POULTON bike shop and cycling club, Performance Cycles have expanded their road race teams for 2015.

Following a successful 2014 season which saw them compete well with the more established teams in the South West, the new season sees the club taking another step forward.

The men’s senior team has retained the services of top local riders Dan Guest, Tony Kiss and Rory Gilling and added strength and depth by bringing in Joe Barry and Michael Ward along with ex-UK Youth and Raleigh pro James Stewart.

This core of six riders will also use their experience to help develop talent from within the club, including the growing youth development squad.

Andy Kirk, Performance Cycles owner, said: "The highlights of 2014 were the one-two from Tony and Dan at the Cricklade Kermesse and Dan's dominant performances in the Thursday night 10-mile Time Trial series at Latton where he won every time he raced, even when he turned up on his road bike rather than his time trial bike.

"Dan has also enjoyed a fantastic first season of cyclo-cross, winning the Wessex League overall."

The New Year also sees the formalisation of the Performance Cycles women’s team, which came together within the club in 2014.

The girls will benefit from the same level of support as the guys and will be tasked with encouraging other female club members who are keen to give racing a go but don’t know where to start.

There is currently space on the women’s team for an additional rider or two, and anyone interested in being part of this exciting project should send their cycling CV to sales@performancecycles.co.uk.

The final piece of the 2015 puzzle is the youth development / junior team.

A strong mix of juniors and U16s bodes well for the future, and with a previous junior national TT champ (James Stewart) in the senior team the young riders have a wealth of experience to call on.

Kirk added: "We're really proud of our youth riders – Will Crofts has won a fair amount and is a talent for the future, and the girls team got stronger and stronger through the year.

"To support a women’s team for the first time in 2015 is exciting. It’s a growing area of the sport and one we’re keen to do as much as we can to help develop.”

The team will continue to be supported by Kuota Bikes and Reynolds wheels, and in 2015 welcome new sponsors/team partners MET helmets, GSG clothing, OptiLabs sunglasses, Les Slinn Personal Training (Swindon) and Velosure Insurance.

A full team launch is due to take place in the spring after the team's Gran Canaria training camp.

Men’s senior team: James Stewart, Dan Guest, Tony Kiss, Rory Gilling, Joe Barry, Michael Ward.

Women’s senior team: Hattie Guest, Jo Jago, Rebecca Waters, Gemma Stuart.

Junior team: Will Gregory, James Cobb, Jack Thompson, Sil Bonestroo.

U16s team: Will Crofts, Sam Adey, Mark Newell.