Sporting Club Isle of Man is launching men’s and women’s cycling teams with the aim of competing in UK and international races next year.

Cycling Club Isle of Man is the latest to join FC Isle of Man in the organisation, which was formed recently to give Manx sportsmen and women the opportunity to enter off-island team competitions and leagues.

Well-known figures within Manx cycling, Andrew Roche and Gianni Epifani, are working with the support of the Isle of Man Cycling Association and Sporting Club IoM to put the new teams together.

Cycling is one sport where island competitors have been competing at world levels for a number of years and Cycling Club Isle of Man fully intend to exploit the legacy generated by the likes of Mark Cavendish, Peter Kennaugh, Steve Joughin and Marie Morgan (nee Noon).

Cycling Club Isle of Man will also be involved in developing the cycling teams’ own ’EcoKit’, forming part of Sporting Club Isle of Man’s kit deal with Hope and Glory Sportswear, which was announced last week.

Roche said: ’The establishment of Cycling Club Isle of Man promises to open up an excellent pathway into elite senior competition for homegrown riders.

’It also enables me to continue putting back into the sport.

’We have had a really strong group of junior cyclists over the years who have emerged through Dot Tilbury’s RL360 set-up.

’However, once they leave the junior ranks these riders have had to look for teams in the UK or further afield.

’For some it’s been a successful step forward, but we’ve also lost a lot of talented riders due to not having a home-based team to facilitate a way to compete among the senior ranks.

’Unfortunately, some of these riders then go on to leave the sport completely.

’With the team due to start competing next year, this development of a team structure and a clear pathway to compete at elite levels means that opportunities to develop to pro-elite will continue to be available to them.

’I am particularly excited about the prospect of putting together a women’s team as I have been committed to growing women’s cycling at competitive levels for a number of years.’

Sporting Club Isle of Man chair Tony Keating added: ’This is another exciting development for Sporting Club Isle of Man and we are really looking forward to supporting Andrew in developing both men’s and women’s teams under the Cycling Club Isle of Man banner.

’We will shortly be opening up our membership scheme, where fans of our teams, and indeed anyone with an interest in supporting Manx sport, will be able to take a stake in ensuring that our sportspeople and our island can make an impact in elite competition.’