Cornwall's professional cycling team has blamed bad luck, poor health and media scrutiny for deciding to pull out of top level competitions. Saint Piran has announced it will not field any pro riders in Continental competitions in 2025.
The decision to close its male and female pro teams means there will be no British men’s Continental teams next year. The team, which is run by Richard 'Ricci' Pascoe and counted 21 riders on its men’s roster in 2024, who have now had to secure employment with other pro teams, said it had been a tough year and blamed "turbulent media coverage" which hit its sponsorship opportunities for next year.
As a result, it claimed, it decided to undertake a "strategic review analysing how we can increase the opportunities for some of the UK’s brightest talents and inspire more to get on bikes to take up our incredible sport. To achieve both we have to move to the next level. It is no longer possible for any professional sports team to stand still."
In a statement on its website dated November 26 Saint Piran added: "The UK Elite Cycling scene remains a crown jewel in the landscape of international sport and a golden opportunity for investment. More riders in the World Tour Peloton than ever before, World and Olympic medalists and the development of cycling infrastructure across the UK are incredible achievements. Saint Piran Pro Cycling has contributed in all three of these. There is a bright future for UK cycling. But that exciting future will happen without Saint Piran Pro Cycling."
It added: "With a tough season behind us, and more recently turbulent media coverage hitting sponsorship opportunities for next year, it has been decided that Saint Piran Pro Cycling UCI Continental Team and Saint Piran WRT Elite Development Team will not take to the startline in 2025."
The "turbulent media coverage" may refer to Saint Piran coming under investigation by the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), the world's cycling governing body for putting fake UCI stickers on bike frames that had not been approved.
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As revealed in October by Cycling Weekly, the British Continental team, which last year won the prestigious Lincoln Grand Prix, started using unbranded bikes imported from China during the 2022 season when a sponsorship deal is said to have collapsed.
The frames, which were used in races that year, were unbranded and counterfeit UCI compliance labels were then stuck on when the frames had not been homologated by the UCI. According to UCI rules, all equipment from frames and forks to helmets and jerseys must be approved by the organisation if teams want to race in competitions as a way to guarantee fairness and the safety of riders.
The UCI confirmed it had launched an investigation regarding the "potential use of a non-homologated frameset by UCI Continental team Saint Piran in past events on the UCI International Calendar". British Cycling also said it was aware of the investigation and would look into the matter. The outcome of the UCI investigation is not yet known.
The UK cycling sport body British Cycling told Cycling Weekly that as part the application process for UCI Continental Team status for the 2025 season, British Cycling must confirm each team’s compliance with UCI regulations and requirements.
They told the magazine: "We were aware of a UCI investigation into allegations relating to Saint Piran team staff from 2022 and any active UCI investigation is considered in relation to a team's application."
On its page the team said the stars did not align and it has taken its toll. They added: "This has been an incredibly difficult decision for all at Saint Piran but one that we believe is right. While the Saint Piran door closes, another opens for a team wishing to step into our shoes, it is an incredible opportunity. Saint Piran has proved that you can successfully run an independent UCI Continental Team in the UK and take on some of the biggest challenges and teams in the World. Unfortunately for us, the stars did not align in 2024 and it has taken its toll.
"Bad luck, poor health and an unfair reminder we have made mistakes over the eight years of development have contributed to this decision." The cycling team said the decision is not the end of the brand which it hopes will continue to "develop and grow in the cycling sector and beyond".
The Cornwall pro cycling team, which is due to open a flagship shop at the newly reopened Buttermarket in Redruth, added that the "UK cycle industry is not strong enough as yet and the business is still in its infancy to be in a position to underpin the demands of UCI Continental racing as it stands today".
In their statement they added: "Before some in our sport celebrate and no doubt sensationalise the closure of the team, it is important to understand how much has been invested in getting this small team to a place at the UCI table. Our decision has a much wider impact that deserves more discussion than just sensationalised headlines."
We have asked Saint Piran for further comments on the future of its shop in Redruth and its involvement in future competitions. Luke Humphreys, Saint Piran Service Course, said: "Saint Piran is currently taking stock and making plans for the future. for now, our business side continues to grow from strength to strength and we believe as ever in creating opportunities in cycling from our base in Cornwall."
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