News: Brother UK-Fusion RT To Stop Racing

The Brother UK-Fusion RT elite women’s cycling team has concluded at its “highest point”, according to team manager Terry Williamson, who has confirmed that his highly-respected team will not race again next season.

News: Brother UK-Fusion RT To Stop Racing

A series of life-changing decisions among his riders, including business commitments, family matters and relocation overseas, left the popular Williamson with the challenge of rebuilding his squad “from scratch”.

Phil Jones MBE, the Managing Director of Brother UK, said: “We’re enormously proud of the achievements of Brother UK-FusionRT. Terry and his riders have represented our business superbly, both on and off the bike, with their friendliness and professionalism, determination and results. The team have been pivotal in the women’s race scene and will be sorely missed. I explored all options with Terry to see if the situation could be avoided, including increased funding. He has given so much to the sport that we owed him that”.

“Naturally, we respect Terry’s decision, and wish him every success in his retirement from team management. It’s been a privilege to work with FusionRT, and we will continue to support British women’s road racing.”

Brother UK-FusionRT finished second overall in this season’s inaugural HSBC National Road Series for women, despite losing many of its key riders for several weeks after a multiple crash at the Women’s CiCLE Classic in June. Terry Williamson, team manager of Brother UK-FusionRT, said: “It was always my mission statement to become the best national domestic team in the country, and we very nearly made it. It would have been very difficult to rebuild the team from scratch, effectively, and so I’ve decided the time is apt to stop. We’re ending at our highest point.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better sponsor than Brother UK. Phil Jones has been superb, especially in these recent weeks. He’s only ever asked how Brother UK could help the team, and not what we could do for him. I’m very proud that coverage of our performances helped to generate a return on investment for Brother UK.”

Team leader Claire Steels (feature interview here) completed her return to full fitness last month by sealing overall victory at Ireland’s six-stage Ras na mBan, three weeks after winning the Ryedale Grand Prix, the final round of the HSBC National Road Series. Steels was ably supported throughout a long campaign by a host of experienced competitors and rising stars, including three-time BUCS time-trial champion Molly Patch, and the gifted teenager April Tacey, a young rider of significant potential.

Williamson, a retired broadcast engineer, has spent a lifetime in the sport, competing for 40 years, before holding every committee role at Abergavenny Road Club, from which the FusionRT team grew. For the last 15 years, he has helped to develop female riders, including Bigla’s Lizzie Banks, Natalie Grinczer, formerly of WNT-Rotor, and a host of rising stars now excelling with British Cycling, including Amy Hill and Megan Barker.

Jenny Hudson, the team’s longest serving rider, paid tribute to Williamson’s managerial talents, highlighting those who have since won international honours on the track, or have graduated to professional road teams. “Terry can be immensely proud of what he’s achieved over the years, allowing younger riders to gain invaluable experience, while providing the flexibility to allow riders with full-time jobs to compete at the highest level of the domestic sport,” Hudson said.

“He’s developed riders who have gone on to be World, European and national champions, and I’ve lost count of how many have been able to step up to UCI teams. This last achievement by itself is testament to how well Terry has run the team, and his genuine talent for selecting riders.”

In 2019, Brother UK served as title sponsor to the top two women’s teams in British women’s racing. The number one-ranked Brother UK-Tifosi p/b OnForm were fierce competitors and friendly rivals to Brother UK-FusionRT. Brother UK will remain a key supporter to women’s road racing next year, as well as maintaining its sponsorship of the Vitus Pro Cycling and Crimson Performance men’s teams.

Brother UK is also a key partner for VeloUK.net for the third year in 2020.