London-based cycling brand Rapha has unveiled its new Super-League, a new points-based competition designed to attract fresh audiences to Britain’s domestic bike racing scene.
The Rapha Super-League will aim to spotlight the speed and intensity of elite British cycling, featuring 16 of the UK nation’s road races. It kicks off with the Rapha Lincoln Grand Prix in May and concludes with the Wentworth Woodhouse Grand Prix in August, covering a variety of road races, criteriums, as well as a stage race.
Jess Morgan, Rapha’s UK & EU Community Marketing Manager, said “The Rapha Super-League connects the best races in Britain together into one competition and will tell the stories of the best riders.
“Great racing has always happened in the UK – not many people realise that you can see the local heavy hitters and future stars of the sport battling it out in your backyard. We want to make it easier to follow and understand, bringing the magic of the sport to more fans.”
Drawing inspiration from the historic Super-Prestige Pernod points classification system in Europe, the Rapha Super-League rewards the rider with the most points accumulated throughout the season, helping to showcase the country’s most talented cyclists.
The league’s calendar includes races from a range of road disciplines, ensuring a balance of geographical locations and event types. Rapha adds that a focus on prestige, grit, innovation, and atmosphere will make for a compelling experience for both competitors and fans.
Fans can follow the league on social media @rapha_uk or through leading cycling outlets, The British Continental and Monument Cycling. The brand’s ‘Broom Wagon’ will also attend races, offering coffee, Lucky Saint beer to fans of the sport.
The Super-League is supported by British Cycling, which has partnered with Rapha as part of the British Cycling Elite Road Task Force. The new league concept aims to align with the task force’s goals for dynamic race coverage and attracting new audiences to the sport.
Jon Dutton OBE, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said “The Rapha Super-League is an exciting and original concept which highlights a selection of some of the best races our sport has to offer.
“We want to champion innovative ideas to evolve the domestic cycling scene aligned to our own Lloyds National Series, and we look forward to seeing the potential of this new league to help re-energise the bike racing community whilst captivating interest from new fans.”
Rapha has a history of supporting UK racing. In 2020, it stepped in as sponsor of the Lincoln Grand Prix to ensure the race’s future. The brand also helped bring the London Nocturne to life, sponsored the Rapha Condor team for a decade, and has made donations to initiatives such as Herne Hill Velodrome, the Rayner Foundation, and Ride for Charlie, all helping to support cycling in Britain.
