Harrison Wood looks forwards to joining up with Oliver Knight in Cofidis: "Like a boy band gone wrong"
Cycling
Annual Rayner Foundation Dinner takes place in Leeds, as vital funds are raised for the next generation of British cyclists. The Rayner Foundation has been one of the few projects on the British Isles that has survived to this day and has become a key step for most of the young cyclists from the country who wish to make a name for themselves racing in Europe.
"Like a boy band gone wrong," is how Harrison Wood describes Cofidis in front, as fellow Rayner-funded rider Oliver Knight prepares to become the second Brit on the French WorldTeam in 2024. Wood's words are said in jest, of course, and immediately draw laughter from the Leeds crowd, that includes GCN reporters, who have gathered at the annual Rayner Foundation Dinner.
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As the night’s entertainment is drawing to a close, Wood’s comments raise a cackle of laughter from the room and sum up an evening well spent amongst friends both old and new. All that is left is for Joscelin Ryan of the Rayner Foundation to announce the recipient of the Lewis Barry Award for Rider of the Year, which has a star-studded list of past winners including Jake Stewart, Adam Yates and James Shaw.
Following a year in which his sensational form for AVC Aix-en-Provence has led to a two-year contract with Cofidis, Knight is deservedly crowned the latest winner of this award and sports a proud grin as he quickly thanks his family, friends and the Rayner Foundation for their support in his journey to the WorldTour.
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Ondrej ZhasilCycling Journalist
Ondřej Zhasil is a cycling journalist at CyclingUpToDate and has been part of the team since 2023. He is based in Ostrava, the third-largest city in the Czech Republic, and covers professional cycling across the main UCI competitions, including the Tour de France, the Giro d’Italia, and La Vuelta a España. A key focus of his work is startlist analysis and pre-race coverage, where he examines team selections, rider line-ups, and tactical scenarios ahead of major events.
Alongside WorldTour coverage, Ondřej has developed specific expertise in junior cycling and in racing across East Asia, including competitions in China and Japan. He also maintains a broad working knowledge of other disciplines and levels, including cyclocross, while continuing to expand his understanding of mountain bike racing.
Ondřej holds a bachelor’s degree in Mathematics and Physics, which supports his analytical, data-driven approach to performance and race analysis. In his reporting, he regularly uses 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.
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- Because for you deviated implies the other rider MUST have been made to fall and fail to finish ??? I don’t know if you ride a bike but next time someone carves you up or drives dangerously close, just hold back from those feelings of changing something, reporting or filming or even complaining. Everyone will just say, hey you’re still here undamaged, doesn’t seem like anyone did anything.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And we, what are we doing?Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- And yet, it attracts people, even you. What’s more, it attracts the rival fanboys to fill cyberspace with endless pointless my hero is better than your hero blabla that’s all been heard before and only helps sell the site as an advertising platform. You know what the solution is but most can’t resist. No different than women who follow and discuss celebs through gossip magazines.Jumpyjohn08-11-2026
- he is doing 460 watts for 35 min to achieve 7 w/kg with VO2 at 96 , just unreal numbers.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- Just do it, and put up with the consequencesJumpyjohn08-11-2026
- "was a headliner at the Tour de France" Nobody cared about Piddie. Only rivals that were there for Pogi, Jonas, Remco, Sexias, Lipo, Del Toro and they were all expected to lose. Piddie was not even in any conversation.abstractengineer08-11-2026
- exactly, he had an amazing season, but with these overstatements they don‘t do him good.Ketterechts08-11-2026
- More to the point, it isn't his remaining goal.Renz08-11-2026
- lol yeahmij08-11-2026
- I know, their headlines can be so misleading. Pidcock had a great season with 5 wins. and some solid 2nds. no reason to take away from that with a fake headline.mij08-11-2026
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