Six of the best: British riders looking to impress at the 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men
The Lloyds Tour of Britain rolled out of Suffolk this morning with a striking first: no UK Continental teams on the start line. For two decades, the race has been a shop window for homegrown talent – from Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish to Zeb Kyffin and Rory Townsend – but in 2025, the Great Britain squad stands alone as the domestic pathway. We’ve picked out six Brits with a point to prove as they look to impress on home roads.
For two decades the Tour of Britain, the UK’s only UCI stage race for men, has presented British riders with a unique opportunity. Racing on home roads against some of the world’s best, a strong performance across the week can open doors to an illustrious career in the sport.
This year, however, marks a watershed moment. Following the demise of Saint Piran and TRINITY Racing at the end of 2024, for the first time in the race’s history there are no UK-registered UCI Continental teams on the start line. That absence removes a traditional shop window for homegrown riders – in recent years, figures like Zeb Kyffin, who rode for Saint Piran before earning a professional contract, and Rory Townsend have used the race as a springboard to the next level. In 2025, no rider from a British domestic team will get that chance.
Geraint Thomas, who at the age of 39 will finish his career at the race, is a case in point, riding both the inaugural 2005 and 2006 editions as a stagiaire before turning professional with Barloworld a year later. His GB Academy alumnus Mark Cavendish followed suit, impressing in T-Mobile colours while still a trainee, taking home the points jersey and running a rainbow-jersey clad Tom Boonen close in a number of bunch finishes at the start of his career.
Riders selected for the Great Britain squad will take inspiration from Josh Edmonson’s dream 2012 race, emerging from obscurity to earn an illustrious contract with Team Sky after an attacking, eye-catching week, while Louis Sutton sealed a contract with ProTeam Euskatel-Euskadi twelve months ago, rounding off a sparkling season by playing a starring role in last year’s race.
It isn’t just the reserve of young riders to catch the eye of the sport’s biggest teams however, Zeb Kyffin proving that it is never too late to turn professional after a 6th place overall in 2023 propelled him from Saint Piran to his current home, Unibet-Tietema Rockets on a two year deal.
With the transfer merry-go-round in full swing there are also a number of riders who will be on the start line with ambitions of a new contract, or even a new team, a good performance in the ProTour race a timely reminder of their worth as teams begin to finalise their rosters for the season ahead.
We’ve picked out six British riders who head to Suffolk with lofty ambitions and a desire to impress, each with a point to prove as they look to 2026 and beyond.
Harrison Wood (second from left) at the 2025 Tour of Britain Men. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Harrison Wood (Anicolor – Tien21)
25-year-old Wood spent two years at the sport’s highest level with Cofidis prior to this season, becoming a victim of his own success as a domestique; the WorldTour relegation dogfight rearing its ugly head and leaving the Devon climber surplus to requirements at the French team due to a lack of UCI points.
Dropping down in 2025 to the Continental ranks with Portuguese outfit Anicolor-Tien21, a team that has become a familiar home for British riders over the past two seasons, he has impressed so far this season, both as a domestique and when given the opportunity to lead the team.
Wood finished second overall and claimed the points jersey at the GP Douro Internacional as the team put on a display of strength on home soil, Atrem Nych taking the overall victory, while a podium in the early season Troféu Internacional da Arrábida, and the day spent in the break at the 1.Pro GP Miguel Indurain showed he can still cut it at UCI level.
Coming in off the back of a support role at the team’s major objective, the ‘Grandissima’ Volta a Portugal, Wood will be relishing a rare race on home roads and the chance to put himself in the shop window for a return to the pro ranks. Designated the number one dossard by his team, he can rely on their support throughout the race.
Matthew Bostock (TEKKERZ CC) sprints to win the Dawlish Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
Matt Bostock (Great Britain)
With no UK Continental teams present this year, the national squad is the only domestic pathway represented on the start line, giving riders like Bostock and his young teammates a rare chance to measure themselves directly against the WorldTour peloton.
A surprising name in the national team’s six rider selection, the experienced Bostock comes to the Tour of Britain in the role of road captain, joining the fold from the left field position of London based club team, Tekkerz CC.
Leader of the Rapha Super-League at the time of selection, Bostock’s inclusion hints that the British Cycling coaches have at least considered his excellent form in the UK this season, the Manxman’s performances nothing short of spectacular.
In front of the TV cameras he demonstrated his raw power when attacking the peloton for a bronze medal in the National Circuit Race Championship, before he got to raise his arms in victory at both the Sheffield and Dawlish GPs in July with an exhibition in racecraft and speed.
However, Bostock is far more than just a circuit race specialist. A 4th place in a furiously paced, tactical edition of the Lincoln GP in May, as well as a top ten in the hilly East Cleveland Classic two weeks prior, demonstrating his ability in road races.
A professional with Bolton Equities Black Spoke for a solitary season in 2023, his campaign was marred by concussion with his best results coming towards the end of his tenure with the squad, sprinting well against the likes of Arvid de Kleijn in the season ending Asian races. No stranger to the Tour of Britain, the 27-year-old will be eyeing a stage win, potential bunch sprints on at least the opening three stages an exciting prospect for both Bostock, and fans of the domestic scene.
Matthew Walls at the 2025 Lloyds National Road Race Championship. Image: lex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Matt Walls (Groupama-FDJ)
Matt Bostock will not be the only British sprinter looking to cross the line first over the week, Groupama-FDJ’s Matt Walls having similar ambitions as he looks to extend his career on the road. The 27-year-old finds himself out of contract at the end of the season as the British exodus at Marc Madiot’s team looks set to be completed – the likes of Lewis Askey, Jake Stewart, Noah Hobbs, and Josh Golliker all finding homes away from the French setup having spent time across its WorldTour and Continental teams.
The winner of Gran Piemonte in 2021 and the Omnium gold medallist from the Tokyo Olympics, the Oldham rider hasn’t reached the heights he once promised after a horror crash on the velodrome during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, making a return to the boards for the first time since that day this year.
Walls still has the raw speed needed to navigate a bunch gallop, 3rd in the opening stage of the Tour Down Under this year proving that, while a top-ten across the cobbles of the GP de Pérenchies whilst riding for the development squad at the end of July will have been a confidence boost.
Walls has been in this position before, his move to the French squad coming late in the day, and with sprint finishes anticipated in Southwold, Stowmarket and Ampthill, Walls is in a good position to catch the eye as he hunts for at least another year in the pro ranks.
Ben Chilton. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Ben Chilton (Great Britain)
Under Matt Bostock’s wing in the Great Britain team is a group of young riders brimming with talent, among them Ben Chilton. Standing at a towering 6’ 6”’ tall, it is near impossible to miss the 22-year-old cyclocross ace, who has transformed himself into a road race star over the course of three seasons.
The National Circuit Series winner in 2023, Chilton made the trip across the Channel the following year to take on France’s competitive amateur scene, notching up three victories, including the overall title Boucles de la Haute-Vienne, in an incredibly consistent season with Team U Charente Maritime. Now with first division outfit Mayenne-VandB-Monbana, 2025 has followed suit, the overall win at the Tour du Pays de Lesneven and a stage of the Essor Breton the highlights thus far.
The Tour of Britain represents a step up for the talented Derbyshire rider, whose chilled out approach has seen him leap over every hurdle presented to him so far.
PHuw Buck Jones. Image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
Huw Buck Jones (Great Britain)
Another rider plying their trade in France but earning a ride with the national team is Huw Buck Jones, the 21-year-old spending 2024 across the Saint Piran setup.
A talented climber, he has come of age this year, winning the first stage of the Ronde de l’Isard, a key race on the U23 calendar, after reaching the summit of a climb 5km from the finish in a select group, outsprinting his rivals for the win. The Welsh rider would finish the race in 4th place overall, just 23 seconds behind Jarno Widar, the Lotto bound Belgian starlet who has been dominating the U23 ranks this season.
Having been in good form during August, Buck Jones will be relishing the stages in Wales, the extra motivation the home roads will provide ideally placed, with the hilly parcours to his liking. An outside bet for the overall win, he could well emulate what Zeb Kyffin achieved two years ago.
Zeb Kyffin at the 2024 Amstel Gold Race. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Zeb Kyffin (Unibet-Tietema Rockets)
The Unibet-Tietema Rockets outfit is a very different beast to the one that Kyffin turned professional with at the start of 2024. Now registered in France, the ProTeam born out of Bas Tietema’s YouTube channel is going all in to gain a Tour de France wildcard sooner rather than later.
With the arrival of top-tier sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and the talented Matyáš Kopecký signalling their intentions, a long list of riders, including Kyffin and Charlie Paige, face uncertain futures as they are set to become free agents at the end of the season.
Londoner Kyffin does have the Tour of Britain to make his mark however, a race he excelled in whilst riding for Saint Piran two years ago, battling the big names across the week and on Caerphilly Mountain to finish 6th overall, capping off a brilliant season on home soil for the National Road Series winner.
It is a busy time of the season for the 27-year-old, who comes to the race from the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, the French stage race finishing just days before the start in Suffolk. Having lived on a diet of stage racing this year, Kyffin looks to be arriving back home in good form, racing at the sharp end in France, finishing inside the top-20 on GC.
For two decades the Tour of Britain, the UK’s only UCI stage race for men, has presented British riders with a unique opportunity. Racing on home roads against some of the world’s best, a strong performance across the week can open doors to an illustrious career in the sport.
This year, however, marks a watershed moment. Following the demise of Saint Piran and TRINITY Racing at the end of 2024, for the first time in the race’s history there are no UK-registered UCI Continental teams on the start line. That absence removes a traditional shop window for homegrown riders – in recent years, figures like Zeb Kyffin, who rode for Saint Piran before earning a professional contract, and Rory Townsend have used the race as a springboard to the next level. In 2025, no rider from a British domestic team will get that chance.
Geraint Thomas, who at the age of 39 will finish his career at the race, is a case in point, riding both the inaugural 2005 and 2006 editions as a stagiaire before turning professional with Barloworld a year later. His GB Academy alumnus Mark Cavendish followed suit, impressing in T-Mobile colours while still a trainee, taking home the points jersey and running a rainbow-jersey clad Tom Boonen close in a number of bunch finishes at the start of his career.
Riders selected for the Great Britain squad will take inspiration from Josh Edmonson’s dream 2012 race, emerging from obscurity to earn an illustrious contract with Team Sky after an attacking, eye-catching week, while Louis Sutton sealed a contract with ProTeam Euskatel-Euskadi twelve months ago, rounding off a sparkling season by playing a starring role in last year’s race.
It isn’t just the reserve of young riders to catch the eye of the sport’s biggest teams however, Zeb Kyffin proving that it is never too late to turn professional after a 6th place overall in 2023 propelled him from Saint Piran to his current home, Unibet-Tietema Rockets on a two year deal.
With the transfer merry-go-round in full swing there are also a number of riders who will be on the start line with ambitions of a new contract, or even a new team, a good performance in the ProTour race a timely reminder of their worth as teams begin to finalise their rosters for the season ahead.
We’ve picked out six British riders who head to Suffolk with lofty ambitions and a desire to impress, each with a point to prove as they look to 2026 and beyond.
Harrison Wood (Anicolor – Tien21)
25-year-old Wood spent two years at the sport’s highest level with Cofidis prior to this season, becoming a victim of his own success as a domestique; the WorldTour relegation dogfight rearing its ugly head and leaving the Devon climber surplus to requirements at the French team due to a lack of UCI points.
Dropping down in 2025 to the Continental ranks with Portuguese outfit Anicolor-Tien21, a team that has become a familiar home for British riders over the past two seasons, he has impressed so far this season, both as a domestique and when given the opportunity to lead the team.
Wood finished second overall and claimed the points jersey at the GP Douro Internacional as the team put on a display of strength on home soil, Atrem Nych taking the overall victory, while a podium in the early season Troféu Internacional da Arrábida, and the day spent in the break at the 1.Pro GP Miguel Indurain showed he can still cut it at UCI level.
Coming in off the back of a support role at the team’s major objective, the ‘Grandissima’ Volta a Portugal, Wood will be relishing a rare race on home roads and the chance to put himself in the shop window for a return to the pro ranks. Designated the number one dossard by his team, he can rely on their support throughout the race.
Matt Bostock (Great Britain)
With no UK Continental teams present this year, the national squad is the only domestic pathway represented on the start line, giving riders like Bostock and his young teammates a rare chance to measure themselves directly against the WorldTour peloton.
A surprising name in the national team’s six rider selection, the experienced Bostock comes to the Tour of Britain in the role of road captain, joining the fold from the left field position of London based club team, Tekkerz CC.
Leader of the Rapha Super-League at the time of selection, Bostock’s inclusion hints that the British Cycling coaches have at least considered his excellent form in the UK this season, the Manxman’s performances nothing short of spectacular.
In front of the TV cameras he demonstrated his raw power when attacking the peloton for a bronze medal in the National Circuit Race Championship, before he got to raise his arms in victory at both the Sheffield and Dawlish GPs in July with an exhibition in racecraft and speed.
However, Bostock is far more than just a circuit race specialist. A 4th place in a furiously paced, tactical edition of the Lincoln GP in May, as well as a top ten in the hilly East Cleveland Classic two weeks prior, demonstrating his ability in road races.
A professional with Bolton Equities Black Spoke for a solitary season in 2023, his campaign was marred by concussion with his best results coming towards the end of his tenure with the squad, sprinting well against the likes of Arvid de Kleijn in the season ending Asian races. No stranger to the Tour of Britain, the 27-year-old will be eyeing a stage win, potential bunch sprints on at least the opening three stages an exciting prospect for both Bostock, and fans of the domestic scene.
Matt Walls (Groupama-FDJ)
Matt Bostock will not be the only British sprinter looking to cross the line first over the week, Groupama-FDJ’s Matt Walls having similar ambitions as he looks to extend his career on the road. The 27-year-old finds himself out of contract at the end of the season as the British exodus at Marc Madiot’s team looks set to be completed – the likes of Lewis Askey, Jake Stewart, Noah Hobbs, and Josh Golliker all finding homes away from the French setup having spent time across its WorldTour and Continental teams.
The winner of Gran Piemonte in 2021 and the Omnium gold medallist from the Tokyo Olympics, the Oldham rider hasn’t reached the heights he once promised after a horror crash on the velodrome during the 2022 Commonwealth Games, making a return to the boards for the first time since that day this year.
Walls still has the raw speed needed to navigate a bunch gallop, 3rd in the opening stage of the Tour Down Under this year proving that, while a top-ten across the cobbles of the GP de Pérenchies whilst riding for the development squad at the end of July will have been a confidence boost.
Walls has been in this position before, his move to the French squad coming late in the day, and with sprint finishes anticipated in Southwold, Stowmarket and Ampthill, Walls is in a good position to catch the eye as he hunts for at least another year in the pro ranks.
Ben Chilton (Great Britain)
Under Matt Bostock’s wing in the Great Britain team is a group of young riders brimming with talent, among them Ben Chilton. Standing at a towering 6’ 6”’ tall, it is near impossible to miss the 22-year-old cyclocross ace, who has transformed himself into a road race star over the course of three seasons.
The National Circuit Series winner in 2023, Chilton made the trip across the Channel the following year to take on France’s competitive amateur scene, notching up three victories, including the overall title Boucles de la Haute-Vienne, in an incredibly consistent season with Team U Charente Maritime. Now with first division outfit Mayenne-VandB-Monbana, 2025 has followed suit, the overall win at the Tour du Pays de Lesneven and a stage of the Essor Breton the highlights thus far.
The Tour of Britain represents a step up for the talented Derbyshire rider, whose chilled out approach has seen him leap over every hurdle presented to him so far.
Huw Buck Jones (Great Britain)
Another rider plying their trade in France but earning a ride with the national team is Huw Buck Jones, the 21-year-old spending 2024 across the Saint Piran setup.
A talented climber, he has come of age this year, winning the first stage of the Ronde de l’Isard, a key race on the U23 calendar, after reaching the summit of a climb 5km from the finish in a select group, outsprinting his rivals for the win. The Welsh rider would finish the race in 4th place overall, just 23 seconds behind Jarno Widar, the Lotto bound Belgian starlet who has been dominating the U23 ranks this season.
Having been in good form during August, Buck Jones will be relishing the stages in Wales, the extra motivation the home roads will provide ideally placed, with the hilly parcours to his liking. An outside bet for the overall win, he could well emulate what Zeb Kyffin achieved two years ago.
Zeb Kyffin (Unibet-Tietema Rockets)
The Unibet-Tietema Rockets outfit is a very different beast to the one that Kyffin turned professional with at the start of 2024. Now registered in France, the ProTeam born out of Bas Tietema’s YouTube channel is going all in to gain a Tour de France wildcard sooner rather than later.
With the arrival of top-tier sprinter Dylan Groenewegen and the talented Matyáš Kopecký signalling their intentions, a long list of riders, including Kyffin and Charlie Paige, face uncertain futures as they are set to become free agents at the end of the season.
Londoner Kyffin does have the Tour of Britain to make his mark however, a race he excelled in whilst riding for Saint Piran two years ago, battling the big names across the week and on Caerphilly Mountain to finish 6th overall, capping off a brilliant season on home soil for the National Road Series winner.
It is a busy time of the season for the 27-year-old, who comes to the race from the Tour du Poitou-Charentes, the French stage race finishing just days before the start in Suffolk. Having lived on a diet of stage racing this year, Kyffin looks to be arriving back home in good form, racing at the sharp end in France, finishing inside the top-20 on GC.
Featured image: Simon Wilkinson/SWpix.com
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