Boulting and Millar call out 'embarrassing' lack of GB riders at European Championships: 'They've put all their eggs in one basket'

Wednesday, 07 October 2026 at 11:27

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Ned Boulting called the lack of a British team at the European Championship road race in Slovenia 'embarrassing' in his podcast For The Love of Cycling. The episode, which was co-hosted by David Millar, discussed the races won by Remco Evenepoel and Demi Vollering. The pair called the decision by British Cycling to not send a team for either road race 'strange' and said their focus was somewhere else.

Millar questions Tour of Britain funding, 'what's the outcome?'

The pair discussed the financial outgoings that British Cycling have responsibilities for.

Boulting spoke about some of the hidden costs of funding Britain's national tours. "The Tour of Britain women and Tour of Britain Men, are for all sorts of reasons incredibly expensive things to do in Britain. The police bill, you know, the whole thing costs a cost so much more to do in the UK [than in Europe]."

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Millar agreed but questioned why British Cycling were funding these races, if not to inspire a new generation of racers to compete at the highest level.

The Scottish former pro said: "What's the grassroots for because eventually be able to develop British racers, give them inspiration, motivation to kind of race, and yet we're not sending a team. which is the ultimate outcome, you'd think, of sponsoring the women's tour."

"It's a little bit strange."

Read more below the video!

Boulting thinks British Cycling have their eggs in a different basket

Boulting, who has reported at every Tour de France since 2003, said "When you really boil it down, British Cycling, it's about the track, and its about the four-year Olympic cycle."

The pair agreed this wasn't "naturally where their hearts lie", and went on to say they wanted the rationale for British Cycling's decision. "It hasn't been properly explained, maybe they can't explain it, maybe they don't want to explain it."

"But it feels bad. It feels slightly embarrassing, actually."

Britain had riders who would have been competitive on the course, pair agree

During their discussion Boulting and Millar lamented that Britain could have been competitive on the European Championship course.

Boulting said: "It would have been a course that would have suited Zoe Backstedt much better [than the World Championships in Montréal]. Pfeiffer Georgi too."

The pair said the road race course would have suited Zoe Backstedt

British riders will line up for the individual time trial

Lauren Dickson will race against the clock for GB in the women's race, as will Callum Thornely in the men's ITT.

Ethan Hayter was also listed to start, but has since had to withdraw according to CyclingNews. Ben Wiggins will race in the men's U23 race, bringing the total for British riders competing to three.

Read the full European time trial start list here.

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Clarice WebsterEditor

Clarice has been following cycling her whole life, wroting about Thibaut Pinot (among others) for her university magazine while earning her masters in Journalism. She is passionate about furthering equality in sports coverage, and has taken huge inspiration from pillars of women’s cycling like Beryl Burton, Marianne Vos, and Laura Kenny.

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Boulting and Millar call out 'embarrassing' lack of GB riders at European Championships: 'They've put all their eggs in one basket'

Follow IDL Pro Cycling on Google

Millar questions Tour of Britain funding, 'what's the outcome?'

Read also

Boulting thinks British Cycling have their eggs in a different basket

Britain had riders who would have been competitive on the course, pair agree

British riders will line up for the individual time trial

Read also

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