Exclusive: RideRevolution sign 10 riders for new International Development Programme
Jake Hales wants 18-year-olds to race in Europe without having to live there. His answer is a programme built around first-year under-23s, with UCI Continental status the target for 2028.
RideRevolution Coaching CT will race 2027 with a new International Development Programme: 15 riders, most of them first-year under-23s, who will race abroad while still living and training in Britain.
The team, which finished top of The British Continental’s 2026 open team rankings, will have 15 riders in the programme, 10 of them new signings. Within the programme, there will be a top group of nine riders: six new signings and three who move across from the existing squad. Beneath them is a development tier of four riders, all new signings, while founder and team owner Jake Hales and Clay Davies complete the 15 as rider mentors. Nine of the 10 new signings are first-year under-23s stepping up from the junior ranks: five of the six in the top group and all four in the development tier.
We want to offer something that allows riders extensive international racing experience without the need to move abroad as an 18-year-old
“We think there is a real gap in the development pathway for riders coming into under-23, and want to offer something that allows riders extensive international racing experience without the need to move abroad as an 18-year-old,” Hales says.
Caleb Pain at the 2026 Crealy Dawlish Grand Prix. Image: Mathew Wells/SWpix.com
In August, Hales set out the team’s aim of racing at UCI Continental level in 2028, with 2027 a transition year built around a new tier of around 10 riders supported as close to full-time as the team could manage. This season it turned down four or five UCI stage races because it could not field enough riders.
That tier now has a shape, and most of the new riders are at the age when many British riders who do not go straight into a WorldTour development team look abroad.
“What we’re moving towards is offering an opportunity whereby 18-year-olds don’t need to move to France and live in some village somewhere where no one speaks the same language as them,” Hales says.
The calendar is still coming together, he says, but will mix UCI races, UCI under-23 races, and elite amateur races abroad. For the top group, the aim is that most of their racing is done abroad. The others will start with a more domestic calendar alongside the bigger British races, and step up as they are ready. Hales and team manager Zak Dawson will run the programme.
The team says that the programme will be funded mostly through existing and new sponsors. The riders in the top group have made a small contribution towards travel costs, Hales says, as riders did this year when the team raced abroad.
Two of the 2026 squad: Harry Macfarlane and Joe Adlam-Cook. Image: Milan Josy/The British Continental
The team is also expanding its Scottish squad to six riders. In 2026, Hales says, that squad was mainly about creating a pathway and giving its riders the chance to race outside Scotland, both abroad and in National A races with the main squad. “We built some good momentum and interest in that part was high for next year,” he says. Across all three groups, the team will have around 25 riders in 2027, up from about 20 this season.
We’re excited to create something that gives young riders genuine opportunities to develop, gain experience and hopefully progress towards the highest levels of the sport
Nothing has yet been formally submitted for 2028, the team’s target for UCI Continental status. Hales says the team has had good early-stage conversations with British Cycling and with potential product and budget sponsors. “Generally people seem quite receptive to it, but we’re under no illusions it’s a big task,” he says.
“It’s a big commitment for the team and a big step towards our stated aim of going Conti for 2028,” he says, “but we’re excited to create something that gives young riders genuine opportunities to develop, gain experience and hopefully progress towards the highest levels of the sport.”
The riders in the programme will be named individually over the coming weeks.
Read the 2027 men’s domestic team guide here, and follow every rider move on Mercato 2027.
Featured image: Milan Josy/The British Continental
RideRevolution Coaching CT will race 2027 with a new International Development Programme: 15 riders, most of them first-year under-23s, who will race abroad while still living and training in Britain.
The team, which finished top of The British Continental’s 2026 open team rankings, will have 15 riders in the programme, 10 of them new signings. Within the programme, there will be a top group of nine riders: six new signings and three who move across from the existing squad. Beneath them is a development tier of four riders, all new signings, while founder and team owner Jake Hales and Clay Davies complete the 15 as rider mentors. Nine of the 10 new signings are first-year under-23s stepping up from the junior ranks: five of the six in the top group and all four in the development tier.
“We think there is a real gap in the development pathway for riders coming into under-23, and want to offer something that allows riders extensive international racing experience without the need to move abroad as an 18-year-old,” Hales says.
In August, Hales set out the team’s aim of racing at UCI Continental level in 2028, with 2027 a transition year built around a new tier of around 10 riders supported as close to full-time as the team could manage. This season it turned down four or five UCI stage races because it could not field enough riders.
That tier now has a shape, and most of the new riders are at the age when many British riders who do not go straight into a WorldTour development team look abroad.
“What we’re moving towards is offering an opportunity whereby 18-year-olds don’t need to move to France and live in some village somewhere where no one speaks the same language as them,” Hales says.
The calendar is still coming together, he says, but will mix UCI races, UCI under-23 races, and elite amateur races abroad. For the top group, the aim is that most of their racing is done abroad. The others will start with a more domestic calendar alongside the bigger British races, and step up as they are ready. Hales and team manager Zak Dawson will run the programme.
The team says that the programme will be funded mostly through existing and new sponsors. The riders in the top group have made a small contribution towards travel costs, Hales says, as riders did this year when the team raced abroad.
Most of the established squad, including Harry Macfarlane and James Ambrose-Parish, will stay together as what the team will call its National Team. Others are stepping back. Josh Housley has joined Team PB Performance, Alex Pickering and Sion Jones have stopped racing, and a couple of others will race more for fun, which Hales says has made room for so many new riders.
The team is also expanding its Scottish squad to six riders. In 2026, Hales says, that squad was mainly about creating a pathway and giving its riders the chance to race outside Scotland, both abroad and in National A races with the main squad. “We built some good momentum and interest in that part was high for next year,” he says. Across all three groups, the team will have around 25 riders in 2027, up from about 20 this season.
Nothing has yet been formally submitted for 2028, the team’s target for UCI Continental status. Hales says the team has had good early-stage conversations with British Cycling and with potential product and budget sponsors. “Generally people seem quite receptive to it, but we’re under no illusions it’s a big task,” he says.
“It’s a big commitment for the team and a big step towards our stated aim of going Conti for 2028,” he says, “but we’re excited to create something that gives young riders genuine opportunities to develop, gain experience and hopefully progress towards the highest levels of the sport.”
The riders in the programme will be named individually over the coming weeks.
Read the 2027 men’s domestic team guide here, and follow every rider move on Mercato 2027.
Featured image: Milan Josy/The British Continental
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