WORCESTER'S Severn Cycling team say they are answering the critics with a string of promising displays after nearly a year in existence.

Since being formed last March, the previously-inexperienced squad have prospered and grown with their 2017 results including six top-10 finishes.

Teenage chairman Curtis Knight, of Worcester, said: "We have faced criticism over the year but the riders' faith in each other and their commitment to representing the team has been the source of our success and expansion coming into 2018.

"In the new year the club have retained many of our fantastic riders such as our time trial record holder Matt Jackson.

"As well as this we have also managed to obtain some very strong and well-respected members of Worcestershire’s cycling community in the form of Ryan Hill, Ian Miller and Gavin Beresford."

Severn Cycling, whose team were lacking race experience before starting, brought Malcolm Dingle into the set-up.

Dingle raced at a high level from a young age alongside riders who now cycle professionally.

Team riders have benefitted from the experience, according to former Christopher Whitehead Language College pupil Knight who is doing a sports coaching science degree.

One of the newest members Miller said: “It's good there is a variety of riders with a range of age and experience.”