Introducing the Rayner Foundation’s 2025 cohort of next generation racers

by January 14, 2025

written by January 14, 2025

A collection of 38 young British cyclists – 35 men and three women – have been chosen for Rayner Foundation funding for 2025.

The charity, entering its 30th year, supports young Brits hoping to forge a racing career abroad, and is named after Dave Rayner. Many former recipients have gone on to have professional racing careers and win the biggest bike races, from David Millar to Oscar Onley.

“I found out about it through Instagram, just other riders posting it,” Ben Chilton, who heads into his second year of funding, explained. “When I thought about moving to France, I thought I should try and get on Rayner, and I did. The grant itself takes a bit of pressure off you, and then also there’s a community of riders around. Even if you don’t know them personally, at races there’s someone you can speak to, it’s a common ground really. If anyone is thinking of moving abroad to race, the Rayner is a very key part of making that step.”

“I was the only girl supported last year, which was an honour,” she said. I don’t think that many girls have been supported by the fund, so it’s nice to change that, encourage female cyclists to apply. We just have to keep working at it. I think it’s not only been about the grant money, but about building confidence in the female community as well. That’s been the really important thing for me this year.

“Being part of the Rayner Foundation is big for your image as well, so I think it’s created a lot of support and help in the female community. A couple of girls came up to me at the Rayner dinner a couple of weeks ago saying it was nice to see a female rider up there as well. The grant money is a huge help. It’s not enough for me to just survive, but it’s a huge help, what with all the costs that come with living abroad. I definitely wouldn’t be able to do what I’m doing now without their help.”

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Name	Team
Ben Askey	CC Étupes
Brandon Baldacci	Ciclista Rostese
Ollie Boarer	SCO Dijon
Ben Bright	ASPTT Nancy
Joe Brookes	AVC Aix
Jack Brough	AVC Aix
Huw Buck Jones	Bourg en Bresse
Ben Chilton	Mayenne-V&B-Monbana
Taylor Churchill	Hubo-Scott
Robyn Clay	DAS-Hutchinson
Joe Cosgrove	Lotto-Kern Haus-PSD Bank
Mattie Dodd	Tirol KTC
Alistair Gardner	CC Étupes
Alfie George	SCO Dijon
Seb Grindley	Lidl Trek Development
James Hartley	Briquebec Cotentin
Ella Jamieson	Massi-Baix Ter
Max Krasinski	Apogé Charente-Maritime
Mark Lightfoot	AVC Aix
Owen Lightfoot	CC Rias Baixas
Matthew Lord	Briquebec Cotentin
Nick Makin	Hubo-Scott
Ben Marsh	Apogé Charente-Maritime
Thomas Mead	Chartres Cyclisme
Adam Mitchell	Vendée-U
Paul Opie	Chartres Cyclisme
Bradley Perkins	AC Bisontine
Will Piccin-White	EFC-L&R-Van Mossel
Alex Pickering	TBA
Awen Roberts	Canyon-SRAM Generation
Joseph Smith	ESEG Douai
Will Smith	Visma-Lease a Bike Development
Jed Smithson	Visma-Lease a Bike Development
Matt Thompson	BMC Béziers
Lucas Towers	Caja Rural U23
Joseph Turnbull	Sima-Cepial
Callum Twelves	Torres-Trigon
George Wood	MGK Vis-Colours for Peace

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