GREAT BRITAIN CYCLING TEAM’S NEW TALENT TAKE TO LOCAL COMMUNITY TO INSPIRE THROUGH SOCIAL IMPACT ACTIVITY

—- The potential cycling stars of LA and beyond have been officially inducted into the Great Britain Cycling Team this week, as well as heading out into the community to support the positive work going on in the area and share the joy of cycling. 

All 33 Olympic Development Squad riders spent half a day supporting community projects across the Greater Manchester area as part of British Cycling’s commitment to drive social impact. This includes breaking down barriers and tackling inequalities by creating opportunities for everyone to lead healthier and happier lives. 

The riders joined eight different organisations that focused on three areas; cycling, community, and physical activity. A group headed over to Manchester Youth Zone where they got a full tour of the centre, took part in a Q&A with the young people who benefit from the facility, and got stuck into a range of activities including a mix of sporting activities, from football, basketball, and indoor games, as well as an arts project. 

Another group headed to Caritas Diocese of Salford Lalley Centre, a charity created to help people across Greater Manchester and Lancashire experiencing poverty, disadvantage and discrimination to transform their lives with dignity. Riders helped sorting donations, maintaining their allotment and food pantry which serves 1,349 attendees each year. Another group of riders worked with MaxTrax to deliver learn to ride cycling sessions, whilst others helped refurbish bikes with Manchester Bike Kitchen for them to go back into the community. 

As part of this new commitment from British Cycling, riders will be expected to deliver four days of social impact a year and will have access to a range of initiatives and workshops that will help them build the confidence and skills in which to do this. 

Performance Director for the Great Britain Cycling Team, Stephen Park CBE, said:  

“In GBCT, our primary focus is developing riders to have the skills and ability to be medal competitive on the world stage. We have high aspirations for medal performance at LA 28, Brisbane 32 and beyond so it’s great to see this new cohort of young talent joining the team, adding to the strength and depth of all of our disciplines. 

“It’s incredibly important to us that we win and win well, so across every level of the programme we take a person-first approach; seeing them as the whole person not just as a bike rider. 

“Part of this approach includes supporting them both on and off the bike and providing them with skills and experiences that will help them become fully rounded people both during and beyond their cycling careers. 

“We also understand that as the national cycling team we have a responsibility, not only in winning medals, but to inspire the nation and play our part in driving positive social impact. 

We are working to create a pathway for our riders to understand and best utilise the platform they have as GB cyclists and enable them to have meaningful engagement with social impact initiatives that are of interest to them.  

“By getting them involved from the day they join the programme, we can create early buy-in from riders and incorporate social impact as part of their whole journey with us, providing them with confidence and skills while also delivering positive impact through cycling.” 

Founder of Max Trax, Kerrie Rimmer-Chambers said:  

“The team’s presence and contribution was truly fantastic. Our supporters and volunteers loved having the opportunity to speak with riders and coaches, and the practical sessions, including the Learn to Ride instruction and BMX skills/demonstration, were incredibly inspiring to all. 

 “We especially appreciated the team’s genuine interest the development of our new all-wheel pump track. This project is a major focus for MaxTrax and their encouragement and input are invaluable as we work to create a lasting cycling legacy for Max and our community.” 

Eve James from the ODS women’s sprint squad said:  

“As athletes were lucky enough to get constant support from organisations and coaches around us.  

“So, spending time with and being able to inspire young people as well as help those in need – through activities such as playing football with local youth groups to volunteering at food banks- we were able to help others who may be going through a tougher time. 

“Seeing how much effort goes on behind the scenes to support the local community and seeing how many people rely on this puts into perspective that being part of GBCT isn’t just about race results it’s about representing and acting on core values of teamwork, compassion and resilience both on and off the bike. 

“So, it’s really special to be able to return that energy in a positive way.” 

CLASS OF 2025/26 

Olympic Development Squad 

The inductions themselves mark the start of the new academy year, which this year sees 12 new riders across five disciplines joining the Great Britain Cycling Team Olympic Development Squad, taking the number of riders supported through UK Sport or Sport England’s TASS funding in their development into elite sport up to 28. 

Additionally, having come from Para-Rowing as a previous European Champion in the PR3 Mixed Cox Four event, Morgan Fiece-Noyes will join the para-cycling podium squad as a tandem rider. 

Having been selected as a guest rider for the 2025 UEC Jnr/Under-23 Track European Championships this year, Eve James will join the women’s sprint squad, whilst men’s 500m time-trial national youth and junior champion George Harold and National Sprint Future Series medallist Jonathan Harju will join the men’s squad. 

The future of BMX Freestyle park goes from strength to strength with the addition of Jake Croswell, Harry Gorman and Luke Willcocks to the men’s squad, while Kitty Joseph joins the women’s team. 

British BMX Championships silver medallist Finley Hough will be the latest additional to the men’s BMX Racing squad. 

Having been selected to be part of the squads at this year’s MTB world and European championships respectively, Zoe Roche and Jacob Steed will come onto the programme full-time. They will be joined by Gus Lawson and Luke Trafford. 

Pathways Performance Manager for GBCT, Jon Bartlett said:  

“To be invited onto the Great Britain Cycling Team programme shows that these riders have already proven they have the potential to represent their country at the highest level. The Academy is renowned for developing world class riders with 70% of medals won at world championships and Olympic Games coming from riders who have come through the pathway. The introduction of this group of riders is no different and they are well worth keeping an eye on as the potential cycling super stars of the future.” 

Head of Talent Development & Sport for British Cycling, Joe Malik said: 

“We are proud to play a key role early in the journey of these young bike riders. Working in collaboration with Jon and the rest of the GBCT Pathway, British Cycling’s talent development programme develops and readies riders both on and off the bike for the rigours of international bike racing, with approx. 84% of riders moving into GBCT Olympic Development squads having come through our Talent system.” 

An additional 23 riders across five squads will join the ODS confirmation phase, a process that will run for up to five months where some riders will officially be selected for the GBCT ODS. 

Podium Potential 

Amongst the nine riders moving from ODS into their respective Podium Potential squads will be multiple junior track world champions Erin Boothman and Henry Hobbs (endurance) who had standout seasons in 2025 winning multiple junior world titles and setting world records between them. Archie Gill will move up to the PP men’s sprint squad after multi medalling at the junior European and world track championships. 

Freia Challis and Elsa Rendall-Todd have had an incredible year as part of the BMX Racing squad, winning junior European gold and European and world silver, respectively. Rendall-Todd also competes as part of the BMX Freestyle Park squad where she will move up alongside teammate Reece Dabreo. 

In mountain bike, Evie Strachan, Max Standen and Innes McDonald move into the podium potential squad having represented their country and achieved top five results at multiple Junior World Series events this year. Also in mountain bike, Madeline Moorhouse-Smith moves up to ODS+1. 

An 11 additional riders across three squads, will be part of the Podium Potential confirmation phase, which will end in March where some riders will officially join the GBCT PP. 

Riders joining and moving in the Great Britain Cycling Team for 2025/26 include: 

Olympic Development Squad 

Women’s Sprint 

Eve James 

Men’s sprint 

Jonathan Harju 
George Harold 

BMX Racing 

Finley Hough 

BMX Freestyle Park 

Jake Crosswell 
Harry Gorman 
Kitty Joseph 
Luke Willcocks 

MTB XCO 

Gus Lawson  
Zoe Roche 
Jacob Steed 
Luke Trafford 

Paralympic Podium Squad 

Morgan Fiece-Noyes 

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