Alba Development Road Team

We’ve got a packed racing schedule this year!
Here’s what’s in store for March:

On Sunday 1st March we kick off our 2026 road racing campaign at the Omloop van het Hageland in Belgium 🇧🇪

📺 Tune into TNT Sports/Discovery from 12pm (GMT) to catch the action live!

That's the first team camp of the season completed, one of the few times in a season we get everyone together in the same place. The on bike work is critically important, but so is having everyone together to get to know each other, work on building a strong team ethos and having some fun.

@Elisalongob is spot on here, financial pressures make things very precarious at Continental level. It is getting more and more difficult to realise ever increasing budget requirements. Everything is very precarious with a very unstable foundation, the whole house of cards may come tumbling down.

A big thanks to everyone who came to our 2026 Team Launch last night at John Clark Skoda.

We were delighted to show off our new kit for this season and take part in a team Q&A hosted by Mark Beaumont.

Special thanks to John Clark Motor Group for hosting the evening.

📸: Murdo Macgillivray

As we move into the 2026 season, team colours were resplendent over Scotland last night. It's going to be a great season, team launch this week followed by the first team camp of the season.
#northernlights
#auroraborealis

We’re happy to be riding with Shimano for 2026.

The Ultegra R8170 Di2 groupset gives our riders the confidence to race hard and focus on the road ahead.

We’re proud to continue with Parcours as wheel sponsor and Vittoria as tyre sponsor for 2026.

The Strade all-rounder aero wheelset paired with Vittoria Corsa Pro tyres delivers speed, control, and confidence. Built on the shared innovation of the #ThinkWider project. Engineered to win.

We’re pleased to confirm OTE will continue as our official nutrition sponsor, alongside performance fuelling platform Hexis Live.

From training through to race day, our riders are fuelled with precision using trusted on-bike nutrition and data-led insights to perform when it matters most.

We’re delighted to continue our partnership with Handsling Bikes as the team’s bike sponsor for 2026. The stunning A1R0evo has already proven itself at the highest level, delivering wins and strong results across top-tier UCI races.

We’re excited to start the year of with the launch of our 2026 jersey design! Big thanks to Impsport Apparel for making it happen!

As 2025 wraps up, the team would like to wish everyone a Merry Christmas and a Happy New year! 🎄✨
To our sponsors, fans and supporters - we’d like to say a massive thank you to everyone who helped the team this year, your commitment is very much valued.

On to 2026 for another year of racing!

4iiii.com/blog/2025-me...

"Road racing in the UK — it’s withering on the vine a bit"

A standout season for Handsling-Alba — built on a development-first ethos — yet Bob Lyons warns that without urgent reform, British racing will struggle to keep the talent it produces.

thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2025/11/17/b...

Handsling Alba reveal powerhouse 2026 squad after landmark year The Scottish-based Continental team adds strength in depth with six new signings as it builds on a breakout 2025 season.

After UCI wins, a national title and a WorldTour graduation, @albaroadteam.bsky.social adds six new riders to form its strongest line-up yet. Read the full story - with exclusive insight from team manager Bob Lyons.

thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2025/10/27/h...

World Champions! 🌈 🥇

Maddie Leech and her teammate Katie Archibald stormed to victory last night in the Madison at the @uci_cycling track world championships! Massive well done to both in. hectic race, especially to Maddie for winning her first ever rainbow jersey!

📸 @swpix_cycling

That’s a wrap on our team announcements for 2026!

We’re proud to confirm an exciting mix of experience and fresh talent as we look ahead to another big year for Alba.

See you all on the road next year! 💙

📸: Andy Smith & Murdo MacGillivray

📸 - Thanks to all the photographers who have captured the team this year!
@andy.smith_photo
@swpix.bsky.social

We are already working flat out on the 2026 season where we intend continuing to build on our successes and have some very exciting plans. Watch this space for news and updates in the coming days and weeks and please continue to get behind the team. Everyone is grateful for your support......

Whilst the riders, quite rightly, take centre stage for the amazing season we have had, big thanks also go to all sponsors, partners and staff, without whom none of this would be possible.........

From a development perspective, Lauren’s move to the best female team in the world underlines what we as a team are all about, but every single rider has worked with their individual programmes and made huge strides forward, there is a lot more to come..........

From UCI stage race wins, podiums in world class fields to European and National champions, every member of the team has contributed to an incredibly successful season, delivering an impressive world ranking for a team of our size........

We frequently say that results don’t matter, but if you get the development piece right the results will come - and come they did .....

End of Season 2025!

That’s a wrap on the racing for 2025 and what a season it has been. The team continue to build on earlier foundations and its development ethos, which continues to provide the platform for both individual and team progression.

It is pleasing to see that the implementation of a somewhat different strategy is bearing fruit. Good luck Lauren.”

Best of luck to Lauren from all at ALBA!
Photos: SW PIX

Her future is very bright indeed and we will be hearing her name a lot in the coming years. The team was set up to create a platform for development, with the team’s major focus being the rider and getting the best out of them.

Team Manager Bob Lyons added:
“We are delighted that Lauren has signed a two year contract with FDJ-Suez. It has been a delight watching, and being a part of, her development this year. She has had an incredible season and this move is just reward.

Looking forwards, I endeavour to give my all and continue learning and progressing with FDJ-Suez. My long-term ambitions are to race the Grand Tours, but next year I want to focus on perfecting race craft and doing my best for our leaders.”

Stepping up from club level and progressing to WorldTour in 18 months is, I believe, a testament to Alba’s development pathway.
No words can describe how grateful I am for the opportunities provided, the support and friendship from my teammates, and the generosity and efforts of sponsors and staff

Speaking about her signing, Lauren says:
“When I signed for Alba, Bob said the team focuses on developing riders. I’m very excitemed and honoured to confirm that I’ve signed a two-year contract with the world’s number one team FDJ-Suez, a dream become reality.