The British Continental

Send us a textTwenty-five-year-old Scot Lauren Dickson only pinned on a race number in 2024 - yet by May 2025 she was 3rd overall at the Tour of Norway and winner of the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. In this conversation with host Denny Gray, the former mountain-runner and triathlete breaks down the defining moments, steep learning curves and audacious goals that have made her one of Britain’s fastest-rising road racers.The Handsling Alba Development Road Team rider's sporting life did not start on two wheels. She began as a Scotland-capped junior runner but broke a bone in her left foot in 2019, leaving her ankle too fragile for downhill running. Rehab led her to triathlon and draft-legal duathlon in Spain, where she picked up bunch-riding skills. In 2024 she Googled how to start road racing, joined Edinburgh Road Club, finished 44th in her first event, then won two local races a fortnight later. Second place at the Lancaster Grand Prix caught Handsling Alba Development Road Team’s eye; a runner-up ride at Ryedale and methodical work on her descending followed. She delivered Alba’s first National Road Series win at the Rapha Lincoln GP and, with new confidence, matched WorldTour climbers at the Tour of Norway. Next up is the Tour of Britain Women on home roads, while former pro Hannah Barnes is helping her to navigate WorldTour interest. For now, though, the plan is simple: keep learning fast, race even faster—and enjoy every descent she once feared.If you enjoy the show, please rate us, leave a review and share it with a club-mate who still thinks Cat-4 is the ceiling.Produced by Will Jones.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textJames McKay joins host Denny Gray fresh from a career-making victory at the 2025 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. The 28-year-old Sheffield-based rider in Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli green relives the sprint up Michaelgate that delivered his first National A win and explains why “it’s just about sunk in” now the champagne haze has cleared.The conversation rewinds to 2022, when McKay was black-flagged at the same race, rode home in despair and phoned development-team boss Dave Coulson to quit - only for Coulson to reply “nonsense” and insist the talent was still there. That single vote of confidence pulled McKay back from the brink and set in motion the comeback the pair dissect on air.McKay credits a whole cast of British road-racing royalty - Ali Slater, Tom Stewart, the Downing brothers, Graham Briggs, and 1995 Lincoln winner Mark Walsham - for the chain-gang sessions and blunt advice that “made me realise I was actually at a decent level” . Their wisdom, plus a breakout 2023 season, helped him banish the imposter syndrome he once masked by calling every good result “a fluke”.He also lifts the lid on Wheelbase’s distinctive ethos: “we race selfishly together”. With no fixed leader, prize money split evenly and trust that everyone will get their day, the system lets multiple engines fire without ego - something McKay believes was decisive both at East Cleveland and again in Lincoln’s heat.Race-day detail comes thick and fast: the late attack that shed Ben Granger, Alex Peters’ solo gamble, and a three-abreast elbow-fight into the famous left-hander. On the climb McKay twice kicked clear - “with the roar of the crowd I had no idea who was on my wheel, so I just kept drilling it”. Friends who had trained with him all winter formed a noisy green wall that, he says, “gave me wings”; later they soaked up the moment in the pub while he nursed a podium sip of champagne before driving home.Looking ahead, the Lincoln trophy resets nothing and everything. McKay still wants a crack at the National Road Championships, plans to focus on the National Road Series rather than the Circuit Series, and admits he’d consider a return to UCI Continental level “if the right people and calendar came along” -but at 28 he’s determined to savour the sport rather than chase a long-shot pro contract.Tune in for a candid masterclass in resilience, team chemistry and the sheer emotional punch of Britain’s cobbled monument - plus the reminder that sometimes a single word of faith can change an athlete’s life.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textThe British Continental Podcast is back with a fresh look at the state of British domestic road racing. With key teams like Saint Piran, Trinity Racing, and Lifeplus-Wahoo all folding recently, host Denny Gray sits down with James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT) to discuss the fallout, explore its impact on riders’ careers, and debate what it means for the future of the sport.In a candid and insightful conversation, James and Lucy share their experiences dealing with the uncertainty of team closures, the challenges in navigating their careers, and their thoughts on the evolving landscape of the UK peloton.Also in this episode, we hear from one of the early standout performers of the season, Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Stork). Adam talks through his remarkable rise, from taking up cycling during lockdown to winning major domestic races this year, and what it means for his confidence and ambitions.Finally, the panel previews the upcoming East Cleveland Classic, offering tactical insights, highlighting key riders and teams, and sharing their predictions for what promises to be an intriguing race.Featuring:• James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli)• Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT)• Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Stork)Keep up with all things British domestic racing at www.thebritishcontinental.co.ukSupport the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textIn this episode, we sit down with British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton OBE for an exclusive interview, following the organisation’s much-anticipated update on implementation of the 43 recommendations put forward by the elite road racing task force.The task force was charged with developing recommendations for British Cycling to implement in 2024 and beyond, aimed at breathing new life into the ailing, fragile elite road racing scene. Jon Dutton promised that the task force would not be "a talking shop" and said “there are a number of areas where we can and will make immediate progress” [Ed: emphasis added].In January 2024, the task force's report presented 43 key actions for British Cycling to implement, condensed into 16 published recommendations, with British Cycling responding that a "long-term action plan" was already in development in response.Our latest conversation with Jon Dutton dives into what progress has been made so far. Dutton emphasises the organisation's efforts to implement one of the standout recommendations - saving the Tours of Britain - but what about the other 42 actions, the ones directly aimed at revitalising the elite level? Fans were promised fast results, but has British Cycling delivered?In this candid discussion, recorded just before the publication of the official progress update on 13 September, Jon sheds light on British Cycling's efforts so far and whether he is satisfied with progress.For domestic road racing enthusiasts, this episode offers a deep dive into the state of the sport, what’s been done so far, and what the future holds. Listen in to hear whether British Cycling is meeting expectations, and check out our upcoming progress scorecard on the website to see our own assessment of their efforts.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textEver wondered what it takes to manage a professional cycling team on the cusp of a major race? Tom Varney, the General Manager of Lifeplus-Wahoo, joins us on The British Continental podcast for an eye-opening discussion on the eve of the Tour of Britain Women. Tom discusses the importance of the race for British cycling teams and riders, highlighting the what it means for exposure and sponsorship. We also explore the mix of WorldTour and Continental teams in this year's edition, and why it presents opportunities for the Lifeplus-Wahoo team. The conversation touches on Kate Richardson's horror crash just days out from the race when she was knocked off her bike by the driver of a 4x4 vehicle. Tom's disappointment at not being selected for the Tour de France Femmes this year is palpable, but hear also reflects on the silver-linings to non-selection. Tom sheds light on how they're revising their calendar, seeking alternative races, and revising the team's approach. The implications on morale and commercial aspects are significant, but the team remains hopeful and forward-focused.Tom takes us through the team's plans to step up to ProTeam level in 2025 and the hurdles that will need to be overcome to make that happen. We reflect on the growth of UCI Continental teams in the UK .In the final segment, Tom considers what has enabled the team to continue for so long, and reflects on the team's past successes and achievements as the it nears its ten year anniversary. Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textWelcome back to another episode of The British Continental podcast, where we delve deep into the world of domestic road racing, bringing you stories, insights, and conversations with the people shaping the sport. In this episode, we have the honour of speaking with Jon Dutton OBE, the Chief Executive of British Cycling. Jon has been at the helm of British Cycling since April 2023. With a wealth of experience in sports management and a deep passion for cycling, Jon is uniquely positioned to discuss the current state of British cycling, its future direction, and the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead.We speak to him on the eve of the Tour of Britain Women, an event that British Cycling has stepped in to save and revive after the demise of the Women's Tour and its organiser, Sweespot.In our conversation, Jon shares the behind-the-scenes efforts that have gone into organising the race, the strategic decisions made to ensure its success, and British Cycling’s ambitions for the Tour of Britain Men too. We also revisit the Elite Road Racing Task Force, something we discussed with Task Force Chair Ed Clancy OBE in a previous episode. The Task Force was set up in August 2023 by British Cycling with the aim of energising the elite road racing scene. Its recommendations were published in January 2024, and I ask him when British Cycling will begin to implement the recommendations, given Jon's previous emphasis on the need for the Task Force process to deliver 'immediate progress'.We conclude by discussing British Cycling’s new sponsorship deal with Lloyds Bank and what that will mean for the sport’s elite level.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textThe Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix is not just another bike race; it is, in our humble view, the most important one-day road race in Britain, a beacon of British road racing tradition, a race that enters the winners into British road racing folklore. Our latest podcast episode delves into the legacy and strategic intricacies of this storied race, featuring firsthand insights from Saint Piran's James McKay and Jo Tindley (Pro-Noctis – 200º Coffee – Hargreaves Contracting Ltd), delving into the nuances of positioning, race dynamics, and the sheer power required to scale the daunting cobbled Michaelgate climb.James discusses why the race is so important to domestic riders, provides an insight track on the circuit and considers Saint Piran's National Road Series dominance. Jo, who has raced every edition of the women's race, describes her love-hate relationship with the Lincoln Grand Prix, her strategic shift for this year's race which involves meticulous training on the Michaelgate, and how Cat Ferguson blew her away at the East Cleveland Classic.Listen now for exclusive insight into the race, and to find out who James and Jo are tipping to win on Sunday. Check out the race preview on our website here. And get 10% of Monument Cycling TV's new subscription to watch the race using this link.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textHost Denny Gray is joined by Saint Piran's James McKay and Jo Tindley of Pro-Noctis - 200º Coffee - Hargreaves Contracting Ltd to discuss the latest domestic road racing developments. The trio consider:Saint Piran's decision to close its USKIS development team. Hear directly from James about the team's decision to merge their development and UCI Continental squads.The important of competition. James, Jo and Denny compare and contrast the dominance of Saint Piran in men's domestic scene versus the more competitive, less predictable women's racing scene.The season so far. We dissect the races that have shaken up 2024, spotlighting riders and teams that have caught the eye. Jo drops insights from last month's the ANEXO CAMS CiCLE Classic. The East Cleveland Classic: James and Jo dish out insider info and make bold predictions for the next National Road Series round.Listen now to stay ahead of the pack and join the conversation about the ever-evolving landscape of domestic road racing.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textWith the 2024 National Road Series just around the corner, The British Continental podcast is back with a preview of the women's National Road Series and the upcoming ANEXO/CAMS CiCLE Classic, one of the most important elite road races on the British calendar.Host Denny Gray gathers an insightful panel including Sarah King, the inspirational London Academy manager, and DAS-Hutchinson-Brother UK rider Sian Botteley - one of the main protagonists of last year's CiCLE Classic - to discuss what to expect from this year women's National Road Series and why it matters.The trio also look ahead to this Sunday's ANEXO/CAMOS CiCLE Classic (17 March), which has a stellar startlist. The race occupies a distinctive niche in the UK road racing calendar with its challenging off-road sectors. Its recent rescheduling to March has increased its unpredictability and the harshness of racing conditions. Denny, Sarah and Sian discuss the tricky parcours and how to approach it, and pick out riders and teams to watch.We also hear from Monica Greenwood, the reigning National Road Series champion. Greenwood shares her pivotal 'now or never' decision to embrace full-time racing at the start of 2023, leading to a standout season. She offers an insider's view on clinching the National Road Series title and expresses her eagerness to compete in the Series again this year, despite her progression to Team Coop-Repsol. Having narrowly missed out on the win at last season's CiCLE Classic, Greenwood has unfinished business at this time around.Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.

Send us a textWelcome back to The British Continental podcast, the show all about domestic road racing.  In today's episode, host Denny Gray discusses the way forward for British road racing with Olympian Ed Clancy.Last August Ed was asked to chair the elite road racing task force, an eight-person panel of experts tasked with the job of developing a series of recommendations for British Cycling to implement in 2024 and beyond. The task force was given a targeted remit, to consider the composition of the elite national calendar (including road and circuit), the challenges facing domestic teams and the opportunities to grow the reach and profile of domestic races. Jon Dutton, British Cycling’s CEO, stressed that the task force would not be a talking shop, saying that there were areas where British Cycling “can and will make immediate progress."After several months of deliberations the task force published its report on Monday, the 29 January. It contained 16 recommendations for British Cycling to take forward, many of them calling for further exploration and review. Ed, a three-time Olympic gold medallist, is no stranger to domestic road racing. He was a long-time member of the renowned JLT Condor squad and was regularly at the pointy end of some the country’s top races, particularly when it came to crits.In this episode, Denny speaks to him about the challenges facing domestic road racing, why he took on the job as chair of the task force, the task force's recommendations, and what difference he thinks the work of the task force will make. Support the showRapha presents The British Continental.