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Tom Armstrong and Tom Martin finished first and second in the 2026 National Road Series, but both race for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli without a salary. They fit training and domestic competition around full-time jobs, while covering travel and other expenses themselves. The report says the lack of British men’s Continental teams and post-Brexit travel restrictions complicate routes to paid racing abroad.
Tom Armstrong and Tom Martin, who finished first and second in the 2026 National Road Series, compete for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli without earning salaries from road racing, according to Cycling Weekly. Their experience highlights the financial demands facing leading British domestic male riders, who combine training and long-distance travel to races with full-time jobs.
Armstrong, 32, works at JE James bike shop in Barnsley. Cycling Weekly reported that interviews with him this season had to be scheduled around work breaks; after returning from races, sometimes hundreds of miles from his Yorkshire home, he was back at work on Monday. He also won this year’s Rapha Super-League.
Martin, 27, works shifts as a mechanical fitter in a shipyard while averaging about 18 hours of training a week, in addition to gym sessions. Based in Cumbria, he also travels long distances around the country to compete. The report says neither rider receives income from racing beyond a small amount of prize money.
Armstrong said equipment and nutrition support from Vetta and Styrkr had helped, but did not cover the broader costs. He described receiving wheels and nutrition products rather than thousands of pounds, while still having to pay for fuel, hotels and household expenses. Both riders are looking toward the winter gravel season and potential sponsorship to help with costs for 2027.
The Cost of Domestic Road Racing
The riders’ schedules show how a strong result at the top of the domestic standings does not necessarily provide a living. Training, travel and race participation must fit around paid employment, while the riders also cover everyday expenses. That can make continued competition dependent on personal finances, workplace flexibility, prize money and in-kind support.
The report points to a wider pathway issue: British men no longer have domestic Continental teams offering a potential route into paid racing. For riders who have spent years pursuing elite competition, winning national-level races can bring recognition without a salary or clear next step.
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A Narrower Route to Paid Racing
Armstrong began racing internationally as a teenager and rode for teams in Belgium and Spain after a planned place in the Vacansoleil under-23 team fell through when the team folded. He later returned to Britain and rejoined Wheelbase CabTech Castelli, the club team where he started riding at 15. The report says the team is among the country’s strongest but has no current plans to move to Continental status.
Cycling Weekly also identifies Brexit-related travel limits as a complication for British riders seeking European opportunities: under the Schengen short-stay rule, they are limited to 90 days in any 180-day period. The report contrasts the men’s domestic structure with the women’s, where it says four British women’s Continental teams provide a domestic stepping stone, though riders at that level are not guaranteed a minimum wage.
“Winning the National Road Series is just, as they say, for the love of the game.”
— Tom Armstrong, speaking to Cycling Weekly
What Funding Comes in 2027
The report does not give a full accounting of either rider’s annual racing costs, prize money or the value of their equipment and nutrition support. It also does not say whether Armstrong or Martin has secured new sponsorship for 2027, or whether either expects to pursue a European team opportunity. The riders’ future plans and the availability of paid places remain unresolved.
Winter Gravel and Sponsor Searches
Armstrong and Martin are expected to race gravel events over the winter, according to Cycling Weekly, while seeking sponsors who could help meet costs for the 2027 season. Their results, travel schedules and any new financial support will indicate whether they can continue racing at the same level alongside their jobs. The report does not identify a specific next race or confirm any sponsorship agreements.
Key Questions
Who finished first and second in the 2026 National Road Series?
Tom Armstrong finished first and Tom Martin second, according to Cycling Weekly. Both ride for Wheelbase CabTech Castelli.
Do Armstrong and Martin earn salaries from racing?
The report says neither earns a salary from road racing. They receive only a small amount of prize money, while also receiving some in-kind support, including equipment and nutrition for Armstrong.
What jobs do the riders have?
Armstrong works at JE James, a bike shop in Barnsley. Martin is a mechanical fitter at a shipyard and works shifts.
Why is it difficult for British men to progress to paid teams?
Cycling Weekly says Britain no longer has men’s Continental teams, which had offered a possible step toward paid racing. It also reports that post-Brexit Schengen travel limits complicate opportunities with European squads.
What are the riders planning after the road season?
The report says they plan to take part in the winter gravel season and hope to find sponsors to help cover their 2027 costs. It does not confirm specific deals or race plans.
Source: cyclingweekly.com
