Madison Genesis is a British-based professional road cycling team, registered at UCI Continental level and competing in domestic and European events. Founded in 2013, the team was announced in July 2012[1] as a platform for developing UK road cycling talent. Then-team manager Roger Hammond stated[2] that the team’s success would be judged on how many riders progress on to the next level of professional continental or world tour racing. Since, Alex Peters – one of Hammond’s first signings – has joined Team Sky for 2016,[3] while Scott Davies rides for the British Cycling Senior Olympic Academy.[4]
In November 2015, the team announced a partnership with Mark Cavendish. In 2016 and through the CVNDSH Scholarship programme, Cavendish would provide advice and support to help Madison Genesis riders progress to World Tour level.[5]
History
Formation
Brainchild of Madison CEO Dominic Langan, Madison Genesis was born in early 2012. Langan enlisted the advice of consultant Anthony McCrossan to help set up the team. Roger Hammond was chosen as team manager when McCrossan and Madison marketing director Kellie Parsons met. They exchanged folded pieces of paper – both containing the name of their preferred choice for the role – both reading Hammond.[6]
Team progression
Hammond was hired and ten riders were signed to compete in the 2013 season. In year one the team would finish second at the Tour Series, with wins for Ian Bibby at the London Nocturne and Dean Downing at the Beaumont Trophy. Ahead of 2014, Hammond expressed how changes in personnel would improve the squad.
“What we have tried to do is introduce more riders, add more versatility in the team with more strength in-depth so that we can rotate the core of the team within the rotation of the team. So now we can have two rotations; the core of the team and the whole of the team. Hopefully, with that we can then balance motivation, form and racing at the right time".[7]
Another second place at the Tour Series in 2014 was supplemented with a stage win at the An Post Ras for Liam Holohan, while Alex Peters won the under-23 general classification at the same race.
In 2015 Madison Genesis enjoyed its strongest season, which culminated in winning the Pearl Izumi Tour Series – along with Erick Rowsell taking eighth in the Tour de Yorkshire. Hammond’s analysis revealed a team on the up.
"If we look at the goals we really went for – the Tour de Normandie, Tour de Yorkshire and Tour Series – then we can be really pleased. To be just three seconds off the overall win in Normandie was a really good start for us. "We then managed to be pretty competitive at the Tour de Yorkshire, and to get a top ten on GC in its first year was a really impressive result for us. "Even with bad luck in the final week of the Tour Series we’ve managed to hold on. We could have done without the bad luck but I’m really pleased to have won.”[8]
Madison Genesis finished 2015 with a flurry, wearing the King of the Mountains jersey for three stages of the Tour of Britain, which produced a memorable battle until the final climb, where Hammond sent the entire squad to the front of the peloton, to chase the breakaway and try to regain the jersey.[9]
In 2016, it was revealed that Mark Cavendish's CVNDSH Scholarship would support Madison Genesis riders with training and tactical advice.[5]
Bikes
In 2013 and 2014 Madison Genesis exclusively rode steel Genesis Volare bikes.[10]
The team also had the choice of using the new carbon Genesis Zero frames for the 2014 Tour of Britain,[11] with an updated version of the Zero launched for the team at the 2015 Tour of Britain.[12]
Riders choose between carbon and steel bikes “dependant on the race and terrain faced.”[13]
Major results
- 2016
- 1st Tour of the Reservoir - stage two, Erick Rowsell
- 2nd Manx International GP, Erick Rowsell
- 1st Totes-Vire General Classification, Matt Holmes
- 2015
- Tour of Britain - stages 2, 3, 4 King of the Mountains, Tom Stewart
- 1st Overall Tour Series, Madison Genesis
- 3rd Wiltshire GP, Mike Northey
- 8th Tour de Yorkshire Overall, Erick Rowsell
- 1st Tour of the Reservoir, Erick Rowsell
- 3rd Tour de Normandie Overall, Tom Scully
- 3rd Tour de Normandie stage 5, Tom Scully
- 2nd Tour de Normandie prologue, Tom Scully
- 2014
- 1st UCI Track World Cup – Guadalajara (Madison), Tom Scully
- 1st Overall Tour of the Reservoir, Alex Peters[14]
- 1st Stage 1, Alex Peters
- 1st Stage 7 Rás Tailteann, Liam Holohan
- 1st Tour Series – Canary Wharf, Tobyn Horton
- 1st Fenioux Track Championships (Omnium), Tom Scully
- 1st Beverley Criterium, Michael Northey
- 2013
- 1st London Nocturne, Ian Bibby
- 1st Beaumont Trophy, Dean Downing
- 1st Elite Circuit Series – Sheffield, Dean Downing
- 1st UCI Track World Cup – Manchester (Team Pursuit), Andrew Tennant
Continental and national championships
- 2013
European Track Championships (team pursuit), Andrew Tennant- 2014
British U23 National Time Trial Championships, Scott Davies
Irish National Criterium Championships, Peter Hawkins- European Track Championships (team pursuit), Andrew Tennant
- European Track Championships (individual pursuit), Andrew Tennant
Team roster
2016
|
Rider |
Date of birth |
 Matt Cronshaw (GBR) |
(1988-12-30) 30 December 1988 |
| Joe Evans (GBR) |
(1996-12-02) 2 December 1996 |
| Matt Holmes (GBR) |
(1993-12-08) 8 December 1993 |
 Felix English (IRE) |
(1992-10-11) 11 October 1992 |
| Tobyn Horton (GBR) |
(1986-10-07) 7 October 1986 |
| Gruffudd Lewis (GBR) |
(1987-11-10) 10 November 1987 |
|
|
|
2015
2014
2013
References
External links
Official website
