After the most successful season in its short history, Handsling Alba Development Road Team has unveiled a formidable fourteen-rider line-up for 2026, combining WorldTour experience, Olympic medallists and some of Britain’s most promising under-23 talent.
The announcement — completed on 17 October — follows a landmark 2025 campaign in which the team took its first UCI stage-race victory through Kate Richardson’s overall win at the Tour de Feminin, and celebrated its first WorldTour graduate, with Lauren Dickson stepping up to FDJ–SUEZ. Richardson also claimed the National Circuit Race Championships, while riders such as Mari Porton made eye-catching progress across the domestic and European calendars.
The depth we’ve got now means we can do different things — it’s not just about one rider
“We pretty much delivered fully on what we set out to do this year,” team manager Bob Lyons told The British Continental. “The depth we’ve got now means we can do different things — it’s not just about one rider. We’ve got people who can win, people who can learn, and people who can do both.”
Maddie Cooper (left), Kate Richardson (centre) and Lauren Dickson (right). Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
New arrivals
Six new riders join for 2026: Arabella Blackburn, Maddie Cooper, Anna Flynn, Grace Lister, Holly Ramsey and Izzy Sharp.
Blackburn, moving up from Shibden Apex RT, is one of the country’s brightest junior graduates, noted for her versatility and race craft. Cooper, who impressed as a stagiaire with the team late in 2025, makes the step up to a full contract.
“Maddie came in late on this season for a short period to see how she’d fit,” says Lyons. “She fitted in really well. Lovely temperament, very grounded. Works hard, doesn’t make a fuss. She’s got a big engine. She’ll learn a lot from the older girls around her. It was a no-brainer to keep her for next year.”
Flynn arrives from Spectra Racing, bringing a strong mountain biking background and valuable leadership experience. Lister joins following the closure of Hess Cycling Team, adding speed and tactical nous honed across European UCI races. Ramsey, from Smurfit Westrock CT, strengthens the team’s climbing contingent after a consistent domestic season.
Izzy’s an incredibly talented bike rider. She’s taken stock of where she’s at, where she wants to go and how best to do that — and she’s come to the conclusion that this is the best place to be.
The headline addition, though, is Izzy Sharp. The 19-year-old joins after two seasons with Lidl–Trek, where she gained WorldTour experience. Lyons describes the move as mutually considered rather than sensational.
“Izzy’s an incredibly talented bike rider,” he says. “She’s taken stock of where she’s at, where she wants to go and how best to do that — and she’s come to the conclusion that this is the best place to be. We try to create and mimic that WorldTour environment as best we can, just without the bells and whistles. It’ll be interesting to see how she finds it after six months with us.”
Kate Richardson wins the women’s national circuit championship ahead of Izzy Sharp (Lidl – Trek). Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
Continuity and cohesion
Eight riders stay on from 2025: Neah Evans, Arianne Holland, Eluned King, Madelaine Leech, Beth Morrow, Mari Porton, Kate Richardson and Amelia Tyler.
It’s a spine that gives the team both experience and identity. “Some of these riders have been with us since day one, others came in last year,” says Lyons. “They’ve all bought into what we’re doing. It’s about continuity as much as change.”
The track programme will get busier next year, so we needed a slightly bigger squad to balance things out
The retained group includes a host of British international track stars. The team now has six riders who are part of the Great Britain track team, including newly-crowned Madison world champion Leech, Olympic medallist Evans and Richardson, plus new signings Sharp, Lister and current junior world team pursuit champion Blackburn. All will combine their road programmes with endurance-track duties in the lead-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. “We work closely with British Cycling on that,” Lyons explains. “The track programme will get busier next year, so we needed a slightly bigger squad to balance things out.”
And at the centre of it all stands Kate Richardson, the rider who delivered the team’s first UCI win and national title. “It was fantastically pleasing for us as a team. That was our first UCI win — and also her first. To do it in a stage race was good as well, because there are a lot of moving parts in that, and to be able to deliver shows what we’re capable of,” Lyons recalls.
Kate Richardson. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
“Kate was exceptional this year. She’s incredibly talented and strong, and I think it just underlines that she needs to be in the right environment to get the best out of herself. There’s a lot more to come from Kate — no question about that.” He continues: “She’s come back into the fold after a tough couple of years elsewhere. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, very analytical, and she’s an excellent role model for the younger riders. She gives a lot to others in the team.”
Departures
Four riders move on: Keira Bond, Amy Gornall, Abi Plowman and Lauren Dickson.
Dickson’s departure is the most high-profile — the Scot joins FDJ–SUEZ after a remarkable rise through Alba’s ranks. “She’s a bit unique, really,” Lyons says. “I’m not sure we’ll ever see the likes of her again. She’s proved that our way of developing riders works.”
She’s proved that our way of developing riders works
Lyons is equally appreciative of those stepping away. “Everyone who’s raced for us has contributed to where we are now,” he says. “It’s not just the riders who get headlines — it’s the ones who’ve done the hard work day in, day out, often without recognition. They’ve all helped shape the team.”
A deeper, smarter Alba
The 2026 line-up reflects a team growing in confidence and ambition. “We’ve had close to 200 riders express interest in joining,” Lyons says. “That’s flattering, but it also means we can be very selective. We’re fundamentally British and we want to stay that way for now — that’s important to us. But we’ve built a group that can compete in more places, at a higher level, and still stick to our values.”
Lauren Dickson wins the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
He describes the process as deliberate rather than expansion for expansion’s sake. “It’s all about balance,” he explains. “You might find the perfect rider physiologically, but if there isn’t a slot for them within the team, it doesn’t work. You’ve got to look at the personality, the fit, the way they’ll work with others. That overall balance has to be right.”
It’s taken a few years, but we’re at the point where the balance is right
With a bigger calendar and increased cooperation with British Cycling’s track programme, Handsling Alba will field its largest roster yet. “It’s taken a few years, but we’re at the point where the balance is right,” Lyons says. “We’ve got riders who can win, riders who can learn, and riders who can do both.”
For a team that once measured progress in potential rather than podiums, it’s a quietly confident step into a new phase — deeper, stronger, and still unmistakably Alba.
A full, in-depth interview with Bob Lyons about the team’s journey, ambitions and outlook for the sport will be published soon on The British Continental.
After the most successful season in its short history, Handsling Alba Development Road Team has unveiled a formidable fourteen-rider line-up for 2026, combining WorldTour experience, Olympic medallists and some of Britain’s most promising under-23 talent.
The announcement — completed on 17 October — follows a landmark 2025 campaign in which the team took its first UCI stage-race victory through Kate Richardson’s overall win at the Tour de Feminin, and celebrated its first WorldTour graduate, with Lauren Dickson stepping up to FDJ–SUEZ. Richardson also claimed the National Circuit Race Championships, while riders such as Mari Porton made eye-catching progress across the domestic and European calendars.
“We pretty much delivered fully on what we set out to do this year,” team manager Bob Lyons told The British Continental. “The depth we’ve got now means we can do different things — it’s not just about one rider. We’ve got people who can win, people who can learn, and people who can do both.”
New arrivals
Six new riders join for 2026: Arabella Blackburn, Maddie Cooper, Anna Flynn, Grace Lister, Holly Ramsey and Izzy Sharp.
Blackburn, moving up from Shibden Apex RT, is one of the country’s brightest junior graduates, noted for her versatility and race craft. Cooper, who impressed as a stagiaire with the team late in 2025, makes the step up to a full contract.
“Maddie came in late on this season for a short period to see how she’d fit,” says Lyons. “She fitted in really well. Lovely temperament, very grounded. Works hard, doesn’t make a fuss. She’s got a big engine. She’ll learn a lot from the older girls around her. It was a no-brainer to keep her for next year.”
Flynn arrives from Spectra Racing, bringing a strong mountain biking background and valuable leadership experience. Lister joins following the closure of Hess Cycling Team, adding speed and tactical nous honed across European UCI races. Ramsey, from Smurfit Westrock CT, strengthens the team’s climbing contingent after a consistent domestic season.
The headline addition, though, is Izzy Sharp. The 19-year-old joins after two seasons with Lidl–Trek, where she gained WorldTour experience. Lyons describes the move as mutually considered rather than sensational.
“Izzy’s an incredibly talented bike rider,” he says. “She’s taken stock of where she’s at, where she wants to go and how best to do that — and she’s come to the conclusion that this is the best place to be. We try to create and mimic that WorldTour environment as best we can, just without the bells and whistles. It’ll be interesting to see how she finds it after six months with us.”
Continuity and cohesion
Eight riders stay on from 2025: Neah Evans, Arianne Holland, Eluned King, Madelaine Leech, Beth Morrow, Mari Porton, Kate Richardson and Amelia Tyler.
It’s a spine that gives the team both experience and identity. “Some of these riders have been with us since day one, others came in last year,” says Lyons. “They’ve all bought into what we’re doing. It’s about continuity as much as change.”
The retained group includes a host of British international track stars. The team now has six riders who are part of the Great Britain track team, including newly-crowned Madison world champion Leech, Olympic medallist Evans and Richardson, plus new signings Sharp, Lister and current junior world team pursuit champion Blackburn. All will combine their road programmes with endurance-track duties in the lead-up to the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics. “We work closely with British Cycling on that,” Lyons explains. “The track programme will get busier next year, so we needed a slightly bigger squad to balance things out.”
And at the centre of it all stands Kate Richardson, the rider who delivered the team’s first UCI win and national title. “It was fantastically pleasing for us as a team. That was our first UCI win — and also her first. To do it in a stage race was good as well, because there are a lot of moving parts in that, and to be able to deliver shows what we’re capable of,” Lyons recalls.
“Kate was exceptional this year. She’s incredibly talented and strong, and I think it just underlines that she needs to be in the right environment to get the best out of herself. There’s a lot more to come from Kate — no question about that.”
He continues: “She’s come back into the fold after a tough couple of years elsewhere. She’s got a good head on her shoulders, very analytical, and she’s an excellent role model for the younger riders. She gives a lot to others in the team.”
Departures
Four riders move on: Keira Bond, Amy Gornall, Abi Plowman and Lauren Dickson.
Dickson’s departure is the most high-profile — the Scot joins FDJ–SUEZ after a remarkable rise through Alba’s ranks. “She’s a bit unique, really,” Lyons says. “I’m not sure we’ll ever see the likes of her again. She’s proved that our way of developing riders works.”
Lyons is equally appreciative of those stepping away. “Everyone who’s raced for us has contributed to where we are now,” he says. “It’s not just the riders who get headlines — it’s the ones who’ve done the hard work day in, day out, often without recognition. They’ve all helped shape the team.”
A deeper, smarter Alba
The 2026 line-up reflects a team growing in confidence and ambition. “We’ve had close to 200 riders express interest in joining,” Lyons says. “That’s flattering, but it also means we can be very selective. We’re fundamentally British and we want to stay that way for now — that’s important to us. But we’ve built a group that can compete in more places, at a higher level, and still stick to our values.”
He describes the process as deliberate rather than expansion for expansion’s sake. “It’s all about balance,” he explains. “You might find the perfect rider physiologically, but if there isn’t a slot for them within the team, it doesn’t work. You’ve got to look at the personality, the fit, the way they’ll work with others. That overall balance has to be right.”
With a bigger calendar and increased cooperation with British Cycling’s track programme, Handsling Alba will field its largest roster yet. “It’s taken a few years, but we’re at the point where the balance is right,” Lyons says. “We’ve got riders who can win, riders who can learn, and riders who can do both.”
For a team that once measured progress in potential rather than podiums, it’s a quietly confident step into a new phase — deeper, stronger, and still unmistakably Alba.
Read the women’s domestic team guide here.
A full, in-depth interview with Bob Lyons about the team’s journey, ambitions and outlook for the sport will be published soon on The British Continental.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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