Out There, Somewhere: The Ribble Outliers Midseason Review
The year began with quiet conviction. No fanfare. No fireworks. Just a new team, a new idea – and the kind of ambition that doesn’t need shouting about. Halfway through their first season, the Ribble Outliers have made their mark.
This was always more than just a race team. It’s a testbed for performance, progression, and doing things the right way. Six months in, the real win isn’t a single result – it’s the consistency that’s started to show across every race, every rider, every ride.
Dirty Reiver: An Early Season Statement Ride
In the still-cold air of Kielder Forest, Dirty Reiver became the team’s first major breakthrough. Metheven Bond and Jenson Young crossed the line together after 200 rugged kilometres. Sophie Wright took her first women’s win of the year there too – a sign of things to come.
The Gralloch: UCI Podiums and Near Misses
Gralloch delivered the team’s strongest collective performance. Sophie climbed onto the UCI podium with a third-place finish, showing her class on the climbs. In the men’s race, Ben Thomas fought it out in a four-up sprint for the line, just missing the podium by inches.
The Traka: A Double Shift
The team were split into two here. Metheven took on the brutal Traka 360 – riding for over 12 hours in a true test of grit. The next day, the rest of the team tackled the Traka 200 in the Girona heat. Sophie’s 10th place against one of the strongest fields in Europe was a standout ride.
Unbound: A Rite of Passage
Then came Kansas. Unbound Gravel. The sport’s most iconic startline, 200 miles of heat, dirt, and grit. Living out of RVs and running self-supported, the team went all in. Ben and Jenson outsprinted Greg Van Avermaet for top-30 finishes. Sophie rode 125km further than she ever had and still took 21st overall. This wasn’t just a ride – it was a proving ground.
Lincoln GP: Flying the Flag on the Road
Back home, the Lincoln GP was a return to classic British road racing. Harry Tanfield featured in the day’s main move in the men’s race, while Sophie led the charge into the final climb and secured the Queen of the Mountain prize. This team may be gravel-focused, but they’re not afraid of the road.
Gravel Suisse: Sophie’s Gold
If Dirty Reiver was the breakthrough, Gravel Suisse was the crowning moment. Sophie, in her first full season on gravel after leaving the WorldTour, claimed the team’s first UCI gold medal. Riding solo to victory on the new ULTRA-GRIT, a win that was as symbolic as it was dominant.
Mexico and Singen: Another Step Forward
One weekend. Two podiums. Sophie secured a second consecutive UCI podium with second in Singen, while Hayley returned to racing finishing third at the Gravel Earth Series event in Mexico, a powerful comeback and a timely reminder of what she brings to the team. Sophie’s back-to-back results, meanwhile, cemented her place among the sport’s elite.
The Work Behind the Races
Behind every finish line are the people. Mechanics washing bikes into the night. The product team under pressure. A support crew doing the unglamorous jobs to keep the wheels turning. This team’s not just made of riders – it’s made of belief.
Looking Ahead
Now, comes a short reset period. Legs recover. Focus sharpens
National Championships, more UCI races, and long miles lie ahead. This is the midpoint. And the best is yet to come.
Thanks, Where It’s Due
A special thanks goes to all whose support the team; this has been nothing short of essential. Without you, this season would look very different.
Whatever comes next, we’re ready.
We’ve built something strong. And we’re not done yet.
The Ribble Outliers
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