TEAM NEWS: 2025 Handsling Alba Development Road Team

The Scotland based UCI Continental team will race as Handsling Alba Development Road in 2025 with the aim to build on this season’s remarkable success in both domestic and continental cycling.

TEAM NEWS: 2025 Handsling Alba Development Road Team (UCI Continental)

Glasgow (Scotland), United Kingdom: The Scotland based UCI Continental team will race as Handsling Alba Development Road in 2025

The team’s aim is to build on this season’s remarkable success in both domestic and continental cycling. Alba Development Road Team riders raced to a stunning championship double in the British elite road and circuit series and performed strongly in high-profile European events including Tour de Feminin, Antwerp Port Epic and Tour de L’Ardeche.

The team’s 2024 Scottish national champion Eilidh Shaw (pictured above) recently signed a two-year contract with the UAE Development Team following a series of outstanding wins. The 19-year-old won the UK National Road and Circuit Series and was named domestic rider of the year by Cycling Weekly all in her first full season at elite level.

Bob Lyons, Alba Performance Director and Team Manager, said: ‘2024 was a tremendous season for the team, completing an unprecedented double on home soil, with Eilidh winning both the road and circuit elite national titles, together with a string of very strong results in Europe. In addition to the results, the development of the team as a whole was outstanding.”

Handsling Alba’s roster for the 2025 season will consist of 11 riders. The line-up features a mixture of youth, experience, and even a household name – Olympic and World Champion Neah Evans. Riders renewing their contracts include race winners Lauren Dickson, Beth Morrow and Keira Bond. U23 signings Maddie Leach, El King and Mari Porton are considered potential stars of the future.

The Sheffield Grand Prix winner Keira Bond

RIDERS:
– Neah Evans
– Maddie Leech
– Eluned King
– Lauren Dickson
– Keira Bond
– Beth Morrow
– Amy Gornall
– Mari Porton
– Abi Plowman
– Arianne Holland
– Amelia Tyler

The focus is still very much on rider development, but with the strength and depth of the squad, it is expected to surpass the achievements of 2024. As a British team, it is a priority to support elite racing in the UK, so the team will be fully committed to all UK elite races. The European calendar has expanded considerably, with the objectives being to ensure riders are in the correct races to optimise development. It is expected to undertake 40-50 race days in Europe, spanning both single day and stage races at all UCI levels (2, 1, Pro and WT).

Prior to her departure to UAE Development Team, Eilidh Shaw said: “The team structure, development support and environment has allowed me to focus on developing as a bike rider. This coupled with a rider focused race calendar and exemplary organisation has provided the perfect platform for me, as a rider, to secure a contract with UAE. There is not a better place to be for ambitious female cyclists.”