CORY WILLIAMS
L39ION of Los Angeles
“My biggest goal of the year is to help the team win as many races as possible. I’ve spent months working this past winter with my coach, support staff, and family to sharpen my strengths as a rider.”
Every January, each one of us at Rapha sets a new riding goal for the season ahead. This year, we asked you to join in the tradition before choosing four winners who we’ll be helping achieve their ambitions.
Having a goal to strive towards gives purpose to your time in the saddle, which is why it's always been part of our culture at Rapha. In January, we invited you to share your riding goals for the year ahead, whether it was committing to commuting or a challenge to ride across continents. From the hundreds of submissions we received, we’ve selected four riders to support on their way to reaching their goal.
Each of our winners will not only receive a gift voucher for the kit they need to achieve their goal, but have been paired with an athlete from our roster for advice and encouragement. As they strive towards reaching their riding goal, we’ll be keeping you updated on their progress throughout the season. From riding the length of Britain to racing a new discipline, here are the four riders and the goals they’ll be chasing this year.
When Sarah Thornton-Mills lost her father to prostate cancer in July 2021, she got to thinking about how to best celebrate his legacy. Hoping to commemorate the time they spent riding together – and her father’s love for endurance riding – Sarah decided completing the Ride Across Britain would be a fitting goal for this year. Although she’s only recently started taking on longer rides, she’s pushing herself in order to raise money for Prostate Cancer UK through her JustGiving page.
This September, Sarah aims to cover the 970 miles between Land’s End and John o’Groats in just nine days on her bike. As one of our riding goals winners, she’ll receive advice from ultra-racing legend Lael Wilcox to prepare her for the long road ahead.
“It was wonderful to talk with Lael, her passion for cycling is infectious and she offered really useful insight into both the physical and mental challenges of endurance cycling.”
- Sarah Thornton-Mills
Riding from one end of Britain to the other in late September, Sarah needs kit that will work as hard as she does. Providing weather protection and long-lasting comfort, our Brevet collection is designed to support multi-day road adventures.
A packable, waterproof jacket to keep you riding through wind and rain.
Improved visibility and a merino-based fabric make this the go-to jersey for self-reliant riding.
A pair of lightweight, water-resistant bib shorts with two mesh pockets for increased carrying capacity.
In 1983, Evan Schwartz’s father crossed through the American heartland by bike, riding from Cleveland to San Francisco in just a couple of weeks. Stories from this ride opened Evan’s eyes to what's possible when cycling outside of the city and so, in 2018, he moved to Colorado to develop his interest in on-bike exploration. Uncovering the world-class cycling routes around the foothills of the Rocky Mountains, he decided that he needed something to work towards.
This year, inspired by Lachlan Morton’s immense Alt Tour ride, he has chosen to ride the same route as his father almost four decades later. We’ll be helping Evan get kitted out for his adventure, and Lachlan himself will be cheering him on during his journey from coast to coast.
“Lachlan shared some great advice for staying mentally tough and engaged during the long rides which I’m absolutely certain I’ll use when the inevitable rough patches pop up”
- Evan Schwarz
Crossing the country requires durable, lightweight apparel you can rely on day after day in the saddle. While Lachlan prefers to ride in his team colours, Evan can benefit from the extra storage, visibility and weather protection of our adventure apparel.
A versatile, lightweight, and packable down jacket for adventures in unpredictable weather conditions.
A durable t-shirt made with merino wool for comfort in a range of conditions.
Designed to excel in extreme conditions, with added storage for on-bike essentials.
It was only last summer that Ramsey Glass attended her first crit race. While she found the ultra-fast pace and intensity inspiring, she didn’t yet feel strong enough to compete herself. But this year, she hopes to change that. Though she is no stranger to cycling competitively having raced a few triathlons in the past, this summer, she’s set her sights on completing her first season of local crit racing.
Ramsey has already set the ball rolling by connecting with local female racers for the support and advice she needs to succeed. As one of our winners, she’ll also receive the encouragement of Tekkerz’ Alec Briggs.
Like the criterium champions of Tekkerz, Ramsey can rely on the advanced technology of our elite racewear to save precious seconds while staying cool in the heat of competition.
A trio of textured fabrics combine to minimise drag and maximise speed when it matters most.
For comfort during hard efforts, the shorts feature a female-specific, dual-density chamois pad.
A secure pair of cycling glasses for complete protection and clear vision while racing.
As a passionate mountain biker and bikepacker, Jeremy Fischer has always had completing the Colorado Trail on his bucket list. With his good friend Sam Kilburn eager to join him on the trail, Jeremy decided that he would finally take on the challenge this summer. Stretching 539 miles through the state’s mountainous heartland, most of which is on singletrack, the Colorado Trail is one of the world’s most popular routes with mountain bikers.
Advising Jeremy and, in turn, his friend Sam on taking on the trail will be Joey Schusler, who’s no stranger to backcountry odysseys. He’ll be imparting his wisdom to make sure the two are sufficiently equipped and conditioned for the journey ahead.
“My biggest learning from riding the Colorado Trail was finding a deeper connection between my mind, my physical capabilities, and my ability to gauge terrain and conditions accurately. Bikepacking requires constant decision making, and the more you do it, the more you can hone it in and make it a more and more enjoyable experience.”
- Joey Schusler
On his journey through the Rocky Mountains, Jeremy will need durable, reliable garments developed especially for the trail. Our range of Performance Trailwear is designed to move with you to sustain performance and comfort during long days of off-road riding.
Made with a lightweight and quick-wicking fabric to combat the heat of the trail.
Industry-leading chamois technology in a pair of lightweight, mesh liner shorts.
A durable and repairable pair of shorts with a contoured, adjustable belt and cinch system.
Setting a goal can be a great way of boosting motivation, especially at the beginning of the year. Here’s what our professional teams and riders are focusing on this season.