The British Women's Team Cup (previously known as the Women's Team Series until it was renamed in 2020) is a series of races run throughout the calendar year. Each team may enter 6 riders in an event with the first 4 rider’s finishing positions scoring points that count towards the team’s placing in the overall series. The riders still score their normal BC points individually but registering their team enables their performance to be included in their team scores for the overall series to win the prestigious Team Cup.
Also each race organiser sets aside prize money for the first second and third placed teams for each race which is presented at the end of the season. Plus, depending on how many teams register each year, there is also prize money for at least top 3 placed teams in the overall series.
Previous Winners
2011 - Motorpoint Marshals Pasta
2010 - Motorpoint Marshals Pasta
2009 - Mischief.com
2008 - Surrey League
2007 - Team Luciano-Kuota
2006 - Team Luciano-Kuota
2005 - Team Luciano-Kuota
2004 - Team Luciano-Kuota
2003 - Team Luciano-Kuota
2002 - Surrey League
2001 - Cottingham Coureurs
2000 - Western Division
2023 - Hutchinson-Brother UK
2022 - LAKA - Pedal Mafia
2021 - Pro-Noctis - Redchilli
Bikes - Heidi Kjeldsen
2020 - Not Held due to COVID
2019 - Cycle Team OnForm
2018 - Brother UK Fusion RT
2017 - Cycle Team OnForm
2016 - Les Filles Racing Team
2015 - Army Cycle Race Team
2014 - Epic Cycles-Scott
2013 - Abergavenny R.C.
2012 - Scot Contessa Epic
Hall of Fame
Anna Henderson takes the win at Dave Peck Memorial Race 2018
Hannah Barnes 2010 Bedford 2 Day Event
Claire Steels at Oakley 2019
Lizzie Deignan finished 2nd Junior at Bedford 2 Day in 2006
Lizzie Banks at Banbury Star 2016
Joscelin Lowden at the Bedford 3 Day 2017
Dani Rowe and Corrine Hall riding for Team Twickenham CC at Naseby 2008
Laura Kenny wins the Astwood Hill stage at the 2009 Bedford 2 Day
Bedford 2 Day 2011. Sarah Storey (Yellow and Mountains), first junior, Hannah Barnes.
Elinor Barker won several rounds of the 2011/2012 Team Cup
Alice Barnes takes the win at Dave Peck Memorial RR 2013
Winners of the Womens Team Series for 5 years from 2003 to 2007
Lucy Garner Bedford 3 Day 2012 Team Cup
Dame Sarah Storey and Helen Wyman 2012 Team Cup
Zoe Backstedt Halesowen 2021 Team Series
History
"Women's racing reached an all time low in 1999 when the BCF decided to handicap the Bruton Series, an action that saw a general decline in the number of riders, followed by a decline in the number of races (3 Bruton Series events scheduled for 2000); indeed in August 2000 the general feeling was that the Bruton Series should be allowed to 'die'.
Following a meeting with the BCF in Leicester in 1999, Jenny Gretton and I met in the car park and spoke about the poor state of women's racing; and after about 30 minutes an outline of the Women's Team Race Series was formed.
This discussion was followed in the weeks afterwards, by Jenny and I by thrashing out a few rules, contacting potential organisers and the first ever Women's Team Race Series was held on 30 April 2000 in Bedford - there were 2 other races in the Series that year with the much missed Maurice Broadbent organising in Bangor and David Gretton in Nottingham.
John Miles receiving his Gold Badge of Honour, for his lifelong contribution to the sport. At the British Cycling awards 2023
From those small beginnings arose the Team Series that we know today, a Series that has seen more women racing than ever before in this country, a Series that is 'owned' by the riders themselves who, each year, have a say in the way the Team Series is run.
The Women's Team Race Series continues to evolve and will in following years; it was the right format at the right time but the ethos behind the Team Series remains - to allow women to race in a welcoming atmosphere, to develop their skills and fitness in a team environment.
From it’s inception when the first race had 36 riders entered to the full fields we see today, a lot has been achieved over the last 20 years and I look forward to the continuing development of women's racing although there is still much to do. Some cycling magazines still see women's racing as a minority and rarely worthy of report, there are not enough women officials on Division Committees and only this year have the BCF acknowledged that women should receive points on the same basis as the men – these are the goals to be worked on in the coming years."