Nopinz RT will close its elite men’s programme at the end of the 2026 season, two years after it was set up. The team cited the difficulty of finding cash sponsorship.
Co-manager Lui Pollastrone said in a statement to The British Continental that the decision “has not been taken lightly”, and that the team had made “significant efforts to secure additional backing”. The team thanked Nopinz and The Bicycle Chain for their support, but said product support alone could not cover the costs of competing nationally.
It becomes increasingly difficult to provide riders with the opportunities and support they need to fulfil their potential
“Cash sponsorship is essential to fund race entry fees, travel, accommodation, and the wider costs associated with competing at the highest level across the UK,” Pollastrone said. “Without that investment, it becomes increasingly difficult to provide riders with the opportunities and support they need to fulfil their potential.”
The team raced for many years as Reflex Racing, a club team. In 2025 it set up an elite squad, with Nopinz joining Reflex as co-title sponsor, a move Pollastrone said “gave the elite team the platform to attract high level riders”. Reflex stepped away for 2026, leaving the team as Nopinz RT.
Pollastrone believes the team overreached in its second season. “I think, in all honesty, we expanded the team too much for the 2026 season,” he said. “We took on riders from all over the country, and lost the feel and heart of the team that was built over many years, based on a local racing community.” He said the aim had been to grow the club team so it would appeal more to sponsors, a goal he said “was never achieved”.
Pollastrone and fellow co-manager Joe Reeves, who both rode for the team, are stepping away from the elite and club sides. Masters rider Marcus Williams will take over the club for 2027, which will race as Reflex Racing again.
The elite team made a quick impression. In its first season it finished seventh in The British Continental’s team rankings, up from 17th for Reflex Racing in 2024. That season Sam Walsham finished fourth overall at the Peak 2 Day, Josh Horsfield won a stage of the Sherpa Performance Stage Race and Samuel Nisbet finished third in the U23 Open National Road Series. Even as a club team, Reflex Racing had produced Archie Peet, who won the PB Performance Espoirs Road Race in 2024.
We are incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors, riders, staff, volunteers, and supporters who have been part of the team’s journey over the past two seasons
Several of those riders have moved up. Horsfield joined Cycling Sheffield for 2026, and Nisbet and Peet join Aero CLCTV for 2027.
In 2026 the team finished 11th in the team rankings. Matthew Gilmour was its leading rider: he won the Chitterne Road Race in April and finished 13th in the national rankings. He joins Stolen Goat 4Endurance for 2027. Josh Hall, who finished sixth at the National Hill Climb Championships in October, has signed for Aero CLCTV.
The 2027 plans of the rest of the 2026 squad, including Ben Millar, Callum Orchard, Jack Beveridge, Harvey Thomas, Tom Bowden and Dom Horsfield, have not been announced.
“We are incredibly grateful to all of our sponsors, riders, staff, volunteers, and supporters who have been part of the team’s journey over the past two seasons,” Pollastrone said.
Read the 2027 men’s domestic team guide here, and follow every rider move on Mercato 2027.
