Cycle Aberdeenshire has entered its fourth year of a mutual partnership with the UCI Continental Women’s cycling race team – Handsling Alba Development Road Team.
The 2025 season witnessed the team claim the British Cycling National Criterium Championships through a photo finish on the Welsh coast that saw Kate Richardson claim the title. Meanwhile, the team’s overall aims of providing the platform, support, guidance, mentoring and race programme to fulfil potential and achieve individual aspirations were fully met by the progress of Lauren Dickson who has joined the world leading FDJ United – Suez Women’s World Tour team.
The 2026 Handsling Alba Development Road Team at their 2026 launch event. Picture: Kabir Zaman
2026 should also see the Aberdeenshire-based team have representation at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow this summer and the team’s full race schedule can be found at https://www.alba-rt.com/race-schedule
The full 2026 team roster is (GB unless stated): Kate Richardson; Neah Evans; Mari Porton; Maddie Leech; Arabella Blackburn; Arianne Holland; Beth Morrow; Maddie Cooper; Grace Lister; Holly Ramsey; Anna Flynn; Izzy Sharp; and Amelia Tyler (Ireland).
The renewed partnership will see the team continue to enjoy the benefits of the PressReader application, available to all Aberdeenshire residents via Live Life Aberdeenshire library service https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/libraries/digital-landing-page/, so that the riders can stay up-to-date with news and, via the Libby app, the team can enjoy magazine articles including cycling related ones.
The team will continue to adopt the Cycle Aberdeenshire women’s and girl’s cycling ambassador role, which was formerly held solely by Neah Evans, with the team collectively taking on that mantle and being exemplars to girls and women of all ages across Aberdeenshire.
Adding to that area of work is the arrival of Stonehaven’s Arabella Blackburn to the team, with Arabella being no stranger to Cycle Aberdeenshire having starred as a 15 year old in the West to Glenshee film ahead of the 2022 Tour of Britain, and more recently as an ambassador for the Tour of Britain Legacy Routes programme which can be found at https://www.livelifeaberdeenshire.org.uk/sport-and-physical-activity/cycle-aberdeenshire/tour-of-britain-legacy-routes/
Everyone at Live Life Aberdeenshire and Aberdeenshire Council said they are thrilled that the Cycle Aberdeenshire logo is now also a prominent feature on the rear of the team’s racing kit, complimenting the logo having been on the team car since 2023 and ensuring that the umbrella brand for cycling is highly visible across the UK and Europe.
Team manager Bob Lyons said: “2025 was an exceptional year for the team and 2026 presents opportunities domestically and across Europe, and clearly at an international level the Commonwealth Games taking place in Glasgow is huge for those in the team who will be taking part.
“We are delighted to have Arabella as part of the team as a developing Aberdeenshire rider and her links to Cycle Aberdeenshire are well known, so the addition of the Cycle Aberdeenshire logo to our team jersey is a natural progression as our partnership enters its fourth year.”
Councillor Anne Stirling, co-Leader of Aberdeenshire Council and chairwoman of the communities committee, said: “Since 2023, January is always an exciting time for Cycle Aberdeenshire as we see the new line up from the Handsling Alba Development Road Team, their race plans and looking forward to all the amazing stories from their season.”
“As chairwoman of the communities committee, I have watched the progression of the Cycle Aberdeenshire logo across a wide range of events and activities since its inception in 2022 and it is a proud moment for Live Life Aberdeenshire and Aberdeenshire Council that the logo is now part of the team’s race jersey, increasing that visibility even more.
“My best wishes for the forthcoming season go to all the riders and staff.”