The British Continental

From Cat 4 Licence to UCI Podiums in 12 Months | Inside Lauren Dickson’s Meteoric Rise

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/673531/open_sms] Twenty-five-year-old Scot Lauren Dickson only pinned on a race number in 2024 - yet by May 2025 she was 3rd overall at the Tour of Norway and winner of the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix.  In this conversation with host Denny Gray, the former mountain-runner and triathlete breaks down the defining moments, steep learning curves and audacious goals that have made her one of Britain’s fastest-rising road racers. The Handsling Alba Development Road Team rider's sporting life did not start on two wheels. She began as a Scotland-capped junior runner but broke a bone in her left foot in 2019, leaving her ankle too fragile for downhill running. Rehab led her to triathlon and draft-legal duathlon in Spain, where she picked up bunch-riding skills.  In 2024 she Googled how to start road racing, joined Edinburgh Road Club, finished 44th in her first event, then won two local races a fortnight later. Second place at the Lancaster Grand Prix caught Handsling Alba Development Road Team’s eye; a runner-up ride at Ryedale and methodical work on her descending followed.  She delivered Alba’s first National Road Series win at the Rapha Lincoln GP and, with new confidence, matched WorldTour climbers at the Tour of Norway. Next up is the Tour of Britain Women on home roads, while former pro Hannah Barnes is helping her to navigate WorldTour interest.  For now, though, the plan is simple: keep learning fast, race even faster—and enjoy every descent she once feared. If you enjoy the show, please rate us, leave a review and share it with a club-mate who still thinks Cat-4 is the ceiling. Produced by Will Jones. Support the show [https://ko-fi.com/thebritishcontinental] Rapha presents The British Continental [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk].

From DNF to Lincoln Legend | James McKay’s three-year ascent

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/673531/open_sms] James McKay joins host Denny Gray fresh from a career-making victory at the 2025 Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix. The 28-year-old Sheffield-based rider in Wheelbase-CabTech-Castelli green relives the sprint up Michaelgate that delivered his first National A win and explains why “it’s just about sunk in” now the champagne haze has cleared. The conversation rewinds to 2022, when McKay was black-flagged at the same race, rode home in despair and phoned development-team boss Dave Coulson to quit - only for Coulson to reply “nonsense” and insist the talent was still there. That single vote of confidence pulled McKay back from the brink and set in motion the comeback the pair dissect on air. McKay credits a whole cast of British road-racing royalty - Ali Slater, Tom Stewart, the Downing brothers, Graham Briggs, and 1995 Lincoln winner Mark Walsham - for the chain-gang sessions and blunt advice that “made me realise I was actually at a decent level” . Their wisdom, plus a breakout 2023 season, helped him banish the imposter syndrome he once masked by calling every good result “a fluke”. He also lifts the lid on Wheelbase’s distinctive ethos: “we race selfishly together”. With no fixed leader, prize money split evenly and trust that everyone will get their day, the system lets multiple engines fire without ego - something McKay believes was decisive both at East Cleveland and again in Lincoln’s heat. Race-day detail comes thick and fast: the late attack that shed Ben Granger, Alex Peters’ solo gamble, and a three-abreast elbow-fight into the famous left-hander. On the climb McKay twice kicked clear - “with the roar of the crowd I had no idea who was on my wheel, so I just kept drilling it”. Friends who had trained with him all winter formed a noisy green wall that, he says, “gave me wings”; later they soaked up the moment in the pub while he nursed a podium sip of champagne before driving home. Looking ahead, the Lincoln trophy resets nothing and everything. McKay still wants a crack at the National Road Championships, plans to focus on the National Road Series rather than the Circuit Series, and admits he’d consider a return to UCI Continental level “if the right people and calendar came along” -but at 28 he’s determined to savour the sport rather than chase a long-shot pro contract. Tune in for a candid masterclass in resilience, team chemistry and the sheer emotional punch of Britain’s cobbled monument - plus the reminder that sometimes a single word of faith can change an athlete’s life. Support the show [https://ko-fi.com/thebritishcontinental] Rapha presents The British Continental [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk].

New World Disorder

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/673531/open_sms] The British Continental Podcast is back with a fresh look at the state of British domestic road racing. With key teams like Saint Piran, Trinity Racing, and Lifeplus-Wahoo all folding recently, host Denny Gray sits down with James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) and Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT) to discuss the fallout, explore its impact on riders’ careers, and debate what it means for the future of the sport. In a candid and insightful conversation, James and Lucy share their experiences dealing with the uncertainty of team closures, the challenges in navigating their careers, and their thoughts on the evolving landscape of the UK peloton. Also in this episode, we hear from one of the early standout performers of the season, Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Stork). Adam talks through his remarkable rise, from taking up cycling during lockdown to winning major domestic races this year, and what it means for his confidence and ambitions. Finally, the panel previews the upcoming East Cleveland Classic, offering tactical insights, highlighting key riders and teams, and sharing their predictions for what promises to be an intriguing race. Featuring: • James McKay (Wheelbase CabTech Castelli) • Lucy Gadd (Smurfit Westrock CT) • Adam Howell (Muc-Off-SRCT-Stork) Keep up with all things British domestic racing at www.thebritishcontinental.co.uk [https://www.thebritishcontinental.co.uk/] Support the show [https://ko-fi.com/thebritishcontinental] Rapha presents The British Continental [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk].

Immediate progress or false start? Jon Dutton on British Cycling's task force update

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/673531/open_sms] In this episode, we sit down with British Cycling CEO Jon Dutton OBE for an exclusive interview, following the organisation’s much-anticipated update on implementation of the 43 recommendations [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk/2024/09/13/british-cycling-outlines-its-progress-on-revitalising-domestic-road-racing/] put forward by the elite road racing task force [https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/road/article/20240129-road-Elite-Road-Racing-Task-Force-publishes-recommendations-to-reinvigorate-road-scene-0]. The task force was charged with developing recommendations for British Cycling to implement in 2024 and beyond, aimed at breathing new life into the ailing, fragile elite road racing scene.  Jon Dutton promised that the task force would not be "a talking shop" and said “there are a number of areas where we can and will make immediate progress” [Ed: emphasis added]. In January 2024, the task force's report presented 43 key actions for British Cycling to implement, condensed into 16 published recommendations, with British Cycling responding that a "long-term action plan" was already in development in response. Our latest conversation with Jon Dutton dives into what progress has been made so far. Dutton emphasises the organisation's efforts to implement one of the standout recommendations - saving the Tours of Britain - but what about the other 42 actions, the ones directly aimed at revitalising the elite level? Fans were promised fast results, but has British Cycling delivered? In this candid discussion, recorded just before the publication of the official progress update on 13 September, Jon sheds light on British Cycling's efforts so far and whether he is satisfied with progress. For domestic road racing enthusiasts, this episode offers a deep dive into the state of the sport, what’s been done so far, and what the future holds. Listen in to hear whether British Cycling is meeting expectations, and check out our upcoming progress scorecard on the website to see our own assessment of their efforts. Support the show [https://ko-fi.com/thebritishcontinental] Rapha presents The British Continental [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk].

Tom Varney | Inside Lifeplus-Wahoo: challenges, resilience, and future ambitions

Send us a text [https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/673531/open_sms] Ever wondered what it takes to manage a professional cycling team on the cusp of a major race? Tom Varney, the General Manager of Lifeplus-Wahoo, joins us on The British Continental podcast for an eye-opening discussion on the eve of the Tour of Britain Women.  Tom discusses the importance of the race for British cycling teams and riders, highlighting the what it means for exposure and sponsorship. We also explore the mix of WorldTour and Continental teams in this year's edition, and why it presents opportunities for the Lifeplus-Wahoo team.  The conversation touches on Kate Richardson's horror crash just days out from the race when she was knocked off her bike by the driver of a 4x4 vehicle.  Tom's disappointment at not being selected for the Tour de France Femmes this year is palpable, but hear also reflects on the silver-linings to non-selection. Tom sheds light on how they're revising their calendar, seeking alternative races, and revising the team's approach. The implications on morale and commercial aspects are significant, but the team remains hopeful and forward-focused. Tom takes us through the team's plans to step up to ProTeam level in 2025 and the hurdles that will need to be overcome to make that happen. We reflect on the growth of UCI Continental teams in the UK . In the final segment, Tom considers what has enabled the team to continue for so long, and reflects on the team's past successes and achievements as the it nears its ten year anniversary.  Support the show [https://ko-fi.com/thebritishcontinental] Rapha presents The British Continental [https://thebritishcontinental.co.uk].