Leading the An Post Rás in 2013 with yellow jersey and eventual winner Marcin Bialoblocki beside him.
British professional cyclist Yanto Barker faces a nervous week ahead as he waits to see if his efforts to raise £1 million to expand his cycling clothing brand La Col come to fruition.
Having turned to the crowdfunding site CrowdCube in mid November to raise the sum, the company has reached £871,000 from 177 investors.
There are now six days remaining before the funding drive closes.
And of Barker’s Lo Col reaches the target he will secure the £1 million to fund his expansion plans.
But unless that target is reached, none of the money will be taken from the investors who have already committed their funds.
It means he now faces an all or nothing week; with the cash to be used to expand into new territories if the investment drive is successful.
Barker (36) announced his retirement from cycling in recent months having ridden for OneProCycling in 2016.
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A former British junior champion, he won the Lincoln GP in 2014.
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He set up his premium clothing business in 2009 and sells his products into 10 countries, with the UK and American markets the company’s key trading regions.
However, he now wants to move into new countries and expand and needs additional funding for a major marketing campaign and future product development.
Valuing the company at £4 million, he turned to CrowdCube to essentially offer 25 per cent of the company between investors willing to commit a combined £1 million.
And now with very nearly 90 per cent of the cash raised, he’s in for a nervous week to see of the final £129,000 can be raised in the time remaining.
In recent years the company has sponsored Team UK Youth and One Pro Cycling.
“We began trading autumn-winter 2009-2010 with a basic website and 10 specialist retailers including the prestigious Harrods,” Barker explains in the publicity material distributed as part of the funding drive.
“In early 2014 we bought the factory and became a self-manufacturing business developing our own range, specifically designed and manufactured entirely from scratch to be a unique and superior range.
“We now have customers in over 10 countries via a combination of retail, wholesale and distribution.”
He added if Le Col raises the £1 million target it would be used to “continue to establish the brand and expand into new geographies”.
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