The ProTeam Bolton Equities Black Spoke is undergoing a tough time since its future is adorned with uncertainty. Debuting at the ProTeam level just a year back, the New Zealand-based squad accommodates three stagiaires and 20 contracted riders. 

Having an otherwise successful season constituting British riders and Olympic track hopefuls, the announcement of this sponsorship closure came as a shock for both riders and the staff. Let us delve into this article to find out the main cause behind this devastating decision.   

Perplexing sponsorship management

Since the beginning, the squad received the assistance of its main sponsor, Bolton Equities. However, the organization has decided to bring its association with the title sponsor position to a conclusion by the end of 2023.  

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The official Twitter handle of the Bolton Equities has shared a post to confirm the termination of their sponsorship. Followed by the withdrawal of sponsorship, the chances of the team facing relegation to the Continental level are rising. However, this move can be avoided by securing additional sponsors to tackle the funds for the 2024 season.  

Apart from the cold conflict predominant between the sponsors and the team, the riders are exposed to bouts of precariousness. In an anonymous confession, one of the riders from Bolton Equities Black Spoke shared his exasperation with Cycling Weekly saying, “The future is uncertain, not just for me but all of us on the team.”

The sponsorship hurdles spread outside Bolton Equities Black Spoke 

The Twitter post confirmed hinting at the grim future and the emotional toll the decision will have on the team members of the Bolton Equities Black Spoke. However, soon it was discovered that Black Spoke are no longer the sole sufferers stuck up in the sponsorship dilemma. Another ProTeam, known as Human Powered Health is also heading towards closure before 2024 owing to sponsorship concerns.

However, Human Powered Health’s women’s WorldTour counterpart will continue to be in action competing in the forthcoming events. Considering the Bolton Equities Black Spoke’s extraordinary performance in the last season grabbing the highest position in the UCI rankings, just a step away from the prestigious WorldTourPe the terminating decision came as a tragic blow. On the other hand, for the British riders, who joined the team followed by the collapse of British Continental outfit AT85 at the beginning of this year, they got exposed to a recurrent situation. 

ProTeam Bolton Equities Black Spoke’s unpredictable times ahead underscore the hurdles that the professional cycling team faces as a result of sponsorship complications. As riders continue to forage for a solution to this current issue, the cycling community is eagerly waiting for the team to acquire a responsible sponsor at the earliest. 

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