BRITISH SEASON PREVIEW

Back to full strength with a range of races, we preview what promises to be a bumper British season

MEN ’S TEAMS

WIV - SUN GOD

RIDERS :16

What’s new?

With a brand new sponsor in tech/ finance company WiV (it was Canyondhb-Sungod last year), the veteran team is ready to continue its winning ways, boosting its firepower by drafting in Matt Gibson from Ribble-Weldtite and pinching Canadian Ben Perry from his WorldTour slot at Astana-Premiertech.

Who’s the winner?

Gibson has already proved valuable, taking two top-fives on stages in the 2.1 Tour of Antalya in Turkey. He’ll be worth watching closely this year. Matthew Bostock too has already turned out a great ride at Valenciana and has great form in UK national level races.

Who’s the underrated rider?

This will be Thomas Mein’s third season with the team, and while he’s yet to register a win on the road, his cyclo-cross pedigree is hard to beat – he’s the current national champion, and also won an U23 World Cup round in November 2020. Don’t be surprised to see him take that first road win this year.

SAINT PIRAN

RIDERS:1 5

What’s new?

Saint Piran has said goodbye to two very potent Cornish riders for 2022, with Chris Opie leaving and Steve Lampier retiring to look after Saint Piran’s feeder team 0503. In their place come Gabriel Cullaigh from Movistar; Will Bjergfelt from SwiftCarbon and Jacob Vaughan from Canyon-dhb, all of whom are experienced and very capable.

Who’s the winner?

After two frustrating years in the WorldTour, hit first by Covid-19 restrictions and then a bout of shingles, Cullaigh will be ready to hit out hard and remind everyone just how good he is, and capable of winning at home and on the Continent.