Adam Lewis: “It was either move on or call it a day”
There comes a point in every rider’s career when persistence must give way to reinvention. For Adam Lewis, now into his thirties and beginning again with APS Pro Cycling, that moment has arrived - less calculation, more instinct, and a renewed belief that the long-awaited UCI win is still within reach.
Now in his 30s, Adam Lewis has started 2026 with a renewed spring in his step. A stalwart of the UCI Continental scene over the past decade, the Walsall climber’s opening gambit this season was a breakaway on stage one of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, his bid for the KOM jersey bringing him a handlebar’s width from the world’s best.
“It was a bit of a baptism of fire!” Lewis says with enthusiasm, reflecting on his first experience of ProSeries racing since the cancelled Tour of Britain in 2022, chatting to The British Continental while still in the warmer climes of Spain.
“Remco lit it up from the bottom,” he continues, telling the story of the opening stage – Evenepoel’s surname surplus to requirements as the Belgian lived up to his reputation on the sole categorised climb of the day, the Puerto Los Madroños. He led a collective show of strength from Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe on the incline, blowing the race to pieces as only 30 riders made it to the summit as part of a decimated peloton. With it went Lewis’ time at the front of the race, put on hold until the final stage into the region’s capital.
“It was the plan to get in some moves,” Lewis confirms, not only placing the distinctive white and blue jersey of his new squad, APS Pro Cycling by Cadence Cyclery, in front of the TV cameras, but demonstrating a new philosophy as he continues to search for a maiden UCI win after a series of near misses in recent seasons.
This year it’s just about doing a few things slightly differently
“This year it’s just about doing a few things slightly differently,” he explains “Something I did in the second half of last year was move away from being that so-called GC rider and just focus on stages because, you know, I love to just get up the road and be a bit more opportunistic.”
Image: Ron Short
It is a bold move for a rider who has placed in the top ten of UCI stage races five times in the last two years, although one he seems convinced will pay off, with a more stable environment helping him to realise his potential.
It was quite late in the day it happened, really. It was either move on or call it a day
“It was quite late in the day it happened, really. It was either move on or call it a day,” Lewis reveals, discussing his decision to join the APS set-up from fellow US Continental team Skyline.
“I wasn’t very motivated to do it all again, dip into my savings,” he continues – the realities of life on many Continental teams something he feels he can put behind him this season.
“It’s better funded, better organised,” he confirms, the Brit now able to devote himself fully to racing after revealing in his last interview with The British Continental that he was helping his previous team hunt for sponsors.
The APS Pro Cycling outfit is co-owned by the team’s strategist, ‘Fast’ Freddie Rodriguez, the Giro d’Italia stage winner who raced into his 40s at Continental level – experience Lewis appreciates as he looks to perfect what has so nearly proved a winning formula.
“Fred’s been really good, he really wants to help us and it’s great having a guy who’s so experienced,” he explains.
Image: Ron Short
“There isn’t much he hasn’t done, from the top to the Conti level, so he’s just what we need to point us in the right direction, help us out tactically.
The team has got my back and have given me a lot of belief and confidence that I can go and do it.
“Exciting things are going to be happening and APS is here to stay, so watch out for us. I think it’ll be an exciting year.
“The team has got my back and have given me a lot of belief and confidence that I can go and do it.”
Lewis will be looking to build on a successful 2025 season that saw him finish an agonising second on a stage of the Tour of the Gila, alongside fifth overall at the Tour de Beauce.
“Looking back on it, I can’t be disappointed. I was one of the most consistent Continental riders across Europe – in pretty much every stage race I finished inside the top ten on GC,” he reflects.
“Coming so close in Gila, obviously it was disappointing at the time missing out on the win, but I think looking back I would have taken that.”
Image: Ron Short
Lewis will not be short of opportunities to right that wrong, the foundations of an exciting calendar being put together by the team, with a return to the stunning landscapes of New Mexico an obvious target.
The US scene is seeing a bit of a resurgence this year with Modern Adventure coming in as well
“Tour of the Gila will be a big target, and Redlands as well, I think. The US scene is seeing a bit of a resurgence this year with Modern Adventure coming in as well, so they’re going to provide some big competition. But I think using my experience over the past year and taking comfort from that, trying to get a couple of wins will be the main target.”
Aside from the upcoming Tour of Antalya and the US block of racing in the spring, much of the team’s calendar is still to be confirmed, particularly in the latter part of the season – invites a work in progress for the new squad.
“I guess for a Conti team it’s still a bit up in the air. We’re sending out invites and, as a new team, people are just starting to hear about us. So we’re getting a few invites as well, having been seen on TV,” Lewis explains, turning his attention closer to home.
“We’ve got a core group of Irish riders so we’ll go over for the Rás [Tailteann], and I’ll try and get some of the guys over to race in the UK when we can. I’ll definitely be doing Lincoln and some of the other National Series races.”
Lewis will hope to be lining up in front of Lincoln’s famous cathedral having already raised his arms in victory this season, the monkey of a UCI win firmly off his back, his change of approach having paid dividends.
As he enters his eighth season at UCI level, he remains enthusiastic about the challenges ahead, both familiar and new – APS Pro Cycling proving that sometimes change is better than a rest.
Now in his 30s, Adam Lewis has started 2026 with a renewed spring in his step. A stalwart of the UCI Continental scene over the past decade, the Walsall climber’s opening gambit this season was a breakaway on stage one of the Volta a la Comunitat Valenciana, his bid for the KOM jersey bringing him a handlebar’s width from the world’s best.
“It was a bit of a baptism of fire!” Lewis says with enthusiasm, reflecting on his first experience of ProSeries racing since the cancelled Tour of Britain in 2022, chatting to The British Continental while still in the warmer climes of Spain.
“Remco lit it up from the bottom,” he continues, telling the story of the opening stage – Evenepoel’s surname surplus to requirements as the Belgian lived up to his reputation on the sole categorised climb of the day, the Puerto Los Madroños. He led a collective show of strength from Red Bull–Bora–Hansgrohe on the incline, blowing the race to pieces as only 30 riders made it to the summit as part of a decimated peloton. With it went Lewis’ time at the front of the race, put on hold until the final stage into the region’s capital.
“It was the plan to get in some moves,” Lewis confirms, not only placing the distinctive white and blue jersey of his new squad, APS Pro Cycling by Cadence Cyclery, in front of the TV cameras, but demonstrating a new philosophy as he continues to search for a maiden UCI win after a series of near misses in recent seasons.
“This year it’s just about doing a few things slightly differently,” he explains “Something I did in the second half of last year was move away from being that so-called GC rider and just focus on stages because, you know, I love to just get up the road and be a bit more opportunistic.”
It is a bold move for a rider who has placed in the top ten of UCI stage races five times in the last two years, although one he seems convinced will pay off, with a more stable environment helping him to realise his potential.
“It was quite late in the day it happened, really. It was either move on or call it a day,” Lewis reveals, discussing his decision to join the APS set-up from fellow US Continental team Skyline.
“I wasn’t very motivated to do it all again, dip into my savings,” he continues – the realities of life on many Continental teams something he feels he can put behind him this season.
“It’s better funded, better organised,” he confirms, the Brit now able to devote himself fully to racing after revealing in his last interview with The British Continental that he was helping his previous team hunt for sponsors.
The APS Pro Cycling outfit is co-owned by the team’s strategist, ‘Fast’ Freddie Rodriguez, the Giro d’Italia stage winner who raced into his 40s at Continental level – experience Lewis appreciates as he looks to perfect what has so nearly proved a winning formula.
“Fred’s been really good, he really wants to help us and it’s great having a guy who’s so experienced,” he explains.
“There isn’t much he hasn’t done, from the top to the Conti level, so he’s just what we need to point us in the right direction, help us out tactically.
“Exciting things are going to be happening and APS is here to stay, so watch out for us. I think it’ll be an exciting year.
“The team has got my back and have given me a lot of belief and confidence that I can go and do it.”
Lewis will be looking to build on a successful 2025 season that saw him finish an agonising second on a stage of the Tour of the Gila, alongside fifth overall at the Tour de Beauce.
“Looking back on it, I can’t be disappointed. I was one of the most consistent Continental riders across Europe – in pretty much every stage race I finished inside the top ten on GC,” he reflects.
“Coming so close in Gila, obviously it was disappointing at the time missing out on the win, but I think looking back I would have taken that.”
Lewis will not be short of opportunities to right that wrong, the foundations of an exciting calendar being put together by the team, with a return to the stunning landscapes of New Mexico an obvious target.
“Tour of the Gila will be a big target, and Redlands as well, I think. The US scene is seeing a bit of a resurgence this year with Modern Adventure coming in as well, so they’re going to provide some big competition. But I think using my experience over the past year and taking comfort from that, trying to get a couple of wins will be the main target.”
Aside from the upcoming Tour of Antalya and the US block of racing in the spring, much of the team’s calendar is still to be confirmed, particularly in the latter part of the season – invites a work in progress for the new squad.
“I guess for a Conti team it’s still a bit up in the air. We’re sending out invites and, as a new team, people are just starting to hear about us. So we’re getting a few invites as well, having been seen on TV,” Lewis explains, turning his attention closer to home.
“We’ve got a core group of Irish riders so we’ll go over for the Rás [Tailteann], and I’ll try and get some of the guys over to race in the UK when we can. I’ll definitely be doing Lincoln and some of the other National Series races.”
Lewis will hope to be lining up in front of Lincoln’s famous cathedral having already raised his arms in victory this season, the monkey of a UCI win firmly off his back, his change of approach having paid dividends.
As he enters his eighth season at UCI level, he remains enthusiastic about the challenges ahead, both familiar and new – APS Pro Cycling proving that sometimes change is better than a rest.
Featured image: Ron Short
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