Handsling Alba to Race on A1R0evo frames in 2025 Season

Elite women’s cycling team Alba Development Road Team has named Handsling as frame supplier and title sponsor for the 2025 season. 

The Scotland-based UCI Continental team will race as Handsling Alba Development Road Team and continue to be equipped with the high-performance A1R0evo carbon race bikes.

Together they aim to build on last season’s remarkable success in both domestic and continental cycling. Alba raced to a stunning championship double in the UK road and circuit series. They also performed strongly in high-profile European events including Tour de Feminin, Antwerp Port Epic and Tour de L’Ardeche.

Alba and Handsling share the objective of providing talented riders with a pathway to the top of women’s cycling. Scottish national champion Eilidh Shaw recently signed a two-year contract with the UAE Development Team following a series of outstanding wins on her Handsling A1R0evo. 

The 19-year-old won the UK National Road and Circuit Series and was named domestic rider of the year by publications Cycling Weekly and The British Continental - all in her first full season at elite level. 

Simon Whiten, Director of Handsling Ltd, said: ‘We’re delighted to be strengthening our existing relationship with Alba. It’s been incredible to see the success of the team on the A1R0evo, winning many of the UK's biggest races and being competitive on the continent. It means a lot to see riders like Eilidh making huge strides in their cycling careers and demonstrating the race pedigree of Handsling frames.

'For cyclists to become world class, they require the team environment, race programme and high-performance equipment to fulfil their potential. We’re confident that the team will provide this.' 

Bob Lyons, Alba Development Performance Director and Team Manager, said: ‘Looking forward to 2025, the ethos and goals remain unchanged in that we are totally focused on the development of riders in order to deliver them to the World Tour. The depth and balance of the squad for 2025 gives us a lot of flexibility in regards to how we achieve such objectives.’

Handsling Alba’s roster for the 2025 season will consist of 11 riders. The line up features a mixture of youth, experience, and even a household name - Olympic and World Champion Neah Evans. Riders renewing their contracts include race winners Lauren Dickson and Keira Bond. U23 signings Maddie Leach, El King and Mari Porton are considered potential stars of the future. 

As a British team, Handsling Alba will focus on the full calendar of elite UK races with greater participation in European races compared to this season. Events will be chosen to ensure riders are in the correct race to optimise their development. The team is expecting to undertake 40 to 50 race days in Europe spanning single day and stage races at all UCI levels - 2.1, Pro and World Tour. 

The team will be equipped with the A1R0evo for the second season in a row. Designed 100% in-house, the carbon frame is disc brake only, has clearance for 32mm tyres, and features asymmetrical forks and chain stays to enhance power transfer and stability under braking. Handsling controls all aspects of production and owns the moulds used to manufacture the A1R0evo.