ANALYSIS: As British cycling enters a new era, who are their 5 top riders? Including Pidcock, Tarling and more
Cycling
The 2025 cycling season is set to be a vital year for
British cycling, as the country moves towards a new era of racing. It’s fair to
say that the last few years have seen a huge change in British cycling, most
notably with the once-dominant INEOS Grenadiers suffering a brutally
challenging 2024 season that saw the team pick up just one grand tour win.
The departure of key riders, including Tom Pidcock, has
further intensified the need for a change in culture at INEOS. Pidcock's move
to Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team is perhaps the perfect embodiment of how much things
have changed in British cycling since the 2010s.
Adding to the transformation, broadcasting giants ITV and
Eurosport have lost the rights to air the Tour de France . This change raises
concerns about the accessibility of the sport for British audiences,
potentially impacting fan engagement and the sport's growth at the most basic
level. The absence of familiar voices and coverage styles may lead to a
disconnect for long-time followers of the Tour, which could be a long term
disaster.
Compounding these changes is the retirement of the legendary
Mark Cavendish, who bid farewell to professional cycling at the end of 2024.
Cavendish's departure leaves a void in British sprinting and a legacy that has
inspired countless young cyclists, but it is now time for them to step up.
In this article, we’re going to take a look at who are the
riders charged with waving the British flag. Some are already right towards the
sharp end of the peloton, whereas others will be hoping to stamp their
authority on the sport this year.
1. Tom Pidcock
Let’s start with the most obvious name on the list. The man
who has been the topic of drama and debate this winter: Tom Pidcock.
At 25, Tom Pidcock is one of the most talented riders to
come out of Great Britain, with accolades spanning multiple disciplines. His
decision to leave INEOS Grenadiers and join Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team during the
off-season was unexpected, especially considering Q36.5's status outside the
WorldTour, meaning he’ll need a wildcard for any major races.
Tom Pidcock's departure from the INEOS Grenadiers is already paying off
This move, however, appears to be about gaining more control
within the team (which he would never get at INEOS) and building the squad
around him.
Pidcock's tenure with INEOS turned sour towards the end, and
he never really kicked on from his Tour de France 2022 stage win. Now outside
the spotlight of INEOS, Pidcock has a second chance.
Despite initial scepticism about joining a ProTeam,
Pidcock's impact has been immediate at Q36.5. He secured victories in two
stages and clinched the General Classification at the AlUla Tour, and these
performances not only boost his confidence but also enhance Q36.5's reputation,
potentially increasing their invitations to the most important races.
Notably, Pidcock won’t be at 2025 Tour de France, aiming to
return better than ever before at the 2026 edition. And with Q36.5, Pidcock
will be able to put more time into other disciplines, while also finding his
form again on the road.
It must be said that Pidcock is no longer one of the
youngest riders in the peloton, and he needs to stamp his authority quicker
than some of the others on this list. But, so far, his winter move looks like
it is paying off.
Read also
2. Joshua Tarling
Joshua Tarling, the 21-year-old Welsh prodigy, has rapidly
ascended in the world of professional cycling. His early career was marked by a
bronze medal in the 2023 World Championship Time Trial and a near-victory over
reigning world champion Remco Evenepoel at the Critérium du Dauphiné last year.
The latter part of 2024 season, however, presented
unforeseen challenges. Tarling faced a series of setbacks, including a crash
that forced him to abandon his first Grand Tour, the Vuelta a Espana, and
narrowly missing podium finishes in both the Olympic and World Championship
Time Trials. The Olympics was particularly cruel on Tarling, as he missed out
on the podium because of the worst time puncture of his young career.
Joshua Tarling is one of the best time trial specialists on the planet
Entering 2025 with renewed determination, Tarling has
already started strong by winning the time trial at the UAE Tour, clocking an
impressive average speed of 56.67 km/h over a 12.2 km course. He beat none
other than Tadej Pogacar in doing so too!
As Tarling continues to evolve, his journey will no doubt
have some more bumps on the road. His ability to rebound from the setbacks of
last summer, and achieve early-season success suggests he has the metal to be
one of the best, and he’s definitely one we’ll be watching closely this year.
3. Cat Ferguson
At just 18, Cat Ferguson has emerged as one of British
cycling's most versatile and promising talents. Hailing from Skipton,
Yorkshire, Ferguson's 2024 season was superb, as she clinched two World Junior
Championship gold medals on the track, but she wasn’t done there as she went on
to secure both the road race and time trial titles at the World Junior Road
Championships in Zurich.
Think Ferguson is ‘just’ a track and road specialist? Nope,
she’s also one of the very best talents on a cyclocross and mountain bike too.
Cat Ferguson might just be the most talented on this list
In early 2025, Ferguson continued her rise by winning the
team relay gold at the Cyclocross World Championships in France. Her transition
to the professional ranks was helped by a stagiaire role with Movistar Team in
2024, leading to a full-time contract in 2025.
Despite her rapid rise, Ferguson remains grounded and is
expecting her journey to the front of the peloton to take some time. But
there’s no denying the fact that Cat Ferguson is by far one of the most
talented riders on this list.
4. Oscar Onley
At just 22 years old, Oscar Onley has emerged as one of the
most exciting young British climbers. Hailing from the Scottish Borders, Onley
currently rides for Team Picnic PostNL and has already made a name for himself
with strong performances in some of the biggest races on the calendar.
2025 looks set to be an important year for Oscar Onley
His breakthrough moment came in 2023 when he played a
crucial role in his team’s victory in a team time trial (TTT) stage at the
Vuelta a Espana. In 2024, Onley made his Tour de France debut and finished 39th
in the general classification, a decent result that prooved his ability to
endure the demands of a three-week race.
He has started 2025 in excellent form, finishing fourth
overall at the Tour Down Under, and his ability to perform well early in the
season suggests that he is on track for another strong year. As a climber,
Onley has already found himself competing against some of the best in the
world. Recently, he finished second behind Tadej Pogacar on the Jebel Jais
climb in UAE, showing he can mix it with the very best.
If Onley continues to progress at his current rate, he could
soon be a key contender in week-long stage races and, eventually, in the
mountains of the Grand Tours. Onley was also the highest place British rider at
the road world championships in Zurich last year, and he was the winner of the
Youth Classification at the Tour of Britain.
5. Joseph Blackmore
Another young British rider making waves is Joseph
Blackmore. At 22 years old, the Israel-Premier Tech rider had something of a
breakout season in 2024, winning the Tour du Rwanda, the Tour de l'Avenir, and
Liège-Bastogne-Liège Espoirs. These results have established him as one of the
most promising talents in British cycling, with a particularly bright future in
stage races and hilly one-day races.
Winning the Tour de l’Avenir is particularly significant,
make no mistake. Often referred to as the "Mini Tour de France," this
race has historically been a proving ground for future Grand Tour winners.
Previous winners include Egan Bernal, Tadej Pogacar, and Nairo Quintana, all of
whom have gone on to win grand tours.
Is Joseph Blackmore Great Britain's new GC hope?
Could Britian have a grand tour winner on their hands with
Blackmore? His success in the Tour de l’Avenir suggests that British fans have
something to get excited over, and he could become a serious player in the
coming years.
Blackmore is no one dimensional rider either, and this was
further demonstrated by his fourth-place finish at Brabantse Pijl, a
semi-classic known for its punchy climbs and aggressive racing. This result
suggests that, in addition to his talent in stage races, Blackmore has the
potential to compete in the Ardennes Classics and other hilly one-day races.
With his ability to perform in a variety of race formats,
2025 could be another breakthrough season as he takes on bigger races and
continues his development at the WorldTour level. Blackmore is another top
rider to watch.
With British cycling entering a period of transition, these
five riders represent the sport’s next generation. Tom Pidcock, Joshua Tarling,
Cat Ferguson, Oscar Onley, and Joseph Blackmore all have the potential to shape
the future of British cycling in different ways. Over to you.
Fin MajorCycling Journalist
Fin Major is a UK-based writer at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2024. He is the site’s main writer for FAQs and evergreen explainers and has written around 2,000 pieces for the platform. Alongside this work, he focuses on in-depth analysis and covers the biggest races on the calendar, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España, providing clear context around performance trends, tactics, and key storylines.
In his reporting, Fin uses reputable data sources such as ProCyclingStats for results, statistics, and historical context. He places strong emphasis on careful sourcing, editorial accuracy, and updating articles promptly when new, verified information becomes available. Outside of writing, Fin is an active cyclist, which supports his practical understanding of the sport and its demands.
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- many people advise him to grow slowly and rather do giro and/or vuelta instead of tdf. but i can totally understand that he is not satisfied with taking over once pogi declines, but instead beat him in his prime. so if he goes for tdf again, i‘m all for it. let‘s hope that pogi recovers soon!Ketterechts07-11-2026
- So gracious to offer something no-one would be prepared to pay for. The Giro is not the Tour and doesn’t command the same interest or attract the same “elite” (those willing to pay to be a part of something they consider has ego boosting potential). Roadside viewing will always largely remain free for everyone outside circuits. Introduction of a symbolic entrance to mountain climbs is worthy of exploration. Asking 1-2€ isn’t going to repulse real fans (most will spend 50-100€ on their outing that day all things included) but will prevent a portion of the total knobhead thrillseekers who will join in any large gathering as long as it’s free, just because they’re attracted to crowds, without which it it difficult for them to work up their anti-social behaviour.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- How is radio going to help when someone went over a cliff or bridge or off the roadside into a forest unnoticed and is laying there unconscious?Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- Yep, next we’ll be accusing F1 drivers of avoiding Le Mans.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- But on what is that opinion based? Are you holding him to a different standard than others? Are you saying he should do learn to like something he doesn’t Are you saying he hasn’t achieved enough Are you saying he pretends to be better than his results? It’s actually a really strange opinion to oust if you consider it objectively or rationally. Try applying it to others or yourself by asking if not EVERYONE should then be doing more? Nobody in athletics or swimming gets criticism for not expanding their repertoire when a rival or someone else does. In fact, most who move to another event get accused of running from their rival. Opinions are boring, the reasons behind them are what count.Jumpyjohn07-11-2026
- for a medical chief to throw things like is just bad. There are already radios which were banned for spectacle. allow radios. Gps trackers are not a complete solutionabstractengineer07-11-2026
- Yeah man...PogiSloFans07-11-2026
- any rider less than 25 whether they are really ready for the position of leadership of GT is probably not the case. I think Pogi himself suffered when he was defeated by Jonas in the TDF twice. But that would be the team's job to ensure support so that they can bounce back. It requires a team and time to get back up and win after getting knocked down.abstractengineer07-11-2026
- I'm very glad he got the big late Quickstep Vuelta win and I hope he has a few left for Euskaltel-Euskadi.flyer07-11-2026
- My memories of Ivan Basso aren't good but I liked his sister Elisa ok.flyer07-11-2026
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