As part of Women and Girls in Sport Week 2021, we want to highlight some of the emerging opportunities available to pathway riders and those females aspiring to compete at the very top of the sport.

Recognising that it is important to create an environment for developing female riders in which they are fully supported throughout the race season, the new Alba Development Road Team has plans to improve opportunities for female riders in Scotland. Whilst women’s bike racing has never had more recognition and support than in recent years, it is still the case that there are limited development opportunities for young female riders within domestic elite teams.

Alba Development Road Team aims to assist young female talent to progress further and be able to step into the professional ranks. Its primary objective is to ensure young riders are fully supported throughout the race season, including providing an individual development plan, support required to deliver the plan, provision of all riding kit, bike and full race programme.

For the 2022 season the team will consist of eight riders, six of whom are under 25. The focus for the team’s debut season will be the British domestic national series races, both road and circuit, the Tour Series and some select European stage races complementing rider’s programmes. Recognising that optimal rider development will not be achieved working in in isolation, the team will look to work closely with the riders’ existing support structure, whether this be an existing coach or something more complex due to participation in the Scottish Cycling Performance Programme, or similar. The team is very much rider centric, with rider development being the primary objective, and whilst it is expected the team will achieve results, this and general team performance is secondary.

It is also hoped to be awarded Elite Development Team status from British Cycling prior to the start of the season.

Speaking ahead of their debut season, Performance Director and Team Manager Bob Lyons outlined his plans:

“Creating a team structure that was focussed on rider development was a key objective and we have worked very hard with partners, to be announced over the next few months, to make this a reality. It is going to be a very exciting season.”

The confirmed racing team for 2022 season will include six Scots: Sophie Lankford, Vicky Smith, Beth Maciver, Kate Richardson, Arianne Holland and Erin Murphy. They will be joined by Sophie Enever from England and Emma Smith from Northern Ireland.

Outlining how valuable the support of a home-based team will be, Vicky Smith commented:

“Having this level of support and race programme offered by Alba is essential to my further development as a rider and I’m really looking forward to the season starting.”

If you are interested in following the teams progress next season, please follow them at

• Twitter: @AlbaRoadTeam
• Instagram: albaroadteam
• Facebook: AlbaDevelopmentRT