Off Season

This month has been all about getting back into training after the off season and enjoying some European sun. 

I started the month in Annecy, France where I restarted my training. I also took some time to enjoy being a tourist, exploring the old town and relaxing by the lake. It was amazing to have my first few rides back in the French sunshine, climbing some beautiful Cols. Escaping the dreary UK weather at the end of my off season and spending time in the saddle again was a real boost. 

After returning home, I took part in one of my few Cyclocross races of this off season, the Callendar Park round of the National Trophy Series. The organisers created a super fun and technical new course this year. Some classic features such as “the wall” remained, but there were also completely new sections and a few that were reversed from previous editions. 

I really enjoyed the new layout and was excited to get back on the cross bikes. As a first year U23 I was gridded right at the back, but I started well and quickly moved up through the field to 6th. Unfortunately, during the middle of the race I began to I began to feel unwell so decided to pull out. It was frustrating, but ultimately not a major setback, and I still had a great time before that point. 

I am delighted to announce my selection for the Great Britain Cycling Team Podium Potential Squad for my first year as a U23 rider. This follows on from the Olympic Development Squad I was part of last year, and I am really excited to continue progressing within the British Cycling pathway. 

To finish off the month, I spent a couple of weeks with British Cycling in Manchester for testing and induction sessions before flying out to Calpe, Spain for a warm weather training camp.