Why can't 2024's most successful team find a bike sponsor?

Road racing’s not just about the biggest races, the biggest names and the biggest teams. While the Giro d’Italia continues and hogs most of the headlines, there's plenty of quality racing going on elsewhere, just with a lesser profile and often less funding too. This leads us to the question: why can’t Britain’s most talented young team get a bike brand on board?

That team is Shibden HopeTech Apex, and we hear from its manager, Tim Ferguson. He tells us about their astonishing run of success through the first half of this season, about the WorldTour teams interested in signing half a dozen or more of his riders, and reveals that they're achieving world-beating results on a budget that would barely cover the cost of one fully-fitted WorldTour racing bike. Despite this financial poverty, Ferguson also asserts that he's determined for his team to press on and keep producing talent, hoping that more support will come in future.

We also hear from Cat Ferguson, Tim's daughter and the outstanding talent on that Shibden team. Signed to a multi-year deal with Movistar from 1 August, the 18-year-old British sensation reflects on a season where her worst position has been second, on the crop of British juniors who look set to make waves on the Women's WorldTour in the years ahead, on her determination to win an elusive rainbow jersey before she leaves the junior ranks, and of her gratitude for the women who have paved the way to better and sustainable careers at the top level.

Out with the brown shorts and in with victories – that's been the story of Decathlon Ag2r La Mondiale's season so far. After nine wins in 2023, the French team already have 16 this year. We turned to their experienced road captain Larry Warbasse to get an insight into the reasons behind this change in fortunes. The American explains how Decathlon's arrival provided new motivation and focus, as well as extremely fast new bikes that have helped boost the riders' speed and confidence levels.

Our Giro diary comes from Groupama-FDJ's Lewis Askey, who is full of praise for the organisers of the corsa rosa, reveals that Clarkson's Farm is getting his roommate Laurence Pithie sleeping like a baby in the evenings, and explains why he's confident in his own and his team's chances of his success before the race reaches Rome.

This podcast is brought to you with the support of our sponsor, Saddle Skedaddle. For details on how to save £100 on all of Skedaddle's Italian holidays during the Giro d'Italia, go to www.skedaddle.com/radiocycling

Music provided by HearWeGo 
Marion - High Hopes
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