British World Tour pro turns to social media to avoid retirement - "I have never been more motivated"

As we reach the end of October and most riders enter the off-season, a few riders in the World Tour are still looking to prolong their career. Quality riders some of them, it is a surprising fact. That is the case with Great Britain's James Shaw who isn't having his contract with EF Education-EasyPost renewed and at the time being is not any fond of hanging up the wheels.

Shaw turned pro in 2017 with Lotto Soudal and it's not the first time that he is in a tricky position contract wise, as in 2019 he only found his way into the peloton in February with the British SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling Team, however as the years go by the amount of British teams able to gather the national talents diminishes. After two years in the smaller categories the 29-year old returned to the World Tour in 2022 with EF Education-EasyPost where he has spent the past four years. But now, he is again looking for a team last-minute into the 2026 season.

"Slightly longer caption than usual so please persist," he wrote in an Instagram post. "That’s a wrap for the 2025 season so here is a dump from my highs and lows. 81 race days over 12000km of racing. 2 grand tours, my first Giro and a good touch with the tarmac. A small step on the podium at Pays Loire Tour in April, top 10 of a stage during La Vuelta all in all not a bad lap".

Although he has not yet taken his first pro win, he is a quality climber and puncheur, most notably in 2023 he was part of the breakaway that was caught by Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard en route to Cauterets, where he finished fifth on the day. He was only beaten by Kévin Vauquelin back in the final stage of the Région Pays de la Loire Tour this April. He was also sixth in a stage of the Vuelta only two months ago, whilst having five Grand Tours and monuments in his record.

With Arkéa-B&B Hotels folding and the merger between Intermarché - Wanty and Lotto, there will be less contracts at the highest level of the sport this year for both staff and riders. Some will feel the weight of it, and the pressure is on for riders such as Shaw. "Now for the awkward answer to the question I’ve been avoiding when you lot direct message me. For 2026 I do not know where I will be or what I will be doing. Yet again I find myself aboard the ship of riders in search of a contract in 2026," he confirms.

"Personally I have never been more motivated and enthusiastic to keep racing something I thought was slowly slide as I resist the aging process. However I’ve found the opposite to be the case. Due to the somewhat rocky nature of the career I’ve had I know what it’s like to lose a dream career and gain it back again".

"So if there are any teams out there looking for a rider please do get in touch. Thanks for reading this far you must have a lot of spare time to make it to the end," he concluded.