Four grassroots cycling organisations have received grants from Rapha, totalling $750,000 (£580,000). The Herne Hill Velodrome, The Rayner Foundation, Helen 100 and The Cyclists' Alliance will be the latest beneficiaries of the Rapha Foundation that launched in 2019 to help support local cycling initiatives.
These latest four receivers of the grant join the five USA-based foundations picked in spring last year.
CEO of Rapha Simon Mottram spoke on the latest grant recipients and how it was good to help initiatives close to Rapha's London home.
'I am extremely proud to announce the next group of organisations who will get funding from the Rapha Foundation, this time close to home,' said Mottram.
'When we first discussed the Rapha Foundation helping young and disadvantaged riders getting into racing, it was organisations like The Rayner Foundation and the amazing work of Helen Wyman that we had in mind.
'Herne Hill is an iconic facility for those of us who live in London and we are excited to help them reach more of their local community.'
The closest initiative to Rapha's Central London base is the Herne Hill Velodrome in South London.
Built in 1891 and used at the 1948 London Olympics, the outdoor velodrome has been the beating heart of cycling south of the Thames providing local adults and kids the chance to ride and race on the track and off-road cycling track.
After recently being saved and redeveloped after the hard work of the HHVT charity, the Rapha grant will go towards employing a youth development officer to coach young riders and encourage local engagement while also helping to redevelop the entrance.
The Rayner Foundation was created in 1995 in memory of the late Dave Rayner as a support system for talented young racers cutting their teeth in bike racing. Former beneficiaries have been Adam Yates, Tao Geoghegan Hart and Dan MacLay.
Rapha's money will go towards helping support the next generation of riders for the following three years.
The Cyclists' Alliance works tirelessly for parity in the sport of cycling. Established by former pro rider Iris Slappendel, it fights for fairness, support and equality for women during their cycling careers.
With Rapha's grant, it should be able to expand its services while also increasing its awareness to a global level.
The final beneficiary is the Helen 100, a foundation working toward creating opportunities for women in cycling. Developed by multiple national cyclocross champion Helen Wyman, it has provided a platform for young, female cyclocross riders to be treated the same as their male counterparts.
With help from Rapha, the Helen 100 will work to develop more junior women's cyclocross races, something that paid dividends in Dufendorf recently with the inaugural junior women's cyclocross World Championships.