Ribble Rebellion: The Riders

The new Ribble Rebellion team is an international one with riders from Britain, Canada, USA, Belgium and has an awesome race program around the world!

Ribble Rebellion: The Riders

TOM COUZENS: As a 22-year-old road, gravel, cross and occasional mountain bike racer, Tom Couzens is nothing if not versatile. 2023 was a breakout year for the Bicester native, with victory at Gritfest, a superb second at Battle of the Beach and third at the Guildford round of the National Crit Series.

“The variety is what I love most about racing; being able to hook it around the bends of a town centre crit one week to sending it over a rock garden the week after is pretty cool to me. I can’t wait to get stuck into some races I’ve had my eyes on for a while now.”

RUBEN APERS: Ex Lotto-Soudal and Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise rider Ruben brings a wealth of experience to the team, having competed in icnonic Spring classics such as the Tour of Flanders, Liege-Bastogne-Liege and Paris Roubaix. The Belgian can count his 5th place at the World Time Trial Championships as his best result to date and will be looking to transfer his epic talents to the road and crit racing scene. “I love the freedom cycling brings and the places your bike takes you.”*

MAX RUSHBY: Max has been racing for much of his life, and like many cyclists has tried his hand at multiple race discplines. In his case, these amount to cyclocross and track. And it’s on the track where he’s enjoyed the greatest success, claiming a european title at junior level and multiple European and national medals as an U23/Elite. “I love fast races, and the adrenaline of coming to the last few kilometres with your team, whether it’s being the lead rider or part of the lead out, that’s the most exciting part of racing for me.”

MATT BOSTOCK: A highly decorated road and track rider, Matt has tasted success at World, European and domestic level. The manxman’s burgeoning palmarés includes being crowned National Crit Champion in 2022, as well as winning three rounds of the Tour Series and claiming the overall title on two separate occasions. “I love the tactics, mind games and finding different ways to win, especially when it comes to criteriums. I’ve been racing bikes since I was 5 years of age, and it just seems ingrained in me now”

JOE LAVERICK: Hailing from Grimsby but living in Girona, Joe takes up the lead at Ribble Rebellion as Race Captain. Having raced for some of the world’s best development teams on the road, Joe switched to the ‘privateer’ model of racing his own calendar. In 2024, Joe has high ambitions for the new team, wanting to dominate the Crit scene and podium worldwide whilst combining his ‘privateer’ gravel, road & TT racing in the colours of the Ribble Collective.

“Being part of the team that has put RIBBLE Rebellion together has been a tremendous opportunity. We have a set of talented individuals and on the road we’ll be racing as one – wanting to do things very differently. That’s what this team is all about. Our goals are quite simple – ride to compete, to podium, to win.”

JIM BROWN: Though still only 23, Yorkshireman Jim has already established a reputation for hard riding on the UK and continental race circuit. After racing for two of the UK’s top cycling teams from 2021-2023, he boasts an impressive array of race victories, with wins coming at the Tour Series and National Circuit Series. Alongside multiple podiums in Europe, these dominant performances have secured Jim’s place as one of the finest UK-based riders. “I love the thrill and speed of cycle races whilst trying to think of the best way to engineer a race win for myself or the team.”

COLE DAVIS: Hailing from Folsom, California (yes, the same Folsom that inspired Johnny Cash’s iconic track Folsom Prison Blues) the 24-year-old has already established an impressive palmarés of race victories in the US and beyond. With Cole most notable success to date being his US national road race title back in 2017. “I’m rarely the stongest climber or sprinter at a race, so I have to get creative in order to win. The feeling of outwitting the competition to take a victory is a feeling quite unlike anything else”

AL MURISON: Al discovered the joys of cycling at age 14 and turned to racing soon after. After experiencing some success at junior and youth levels, he combined racing across Europe and Africa with his academic studies. A dual UK-Canadian citizen, he moved to Vancouver in 2016 and has since tasted success, winning three provincial championships, two Provincial Road Race Championships, and several stage and criterium wins on the North American racing circuit.

“The cornerstone for a passion in racing is founded on the thrills and speed that only bike racing can offer, along with feeling that success, both individually and as a team, that only hard work brings. More than anything, though, the love of bike racing can be as simple as the fun of travelling to weekend races with teammates and good friends.”

CAM FITZMAUR-ICE: Cam’s racing journey began at the tender age of 15 before life led him down the path of Biomedical Engineering. With school completed and a renewed passion for cycling, Cam has worked himself back into racing and fitness. He joins the team after finishing as runner-up in the elimination race at the 2024 Canadian track nationals. “I’m thrilled to have the opportunity to race with Ribble and learn from an amazing group of racers from North America and Europe.”