The three over 23 riders are Nikola Matthews, who has ridden with the team under the name Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International for two seasons, Ruth Taylor, from Manchester Wheelers, and Birmingham PhD student Kelly Murphy who started racing just last year.

Bethany Taylor is moving in to her first year as an under 23 in January, but has already raced in the UK women’s peloton as a junior – she hopes to progress to being a professional in the future and said: “I joined to work in the friendly environment that has been created and have the benefit of riding with top class riders I see as role models, the pathway is a great idea to bring more riders through to professional level at a pace that is right for the individual.”

Kelly Murphy began racing only last year but showed promise in the Women’s Rás na mBa stage race in September. She said: “I like the club to professional pathway that is on offer here… the whole racing infrastructure can be confusing and consuming [as to what is best to focus on in order to reach the next level], so having this pathway makes racing more accessible to those who have started slightly later in the day.”

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The development squad will follow their own race programme across the UK, consisting of road, time trial and criterium events. The wider membership of the BOBC Cycling Club will be encouraged take part in time trials and other events alongside the scholarship riders, where there is space on the start lists for them to do so.

Dame Sarah Storey explained: “We didn’t want to create a pro team development squad that would be defined and limited in their racing according to what the professional team were doing. A true path from UK racing to the UCI peloton allows the developing riders the autonomy to have their own programme and race plans, so by creating a Scholarship Programme, that races as a different team, we can ensure that everyone is well looked after and supported with their individual needs and everyone gets access to as much racing as needed to progress.”

Exciting new signings for the 2016 season include the former Road and Time Trial National Champion, Sharon Laws. The 41-year-old raced for Bigla Pro Cycling this year and claimed the Queen of the Mountains prize in 2014’s Women’s Tour.

Also new to the team will be Grace Garner, who took a top ten place at the Junior Road World Championships and is embarking on her first year as an under 23 rider.

The Podium Ambition family has also extended a warm welcome to Elizabeth-Jane Harris, who gained a fourth place finish at the recent RTTC Closed Circuit Time Trial Championships, and Amy Gornall, who this year won the Great Orme race in North Wales and was awarded most attacking rider at the Tickhill GP.

Two non-UK members forming part of the roster will be current pro and USA rider Sara Headley, and Australia’s Nicole Moerig.

Marty McCrossan, who started working with the team from the end of 2014, said: “I know these girls are ready to create their race opportunities next year because I have seen their rate of improvement over the past 12 months. Being able to add so much British based talent to the UCI peloton is no mean feat and is a testament to how hard these girls are working to make their dreams a reality.”

The team will soon enjoy some time together courtesy of training camp partners, Club La Santa UK, and the first confirmed 2016 title sponsor, Sports Tours International.

Barney Storey explained: “Like most pro teams we use December to bring the new line up together and this is something we have done as a UK based club team too. The Lanzarote base at Club La Santa is the perfect location for the team with everything on site and ideal surroundings for the essential off the bike team bonding too. The Lanzarote roads are perfect for group riding and we create a relaxed and welcoming but hard working environment for everyone.”

Read more about the team structure in our exclusive interview with Dame Sarah Storey here.