Frankie Hall delivers breakthrough win in El Salvador
After two UCI 1.2 victories last season and a near-miss earlier in the week at the Tour of El Salvador, Frankie Hall secured the first UCI 1.1 win of her career at the Grand Prix San Salvador. Riding for Roland Cogeas Cycling Team, the 30-year-old’s victory marks a significant early-season moment for both rider and team, and reinforces the arguments she made in a candid interview with The British Continental late last year about opportunity, persistence and performance.
It has been a strong opening to the season for British riders. Ethan Vernon, Matthew Brennan and Sam Watson all began their 2026 campaigns with stage victories at the Santos Tour Down Under, continuing a run of early-season success at WorldTour level.
Further down the professional ranks, another British rider has also marked the start of her year in emphatic fashion.
On Saturday (24 January), Frankie Hall won the Grand Prix San Salvador, securing the first UCI 1.1 victory of her career. The result follows two UCI 1.2 wins last season and represents a significant step forward in Hall’s progression on the international calendar.
The victory came during Hall’s early-season campaign with Roland Cogeas Cycling Team, who are racing at UCI Continental level in 2026 after stepping down from the Women’s WorldTour. El Salvador marked Hall’s first competitive block of the year with the team and an opportunity to build momentum early in the season.
At the Tour of El Salvador last week, Hall rode consistently and found herself well placed on the final stage. Attacking with around 600 metres remaining, she appeared set to contest – and potentially win – the stage. Instead, she and two other riders were diverted onto the wrong route near the finish after a junction was blocked by police and race officials.
By the time the error was corrected, the opportunity had gone. Hall crossed the line third, having ridden further than her rivals, and the chance to convert strong form into a stage victory slipped away.
“It was a bit gutting,” Hall admitted afterwards. “I was following where we were directed and thought I’d timed it perfectly.”
Rather than allowing the disappointment to linger, Hall regrouped quickly. Two days later, she lined up for the Grand Prix San Salvador, a shorter but selective race featuring long flat sections followed by an extended climb.
Riding patiently through the early phases, Hall waited as the race came back together on the climb. With seven kilometres remaining, she made her move, gradually distancing the remaining contenders before riding solo to the finish.
“It was about timing it right,” she said. “Once I went, I just focused on keeping it smooth to the line.”
The win was decisive and controlled, offering a clear contrast to the confusion that had denied her earlier in the week. It also carried added significance for both rider and team as Roland Cogeas look to build results and secure invitations for the rest of the season.
“For me, after the last few months, it’s everything,” Hall said. “I’m hoping we’ve done enough this week to secure the sponsors and get the invites for the rest of the year.”
She was also quick to highlight the environment she has found within the team.
“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity and the freedom to race to my strengths,” she added. “The girls were brilliant today — it’s nice to be in a team where everyone supports each other.”
At 30, Hall’s route into the professional peloton has been anything but conventional. She spoke openly about that journey in an interview with The British Continentallate last year, reflecting candidly on the challenge of turning results, experience and proven ability into long-term opportunity. Her victory in San Salvador does not resolve every uncertainty, but it does reinforce the case she made then — that when given the chance, she can deliver at this level.
The campaign in El Salvador is not yet over. Hall is set to race a further three events in the coming days, offering more opportunities to build on her early-season form and convert momentum into results.
It has been a strong opening to the season for British riders. Ethan Vernon, Matthew Brennan and Sam Watson all began their 2026 campaigns with stage victories at the Santos Tour Down Under, continuing a run of early-season success at WorldTour level.
Further down the professional ranks, another British rider has also marked the start of her year in emphatic fashion.
On Saturday (24 January), Frankie Hall won the Grand Prix San Salvador, securing the first UCI 1.1 victory of her career. The result follows two UCI 1.2 wins last season and represents a significant step forward in Hall’s progression on the international calendar.
The victory came during Hall’s early-season campaign with Roland Cogeas Cycling Team, who are racing at UCI Continental level in 2026 after stepping down from the Women’s WorldTour. El Salvador marked Hall’s first competitive block of the year with the team and an opportunity to build momentum early in the season.
That momentum almost arrived sooner.
At the Tour of El Salvador last week, Hall rode consistently and found herself well placed on the final stage. Attacking with around 600 metres remaining, she appeared set to contest – and potentially win – the stage. Instead, she and two other riders were diverted onto the wrong route near the finish after a junction was blocked by police and race officials.
By the time the error was corrected, the opportunity had gone. Hall crossed the line third, having ridden further than her rivals, and the chance to convert strong form into a stage victory slipped away.
“It was a bit gutting,” Hall admitted afterwards. “I was following where we were directed and thought I’d timed it perfectly.”
Rather than allowing the disappointment to linger, Hall regrouped quickly. Two days later, she lined up for the Grand Prix San Salvador, a shorter but selective race featuring long flat sections followed by an extended climb.
Riding patiently through the early phases, Hall waited as the race came back together on the climb. With seven kilometres remaining, she made her move, gradually distancing the remaining contenders before riding solo to the finish.
“It was about timing it right,” she said. “Once I went, I just focused on keeping it smooth to the line.”
The win was decisive and controlled, offering a clear contrast to the confusion that had denied her earlier in the week. It also carried added significance for both rider and team as Roland Cogeas look to build results and secure invitations for the rest of the season.
“For me, after the last few months, it’s everything,” Hall said. “I’m hoping we’ve done enough this week to secure the sponsors and get the invites for the rest of the year.”
She was also quick to highlight the environment she has found within the team.
“I’m just really grateful for the opportunity and the freedom to race to my strengths,” she added. “The girls were brilliant today — it’s nice to be in a team where everyone supports each other.”
At 30, Hall’s route into the professional peloton has been anything but conventional. She spoke openly about that journey in an interview with The British Continental late last year, reflecting candidly on the challenge of turning results, experience and proven ability into long-term opportunity. Her victory in San Salvador does not resolve every uncertainty, but it does reinforce the case she made then — that when given the chance, she can deliver at this level.
The campaign in El Salvador is not yet over. Hall is set to race a further three events in the coming days, offering more opportunities to build on her early-season form and convert momentum into results.
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