After over a decade of support for women’s cycling, Ceratizit has announced it will end its sponsorship of the Ceratizit Pro Cycling team at the conclusion of the 2025 season. The team, currently ranked inside the top eight globally, now faces the task of securing a new title partner for the 2025-2027 UCI Women’s WorldTour licensing period.
The announcement marks the end of a sponsorship that has helped define a generation of success. Since 2014, the team has built a strong presence across both road and track disciplines, collecting 65 road wins, 13 Women’s WorldTour victories, 16 world titles on the track and four Olympic medals. Despite the withdrawal, the team remains committed to staying at the top of the sport and is already exploring new sponsorship avenues.
From Sheffield roots to the Women’s WorldTour
The team began in 2014 as WNT, a British amateur setup based in Sheffield. Initially focused on domestic and occasional UCI races, it took a step forward in 2017 by applying for a UCI Women’s Team licence. The impact was immediate – Irish champion Lydia Boylan won its first professional race at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, and Hayley Simmonds followed up with a stage win and podium GC finish at the Thüringen Ladies Tour.
Later that year, the team’s service course shifted from the UK to Reutte, Austria – home of Ceratizit’s headquarters. That change coincided with a broader internationalisation and a move away from its initial British identity. By 2018, riders like Lea Lin Teutenberg and Aafke Soet had joined, and the team became one of the first to fully adopt disc brakes, racing on Rotor hydraulic systems and Orbea bikes.
Growth into a top-tier squad
2019 proved to be a breakthrough. With high-profile signings like Kirsten Wild, Lisa Brennauer and Ane Santesteban, the team surged into the UCI’s top ten. Wild sprinted to Women’s WorldTour wins at Brugge-De Panne and Gent-Wevelgem, backed by lead-outs from Brennauer. Clara Koppenburg took overall victory at Setmana Ciclista Valenciana, while Kathrin Hammes won her home tour at the Thüringen Ladies Tour.
There was track success too. At the World Championships in Pruszków, Wild won three medals including gold in the Madison and omnium, while Brennauer took silver in the individual pursuit. The team’s strength across disciplines made it one of the most versatile on the circuit.
That same year, the Ceratizit Group took on naming rights, reflecting a closer integration between sponsor and team. From that point, the squad took on a more German identity, while continuing to invest in a deep and international roster.
Recent seasons and continued results
Even after the retirements of Wild and Brennauer, the team has continued to win. Marta Lach took a Women’s WorldTour stage at the 2022 Tour de Romandie, then backed it up with a sweep of both races at Festival Elsy Jacobs in 2024. Cédrine Kerbaol won the 2023 Tour de Normandie and delivered one of the biggest results in the team’s recent history with a solo win on a mountain stage at the 2024 Tour de France Femmes.
Other highlights include Mylène de Zoete’s stage win at the Tour of Chongming Island in 2023 and a number of national and international podiums across Europe. Even as the roster has evolved, the team has maintained a strong competitive edge in stage races and sprints.
A team that built champions
From its beginnings as a regional UK club to becoming a top-10 Women’s WorldTour team, Ceratizit Pro Cycling has consistently developed talent and pushed technical boundaries. Riders like Hayley Simmonds, Clara Koppenburg and Kerbaol each enjoyed major breakthroughs while racing for the team.
Now, with Ceratizit set to leave at the end of 2025, the focus turns to finding a new title partner. With a history of success, an experienced structure and a competitive squad, the team remains a strong proposition for any sponsor looking to invest in the future of women’s cycling.
Main photo credit: Bjorn van der Schoot
