From plea to partnership: Topp Cycling steps in to support Capernwray
After Cold Dark North’s January appeal for financial backing was published on The British Continental, Topp Cycling have stepped in to support the Proper Northern Road Race at Capernwray this April — securing the race’s prize fund and reinforcing its place as one of the North’s defining National B contests. Entries are now open.
In January, the organisers of the Proper Northern Road Race at Capernwray went public with a simple, honest message: they needed support.
Facing an urgent funding shortfall ahead of this April’s race, Cold Dark North were candid about the situation. Previous backing had come to an end and, without a new partner, they warned they would struggle to offer the kind of prize fund that a race of Capernwray’s standing demands.
“We had an urgent need to replace the funding that we have previously enjoyed,” Cold Dark North’s Toby Cummins and Deb John explain. Without that support, they say, it would not have been possible “to offer an attractive prize fund for this year’s edition.”
“After publishing our cry for help, we had numerous responses,” they say. “Ultimately we opted to work with Topp Cycling for 2026’s race.” What stood out, they add, was not simply the financial backing but the alignment in outlook. “Topp’s positive attitude and ethos for supporting a race like ours was exactly the type of collaboration we were after.”
Scheduled for 4 April, the Proper Northern Road Race at Capernwray has built a reputation as one of the North’s most respected early-season National B tests. Its narrow lanes, exposed sections and the steep finishing climb of Sunny Bank make it a race riders respect and teams target. It has long carried the feel of a proper proving ground: hard, honest racing in a landscape that offers little shelter and even less forgiveness.
With Topp Cycling now on board, that tradition continues.
For Jake Hollins, founder of Topp Cycling, stepping in was about responsibility as much as visibility. Although the online training platform company has only recently launched, he describes its roots in British cycling as running “deep – and so does our commitment to it.”
A long-time racer himself, Hollins believes his generation must “take responsibility for protecting and growing the sport for the next generation”. Sponsorship at this level, he says, “genuinely matters”. He also made clear that Topp Cycling want organisers to know they are prepared to support events across disciplines – road, gravel, mountain bike and cyclocross – where they can.
For Cold Dark North, the episode underlines the value of transparency. “We’re delighted they have committed their brand to maintaining this prestigious race in the national calendar again this year,” Cummins and John say. They also acknowledge the platform that amplified their message, thanking The British Continental “for giving a voice to race organisers and an audience to hear it.”
Entries for the April race are now open via British Cycling.
In January, the organisers of the Proper Northern Road Race at Capernwray went public with a simple, honest message: they needed support.
Facing an urgent funding shortfall ahead of this April’s race, Cold Dark North were candid about the situation. Previous backing had come to an end and, without a new partner, they warned they would struggle to offer the kind of prize fund that a race of Capernwray’s standing demands.
“We had an urgent need to replace the funding that we have previously enjoyed,” Cold Dark North’s Toby Cummins and Deb John explain. Without that support, they say, it would not have been possible “to offer an attractive prize fund for this year’s edition.”
Their appeal was published on The British Continental – and the response was immediate.
“After publishing our cry for help, we had numerous responses,” they say. “Ultimately we opted to work with Topp Cycling for 2026’s race.” What stood out, they add, was not simply the financial backing but the alignment in outlook. “Topp’s positive attitude and ethos for supporting a race like ours was exactly the type of collaboration we were after.”
Scheduled for 4 April, the Proper Northern Road Race at Capernwray has built a reputation as one of the North’s most respected early-season National B tests. Its narrow lanes, exposed sections and the steep finishing climb of Sunny Bank make it a race riders respect and teams target. It has long carried the feel of a proper proving ground: hard, honest racing in a landscape that offers little shelter and even less forgiveness.
With Topp Cycling now on board, that tradition continues.
For Jake Hollins, founder of Topp Cycling, stepping in was about responsibility as much as visibility. Although the online training platform company has only recently launched, he describes its roots in British cycling as running “deep – and so does our commitment to it.”
A long-time racer himself, Hollins believes his generation must “take responsibility for protecting and growing the sport for the next generation”. Sponsorship at this level, he says, “genuinely matters”. He also made clear that Topp Cycling want organisers to know they are prepared to support events across disciplines – road, gravel, mountain bike and cyclocross – where they can.
For Cold Dark North, the episode underlines the value of transparency. “We’re delighted they have committed their brand to maintaining this prestigious race in the national calendar again this year,” Cummins and John say. They also acknowledge the platform that amplified their message, thanking The British Continental “for giving a voice to race organisers and an audience to hear it.”
Entries for the April race are now open via British Cycling.
Featured image: Darren Athersmith
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