Report submitted by Halesowen Cycling Club

The cycling section of Halesowen Athletic & Cycling Club (HACC) has received sponsorship to support budding young cyclists from Italian-owned building product manufacturer Mapei - which will see the iconic tiled squares design of one of cycling’s most legendary teams featuring on the purple kit of the Black Country club.

Phil Breakspear, Managing Director of Mapei UK Ltd, said: “Cycling has long been part of Mapei’s DNA and to be able to support the sport at a local level within our community is a natural investment for us.”

Part of the sponsorship will support 10 junior and under-23 riders in the HACC Academy managed by William Fotheringham. The academy was formed in 2015 following on from the highly successful Halesowen Cycling Club Road Team.

David Viner, chair of the cycling section said, “This is a total game changer for Halesowen Cycling Club, with support from a huge cycling name who have their UK base close to the velodrome where we develop our young riders. We would like to thank Mapei for this support. We have a long and proud history of developing talented young cyclists and this new backing will enable us to develop the club on a sustainable basis for the future.”

Among the team’s seven juniors are former under 16 National cyclo-cross champion Simon Wyllie and 2019 West Midlands junior road race champion, Henry Lloyd~Langston.