Edinburgh RC Youth Race Team Announces 2026 Squad, New Sponsors and a Proven Pathway to the Tour de France
9 February 2026
The Edinburgh RC Youth Race Team has announced its 2026 racing squad and sponsor line-up as it enters its 15th season of developing Scotland’s next generation of cycling talent, with Edinburgh set to host the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in 2027.
Part of Edinburgh Road Club, founded in 1925, the Youth Race Team has established itself as Scotland’s most successful youth racing programme, producing riders who progress from local competition to British national titles and international racing. Alumni include Sean Flynn, who developed through the Edinburgh RC pathway and now competes at WorldTour level and the Tour de France, demonstrating the strength of the club’s long-term development model.
The 2026 squad features 14 riders aged 12–16, competing across road, track, mountain bike and cyclocross, with a continued emphasis on multi-discipline development and gender balance.
While rider development remains central, the team enters 2026 with clear competitive ambitions. Across the squad, riders are targeting British and Scottish Championship success, qualification for British championship finals, and selection for Inter-Regional competitions. Road racing goals include strong performances in British Circuit Series rounds, while a small number of older riders will also contest select international events as part of their progression.
With the Tour de France starting in Edinburgh in 2027, the Youth Race Team’s role in the city’s sporting landscape has taken on added significance.
Alastair Webb, President of Edinburgh Road Club, said:
“Back in 2012, my son was in the Race Team and loved it, making lifelong friendships whilst racing across the UK and Ireland. So it is fantastic to see the team flourishing, with the tireless support of the club, coaches, sponsors and of course parents and carers. Maybe we’ll see some of these riders in action the next time the Grand Depart is in Scotland”
The team also confirmed its 2026 partners: Rockstar Games, Zwift, Kalas, Fettle, TORQ Fitness and The Bicycle Works, whose support enables continued investment in coaching, racing and rider development. The team is also grateful for additional private support from an individual who has chosen to remain anonymous.
Programme Overview
The Edinburgh RC Youth Race Team 2026 fields a 14-rider U14–U16 squad competing across track, road, mountain bike and cyclocross. The programme emphasises multi-discipline development, while supporting targeted performance pathways in track sprint, track endurance and MTB XC.
The race programme focuses on British, Scottish and high-quality local competition, with defined performance peaks around National Championships, Inter-Regional events and British Series races. A small number of older riders will also contest select international events, gaining exposure to higher-intensity racing environments while remaining embedded in a long-term development framework.
2026 Rider List – Discipline, Category & Key Results
U16
Izzy Barbour – Track / Road
2nd Madison, British Youth Track Championships; 2nd Scottish Youth Circuit Championships
Tymek Chmielowski – Road / Triathlon
Micah Myles – Track
Winner Scottish Youth Circuit Series; 3rd Sprint, British Youth Track Championships; Scottish 200m Track Record Holder
Lucy Sweeney – Track / Road
Winner Richard Moore Youth Race Series; 2nd Scottish Youth Hill Climb Championships
Blake Ainslie – Track / Road
Aarna Dhokia – Road
Sarah McCormac – Track / Road
Winner Scottish Youth Time Trial Championships
Oscar Tanski – Mountain Bike
U14
Eilidh Coutts – Mountain Bike
2nd Scottish Youth MTB XC Championships; Winner Edinburgh Schools MTB Championships
Danny Farrell – Road
2nd Scottish Youth Time Trial Championships
James Park – Mountain Bike / Track / Road
2nd Flying 200m, Scottish Youth Track Championships
Ruaridh Cook – Mountain Bike / Cyclocross / Road
Winner Edinburgh Schools MTB Championships
Alex Faraday – Cyclocross / Road / Track
Dara Levinson – Track / Road