitable. Frank Longstaff, the track specialist who enjoyed a breakout 2024 road campaign that included a win at the Cambridge Criterium and a stage win at the Tour of Albania, moves to Richardsons Trek DAS. Alongside Longstaff, several riders from last season, including George Bowman, Liam Fenner, and Ryan Klein, have moved on, making room for the team’s new additions.
New signing Will Roberts. Image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
Schils-Doltcini Racing Team continues to carve its niche in cycling by embracing opportunities beyond Europe’s traditional racing hubs. Competing in events across Asia, South America, and the Caribbean, the team has established itself as a platform where riders can gain valuable experience and showcase their potential on a global stage.
As 2025 begins, Schils-Doltcini looks to build on its successes with a strengthened roster. With Will Roberts joining a mix of seasoned returnees and promising newcomers, and a diverse racing calendar ahead, the team looks set for another season of growth and opportunity.
Essex-based Schils-Doltcini Racing Team has always been a team with an identity far beyond its postcode. For 2025, the squad continues its evolution, bolstering its roster with fresh talent while doubling down on its commitment to competing in the less-heralded but equally captivating corners of the cycling world.
With a racing calendar spanning four continents, Schils-Doltcini thrives on the margins of the sport, where the stories are raw, the races unpredictable, and the opportunities plentiful. The team’s success in these far-flung events has become a hallmark of its ethos. Victories at the Tour of Albania and Tour of Mauritius (both UCI 2.2) in recent seasons stand as testaments to its ability to compete and win on the international stage.
For 2025, the team has made an audacious move by signing Will Roberts, a rider whose pedigree will undoubtedly elevate the squad. The 26-year-old Welshman brings a wealth of experience from two seasons at Saint Piran, highlighted by his Commonwealth Games bronze medal in 2022. Renowned for his cunning in circuit races, Roberts claimed victory at the Sunderland round of the Tour Series in 2021 and was a consistent presence in the National Circuit Series last year, racking up four top-ten finishes.
Roberts’ arrival signals a bold step for Schils-Doltcini. As a proven performer, he adds polish and firepower to a squad that already thrives on unpredictability. The addition of such a high-caliber crit racer underscores the team’s ambition to make an impact both at home and abroad. Nicholas Cooper also joins the team. The 27-year-old journeyman, who previously rode for the Sweden Cycling Academy, returns to racing after a long recovery from a very serious crash that left him hospitalised.
The rest of the squad reflects the team’s commitment to blending experience with potential. Returning riders like Archie Cross, a past winner of the Tour of Mauritius, and Dominic Schils (4th on GC at the Tour of Kosovo) provide a backbone of stage-race savvy, while emerging talents like Theo Hester and Matt Ellmore embody the team’s developmental spirit.
At its core, Schils-Doltcini remains rooted in its local heritage. Its connection to the thriving cycling scene around Colchester has always been integral to its success. With a club of over 100 members acting as a feeder system, the team offers riders a unique pathway from grassroots to the global stage. This year’s roster, which also includes returning stalwarts like Eugene Cross, Dominic Schils, and Ollie Wood, is a testament to the value of this approach.
As with any evolving project, farewells are inevitable. Frank Longstaff, the track specialist who enjoyed a breakout 2024 road campaign that included a win at the Cambridge Criterium and a stage win at the Tour of Albania, moves to Richardsons Trek DAS. Alongside Longstaff, several riders from last season, including George Bowman, Liam Fenner, and Ryan Klein, have moved on, making room for the team’s new additions.
Schils-Doltcini Racing Team continues to carve its niche in cycling by embracing opportunities beyond Europe’s traditional racing hubs. Competing in events across Asia, South America, and the Caribbean, the team has established itself as a platform where riders can gain valuable experience and showcase their potential on a global stage.
As 2025 begins, Schils-Doltcini looks to build on its successes with a strengthened roster. With Will Roberts joining a mix of seasoned returnees and promising newcomers, and a diverse racing calendar ahead, the team looks set for another season of growth and opportunity.
Read our domestic team guide here.
Featured image: Ian Wrightson/The British Continental
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