Some breakthroughs are gradual. Noémie Thomson’s was unusually swift.
At the start of 2025, she was entirely new to the sport – a rider who had never raced, never sat in a bunch, never experienced the rhythms and demands of competitive road cycling. By the end of the year, she had emerged as one of the most compelling new talents in the domestic scene, progressing through the ranks with a speed that was both impressive and highly uncommon.
Her rise began at the Florrie Newbury Classic, where she won her first-ever road race riding for Southborough & District Wheelers. The result might have drawn curiosity on its own, but it was her performance at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – only her second road race – that signalled something more significant. Sixth place, on a National A debut, against a deep field, marked her out as a rider with genuine potential.
For Thomson, Lincoln was the moment her expectations shifted:
“It was only my second road race, but such an iconic event – and the moment I realised I could be competitive against some of the best women domestically,” she tells The British Continental. It gave me a huge boost in confidence and brought the right people into my corner to support my development.”
A mid-season move to Brother UK–OnForm quickly followed, and her results continued upward. She won both the London Dynamo Road Race and the Ronde van Wymeswold, taking two of that event’s three stages. She then produced one of the strongest rides of the domestic summer at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir, finishing second after pushing Robyn Clay all the way to the line.
Her progress was recognised beyond Britain too. After signing with UCI Continental team DAS–Hutchinson, Thomson claimed her first National Road Series victory at the Witheridge Grand Prix, before ending her season with a standout result: second at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar, a UCI 1.Pro race in Spain – an exceptional achievement for a rider in only her first year of competition.
Reflecting on her trajectory, she told The British Continental:
“I’m excited to keep building on this momentum, keep learning, and see where this journey leads.”
For her rapid development, composure under pressure and ability to translate raw talent into consistent results at increasingly high levels, Noémie Thomson is the 2025 Breakthrough Rider of the Year (Female).
A rider who began the season unknown and finished it recognised across the domestic scene — a breakthrough in the truest sense.
Some breakthroughs are gradual. Noémie Thomson’s was unusually swift.
At the start of 2025, she was entirely new to the sport – a rider who had never raced, never sat in a bunch, never experienced the rhythms and demands of competitive road cycling. By the end of the year, she had emerged as one of the most compelling new talents in the domestic scene, progressing through the ranks with a speed that was both impressive and highly uncommon.
Her rise began at the Florrie Newbury Classic, where she won her first-ever road race riding for Southborough & District Wheelers. The result might have drawn curiosity on its own, but it was her performance at the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix – only her second road race – that signalled something more significant. Sixth place, on a National A debut, against a deep field, marked her out as a rider with genuine potential.
For Thomson, Lincoln was the moment her expectations shifted:
“It was only my second road race, but such an iconic event – and the moment I realised I could be competitive against some of the best women domestically,” she tells The British Continental. It gave me a huge boost in confidence and brought the right people into my corner to support my development.”
A mid-season move to Brother UK–OnForm quickly followed, and her results continued upward. She won both the London Dynamo Road Race and the Ronde van Wymeswold, taking two of that event’s three stages. She then produced one of the strongest rides of the domestic summer at the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir, finishing second after pushing Robyn Clay all the way to the line.
Her progress was recognised beyond Britain too. After signing with UCI Continental team DAS–Hutchinson, Thomson claimed her first National Road Series victory at the Witheridge Grand Prix, before ending her season with a standout result: second at the Gran Premio Ciudad de Eibar, a UCI 1.Pro race in Spain – an exceptional achievement for a rider in only her first year of competition.
Reflecting on her trajectory, she told The British Continental:
“I’m excited to keep building on this momentum, keep learning, and see where this journey leads.”
For her rapid development, composure under pressure and ability to translate raw talent into consistent results at increasingly high levels, Noémie Thomson is the 2025 Breakthrough Rider of the Year (Female).
A rider who began the season unknown and finished it recognised across the domestic scene — a breakthrough in the truest sense.
The panel also wishes to acknowledge the outstanding seasons of Madeline Cooper and Mari Porton, both of whom were strong contenders and played major roles in elevating the level of domestic women’s racing in 2025.
Featured image: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com
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