The Hess women's cycling team, which launched with ambitious plans in October 2023, collapsed within two months of an incident at the 2025 Tour of Britain Women. The team's demise has left riders and suppliers out of pocket, with some waiting a year to be paid.
Rolf Hess, co-owner, had laid out plans for a British team to win major races, including the Tour de France Femmes, with an initial budget of 750,000 euros. However, a former rider stated the team was lucky to see half a million euros, with money issues from the start leading to late payments and unpaid reimbursements.
The team's title sponsor withdrew at the beginning of 2025 following media coverage of a civil claim against one of the team's directors over a separate business venture. Hess Sports Group continued to fund operations, contributing over £200,000 in summer 2025, but this shortfall had a material impact. One team supplier is owed more than £50,000, confirmed by documents seen by the BBC. Hess Sports Group states that negotiations regarding funding are ongoing and it remains committed to repaying all creditors.