In its ambition to grow, Unibet Rose Rockets has attracted several well-known names, but the French team with Dutch roots is also saying goodbye to several riders. Charles Paige is one of them; the Brit has already signed with another team.
The 24-year-old rider will no longer race professionally next year but will compete for the French club team Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme. For Paige, it is a return to familiar territory, as he previously rode two seasons (2022-2023) for this team.
During his first stint with Bourg-en-Bresse Ain Cyclisme, Paige showcased his climbing abilities with a seventh place in the Alpes Isère Tour (2.2) and a fourth place in the prestigious U23 race Giro Ciclistico della Valle d’Aosta-Mont Blanc (2.2U). He also claimed the overall victory in the national stage race Tour du Piémont Pyrénéen.
"At eighteen, I said goodbye to my home and moved to France without speaking a word of French or knowing anyone," Paige previously shared about his time in France. "It was hard work, but gradually I got stronger. The past few years have been a rollercoaster, partly due to the pandemic and a serious crash that kept me in the hospital for two weeks."
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Thanks to his strong performances in several prestigious U23 races, he caught the attention of Unibet Tietema Rockets (now Unibet Tietema Rockets) and made the step up to the pros. However, Paige did not leave an unforgettable mark over the past two seasons. Last season, he started only 37 race days.
