Riders facing early retirement after team collapse

Sponsorship troubles at Bolton Equities Black Spoke could leave riders and staff without a job

- Tom Davidson & Adam Becket

A source inside ProTeam Bolton Equities Black Spoke has said up to half of the riders could retire in the coming months as the team faces closure.

Last week, the New Zealand-based squad, which is home to three Brits, announced its main sponsor, Bolton Equities, will strip back its support at the end of 2023. It is possible the team could drop down to Continental level for next season, but an official statement said “additional sponsors are needed” if this is to happen.

One source within the squad told Cycling Weekly that they are “hopeful but realistic” about the prospect of the team still existing next season. “I think I would be more surprised than not to see it continue at all,” they said.

Bolton Equities Black Spoke ended 2022 as the highest-placed Continental team and stepped up to Pro-Team level – one tier below World-Tour – for the 2023 season. The team, which counts a number of British talents such as Matt Bostock, Jacob Scott and Mark Stewart, was present at the recent Tour of Britain, where its rider James Fouché won the mountains classification.