“If I could turn pro, that would be my dream, but it's getting tougher now I’m older,” Alex Ball admits. After a standout 2024 season, the Scot is determined to show that success in cycling isn't bound by age.
Constantly evolving, cycling is a sport that never stands still. Aside from advances in technology and training, one of the biggest developments in recent years is the level of trust teams place in increasingly young riders, apprenticeships now frequently served by winning WorldTour races rather than in the under-23 ranks. However, for every Cat Ferguson or Josh Tarling, there is a rider now considered a late bloomer; opportunities diminish for those who break through towards the twilight of their time in the under-23 ranks.
If I could turn pro, that would be my dream, but it’s getting tougher and tougher now I’m older
One rider in this position is Alex Ball, a final-year under-23 in 2024 when he had his strongest season to date. Riding for Project1, a team with the objective of helping riders towards the professional ranks, he reached the top ten of the National Road Series and its Italian equivalent on multiple occasions. However, having turned 23 in January, the youthful-looking Scot is not blind to the reality that professional teams are now predominantly drawn to riders younger than him. “If I could turn pro, that would be my dream, but it’s getting tougher and tougher now I’m older,” he admits, finding himself in something of a juxtaposition—his success coming at an age when champions of previous generations were still considered young.
At the Capernwray road race. Image: Ellen Isherwood
Without a professional contract, 2025 finds Ball as the marquee signing of the ambitious BCC Race Team. Their oldest and most experienced rider, the move is a demonstration that the hunt for increasingly young talent has also spread to Britain’s Elite Development Teams.
“I’m definitely the old man of the team!” Ball laughs when asked about the role he expects to play in the squad, the obvious question surrounding leadership given his breakthrough 2024 and experience spanning both Europe and the UK. “Maybe to an extent that’s what they’re hoping for,” he says, noting that he can also become a better rider by picking things up from his new teammates—a reminder that experience is something never complete. “I’ll be learning from all the other guys as well, I think. They’ve done things that I haven’t done too,” he continues.
Ball agreed to join the team in the closing stages of last year as his Project1 team neared the end of its single season. “I spoke to Bryan [Steel] just before the Lancaster GP because I was looking for a new team and I hadn’t got anything sorted, and after Ryedale [GP] he offered me a spot,” he explains, catching the eye by sprinting to 7th place from the leading group in the penultimate round of the National Road Series. “I was really impressed with their setup; everything was very professional,” he adds, the team looking to emulate the success of their junior squad with the senior team in 2025.
Before last year I had only ever finished one of the Prems – I had just been dropped in every single one
Ball’s performance at the Ryedale GP was the start of a wave which brought a superb ending to his 2024 campaign, his biggest triumph a 4th place in the season-ending Beaumont Trophy, again sprinting for the win from an elite leading group. It was confirmation he could not only finish National Road Series races but fight for the win too, his assessment of his ride in Stamfordham testament to his improvement throughout the season. “To be honest, it was still a bit bittersweet not to get the win,” he reflects honestly. “Coming 4th at Beaumont was a big thing for me. Before last year I had only ever finished one of the Prems – I had just been dropped in every single one – so that was quite a big step up.”
Ball after his 2024 Straiton Struggle win. Image: Kenny Girvan
As well as his success in the National Road Series, Ball caught the eye with National B wins in his native Scotland at the Straiton Struggle and Sam Robinson Memorial Trophy, bookended by stints in Italy with Project1. Riding some of the country’s biggest under-23 races in the spring, he was reaching the top ten in National Series races by autumn. “It was my second time in Italy, so it was nice to be back,” he says, having spent 2022 in the country under the tutelage of Flavio Zappi. “I think I was lucky to have a bit of prior experience with what it’s like out there—it’s super tough, the level’s high, and it’s pretty cutthroat.”
I think the UK gets a bad rap; people think the racing isn’t as high-level as abroad, but to be honest, the level is just as high
Ball’s main goals will be more British-orientated in 2025, BCC RT’s European programme designed to complement the sporadic nature of the UK calendar. “I’d like to win a Prem,” he says straight away when asked about his aims for the season, the National Road Series a challenge he enjoys. “I think the UK gets a bad rap; people think the racing isn’t as high-level as abroad, but to be honest, the level is just as high,” he says with enthusiasm.
Also on Ball’s radar is the National Road Race Championships, where the Scot is realistic in his goal to mix it with the professionals for as long as possible. Now confirmed as being held in Aberystwyth as part of a three-year deal bringing the championships to Wales, the course should suit the Scot, a lightweight all-rounder who remains unsure of exactly how to describe himself as a rider. “I’m still trying to work that out, to be honest,” he laughs when asked. “I’m not a big rider, but I’ve got an OK sprint. I can get over a lot of climbs—maybe over 20 minutes I’m struggling—but short, punchy climbs I can get over for a sprint,” he continues.
Image: Ellen Isherwood
It is a skill set well suited to racing in the UK, the majority of courses built on short climbs designed to whittle the field down over the course of the race. Ball’s final objective for the year, the Scottish Road Race Championships, falls into this category, this year held on the beautiful Rosneath Peninsula at the start of May. He needs little introduction to his rivals for the jersey; as he chats to The British Continental at the Lloyds Bank National Track Championships, he is surrounded by some of the heavyweights of the Scottish scene such as Tim Shoreman and Eilidh Shaw, as well as up-and-coming talents like Ahron Dick – the common goal a place on the Scotland team for a home Commonwealth Games next summer.
“That was on my mind when I took the track back up, but to be honest it’s been a bit of a learning curve. I’m still aiming for that, but there’s a way to go for me to reach that level,” he admits, having only returned to the boards over the winter. “I’m hoping it’s going to help me with my sprint on the road a bit, and obviously there’s a lot of skills which translate. To be honest, it’s just fun in winter—it can be a bit depressing riding on the road in rubbish weather, so it’s nice doing something different.”
If it happens, it happens, but I’ll do my best and just enjoy it really
Ball’s track work has been paying off as he continues to impress at the start of 2025, coming inches from another National B win at his season debut in the Gifford Road Race in March, followed up by top tens at the Capernwray Road Race and Danum Trophy this month. An impressive top ten at the East Cleveland Classic followed last weekend. As his major goals appear on the horizon, the Sport and Exercise Science student will be hoping to catch the eye of any professional team looking his way, although that is not the motivation which keeps him in the sport. “If it happens, it happens, but I’ll do my best and just enjoy it really,” he smiles.
Constantly evolving, cycling is a sport that never stands still. Aside from advances in technology and training, one of the biggest developments in recent years is the level of trust teams place in increasingly young riders, apprenticeships now frequently served by winning WorldTour races rather than in the under-23 ranks. However, for every Cat Ferguson or Josh Tarling, there is a rider now considered a late bloomer; opportunities diminish for those who break through towards the twilight of their time in the under-23 ranks.
One rider in this position is Alex Ball, a final-year under-23 in 2024 when he had his strongest season to date. Riding for Project1, a team with the objective of helping riders towards the professional ranks, he reached the top ten of the National Road Series and its Italian equivalent on multiple occasions. However, having turned 23 in January, the youthful-looking Scot is not blind to the reality that professional teams are now predominantly drawn to riders younger than him. “If I could turn pro, that would be my dream, but it’s getting tougher and tougher now I’m older,” he admits, finding himself in something of a juxtaposition—his success coming at an age when champions of previous generations were still considered young.
Without a professional contract, 2025 finds Ball as the marquee signing of the ambitious BCC Race Team. Their oldest and most experienced rider, the move is a demonstration that the hunt for increasingly young talent has also spread to Britain’s Elite Development Teams.
“I’m definitely the old man of the team!” Ball laughs when asked about the role he expects to play in the squad, the obvious question surrounding leadership given his breakthrough 2024 and experience spanning both Europe and the UK. “Maybe to an extent that’s what they’re hoping for,” he says, noting that he can also become a better rider by picking things up from his new teammates—a reminder that experience is something never complete. “I’ll be learning from all the other guys as well, I think. They’ve done things that I haven’t done too,” he continues.
Ball agreed to join the team in the closing stages of last year as his Project1 team neared the end of its single season. “I spoke to Bryan [Steel] just before the Lancaster GP because I was looking for a new team and I hadn’t got anything sorted, and after Ryedale [GP] he offered me a spot,” he explains, catching the eye by sprinting to 7th place from the leading group in the penultimate round of the National Road Series. “I was really impressed with their setup; everything was very professional,” he adds, the team looking to emulate the success of their junior squad with the senior team in 2025.
Ball’s performance at the Ryedale GP was the start of a wave which brought a superb ending to his 2024 campaign, his biggest triumph a 4th place in the season-ending Beaumont Trophy, again sprinting for the win from an elite leading group. It was confirmation he could not only finish National Road Series races but fight for the win too, his assessment of his ride in Stamfordham testament to his improvement throughout the season. “To be honest, it was still a bit bittersweet not to get the win,” he reflects honestly. “Coming 4th at Beaumont was a big thing for me. Before last year I had only ever finished one of the Prems – I had just been dropped in every single one – so that was quite a big step up.”
As well as his success in the National Road Series, Ball caught the eye with National B wins in his native Scotland at the Straiton Struggle and Sam Robinson Memorial Trophy, bookended by stints in Italy with Project1. Riding some of the country’s biggest under-23 races in the spring, he was reaching the top ten in National Series races by autumn. “It was my second time in Italy, so it was nice to be back,” he says, having spent 2022 in the country under the tutelage of Flavio Zappi. “I think I was lucky to have a bit of prior experience with what it’s like out there—it’s super tough, the level’s high, and it’s pretty cutthroat.”
Ball’s main goals will be more British-orientated in 2025, BCC RT’s European programme designed to complement the sporadic nature of the UK calendar. “I’d like to win a Prem,” he says straight away when asked about his aims for the season, the National Road Series a challenge he enjoys. “I think the UK gets a bad rap; people think the racing isn’t as high-level as abroad, but to be honest, the level is just as high,” he says with enthusiasm.
Also on Ball’s radar is the National Road Race Championships, where the Scot is realistic in his goal to mix it with the professionals for as long as possible. Now confirmed as being held in Aberystwyth as part of a three-year deal bringing the championships to Wales, the course should suit the Scot, a lightweight all-rounder who remains unsure of exactly how to describe himself as a rider. “I’m still trying to work that out, to be honest,” he laughs when asked. “I’m not a big rider, but I’ve got an OK sprint. I can get over a lot of climbs—maybe over 20 minutes I’m struggling—but short, punchy climbs I can get over for a sprint,” he continues.
It is a skill set well suited to racing in the UK, the majority of courses built on short climbs designed to whittle the field down over the course of the race. Ball’s final objective for the year, the Scottish Road Race Championships, falls into this category, this year held on the beautiful Rosneath Peninsula at the start of May. He needs little introduction to his rivals for the jersey; as he chats to The British Continental at the Lloyds Bank National Track Championships, he is surrounded by some of the heavyweights of the Scottish scene such as Tim Shoreman and Eilidh Shaw, as well as up-and-coming talents like Ahron Dick – the common goal a place on the Scotland team for a home Commonwealth Games next summer.
“That was on my mind when I took the track back up, but to be honest it’s been a bit of a learning curve. I’m still aiming for that, but there’s a way to go for me to reach that level,” he admits, having only returned to the boards over the winter. “I’m hoping it’s going to help me with my sprint on the road a bit, and obviously there’s a lot of skills which translate. To be honest, it’s just fun in winter—it can be a bit depressing riding on the road in rubbish weather, so it’s nice doing something different.”
Ball’s track work has been paying off as he continues to impress at the start of 2025, coming inches from another National B win at his season debut in the Gifford Road Race in March, followed up by top tens at the Capernwray Road Race and Danum Trophy this month. An impressive top ten at the East Cleveland Classic followed last weekend. As his major goals appear on the horizon, the Sport and Exercise Science student will be hoping to catch the eye of any professional team looking his way, although that is not the motivation which keeps him in the sport. “If it happens, it happens, but I’ll do my best and just enjoy it really,” he smiles.
Featured image: Gary Main
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