- UCI-accredited agent Jamie Barlow to head up agency
- Finn Fisher Black, Sarah Gigante and Leo Hayter among new signings
- 258 Protégé looking to disrupt the market and challenge current commercial shortfalls
World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and his athlete management company 258 Management have launched a new cycling agency.
258 Protégé will work across all aspects of the sport including talent representation, contract negotiation, sponsor negotiations and corporate events.
The agency was founded and will be headed up by Jamie Barlow, who has worked extensively in the sport and with leading riders as an International Cycling Union (UCI) accredited agent.
The unveiling of 258 Protégé has also seen the agency announce the signings of several young riders. These include Finn Fisher Black (pictured above) of UAE Team Emirates, Sarah Gigante of Team Movistar, Niamh Fisher Black of SD Worx, Leo Hayter of Team DSM Devo, and Nicholas Dlamini of Team Qhubeka NextHash. Oscar Nilsson Julien, who is part of the British Cycling Academy, has also joined.
“We are in a unique position to disrupt the market and challenge the current shortfalls of the commercial elements of the sport and utilise the full support of the team 258 Management has built around AJ [Anthony Joshua] across legal, financial, PR and branding industry leaders,” said Barlow.
“Our modus operandi will be to focus on elite talent with a quality over quantity hands-on approach. Having identified and worked with some of the best young talent the past eight years, WorldTour, Women’s World Tour, Pro Continental and Devo teams trust our opinion on talent.
“Outside of the cycling bubble we are the best connected commercial agency barring none.”
Freddie Cunningham, managing director at 258 Management, added: “Cycling across all levels is booming even surpassing the London 2012 surge and this is a market we have followed with great interest for some time and believe now is the right time to expand our athlete management portfolio in a new sport.
“We look forward to signing new talent alongside our current roster and using the same expertise to develop professional cyclists beyond their sport. Our unique commercial access will allow us to bring new eyeballs to the sport of cycling and build structure around our athletes off the bike. We feel now is right time to grow our business and expand into a new sport.”
Meanwhile, UK-based cycling apparel brand Le Col has extended its title sponsorship of the Drops-Le Col UCI women’s cycling team for a further two years.
Financial terms of the new deal have not been released, but Le Col has said it will be trebling its investment to support the team and improve visibility for women in cycling.
