A great medal hope for the 2012 London Olympics.

This powerhouse cyclist attended North West Kent college for his BTEC national diploma in Sport & Exercise Sciences for two years. After achieving a merit pass he was accepted by the University of Brighton to study Sports Development & Coaching, but turned down the place to fulfill his lifelong dream of becoming a full time pro cyclist.

I started cycling from the age of 8 and joined my first youth cycling club and started competing when I was 11. I've been entering, and winning national competitions from the age of 14.

My dad, Jim, is my coach. He used to race and time trial when he was a junior as did my granddad, uncle, and aunt-it runs in the family! He still races now but not as seriously.

This year I am an Elite/Under 23 so obviously I am going to be up against a lot of very good riders as well as some Juniors I've competed against before, but until I get into the season proper I won't really know who my main competition will be.

For 2008 my main goals are to get consistent top 10 results in the Elite/Under 23 races at national level, maybe even a few wins. I also want to race abroad more. I love racing in Belgium on the road. My mid term goals are to represent Great Britain in the 2012 Olympics in London and get a medal in the MTB, as well as winning some World Cup/Championship medals. Road, MTB and cyclocross, I love all the disciplines. My ultimate long term dream would be to ride as a full time pro cyclist with the aim of competing in the Tour De France and other grand Tours.

24th July 2008 Dunton Ford Test Track Criterium

After a 7am Start at work and finishing at 5 to ride home for 6 I was back on the bike for another 7o'clock start in the crit… legs weren’t too good at all riding home from work, so I was intending on just sitting in for training however I found myself off the front within the 1st 5 laps and three of us were soon 55seconds up the road. Working well we were sure to keep the gap, I was attacking most laps on the climb to wear the others down which I feel I did . On the last lap two riders got across to us and I was soon 2nd wheel and being lead out well. I launched my attack, with a powerful kick I got a gap and held it to the line in 1st place. RESULT!

After doing an interval session in the morning I decided to attend the local Criterium again to top up on some race form. Flat out from the gun, a rider soon got away, a lap later I jumped across to the rider to be joined a while after by 5 other riders. Building a nice 20 second lead we were sure to stay away.
I lined my self up 2nd wheel for the sprint, and made my move. Just metres from the line I thought I had the win.....only to be beaten by a inch!! That's racing though.....

20th July 2008 National MTB Championships Espoir/Under 23

After pre riding the course earlier in the year I knew exactly how I wanted my bike set up and what training to to do for the event. I used my Marin Team Titanium, with the all new Continental Race King 2.0 Tires. Gridded 8th on the line I was really nervous.

Bang!! ..we were off. I had a cracking start, slipping into 2nd place and then taking the lead, I went as hard as I could through the 1st sections splitting the field down, until  only three of us were left.

The Marin team was working a treat, with my Hope breaks getting me tightly around every corner and powering out. After two of the 4 laps I made a slight mistake on a tight right hander and lost the lead ....

I corrected myself and found myself in 8th position, so I went into ballistic mode to get back up to the leaders which I eventually managed and was soon back up to 3rd place and was getting a gap on 4th. Unfortunately I didn’t quite get back onto the lead two but finished in a respective 3rd place!

Sat 22-3-2008 Torhout UCI 1.2 Elite/U23 Road Race 120km

Travelling out to Belgium early in the morning we were on track to get to the race with plenty of time for the usual preperations, unfortunately we managed to get lost looking for the signing on, by the time we had we were forced to make a mad dash to get changed and on the line.
Once on the line, I managed to get on the front row, and looked back to see all the other 140 riders. Then we were off to an explosive start, tearing up the 1st hill as if it were flat! It was real windy and cold. Attacks were going every where, it was by far already the fastest race I had ridden so far this year. I was finding it a race to simply stay at the front, if I dared to ease up 20 riders flew past me. After about 50km I was used to it and was sitting around 20th wheel avoiding the wind. A group chipped off the front of around 20, I thought it was early days and I didn’t want to attack as it was my 1st Elite road race in Belgium, and I wanted a good finish, not to try to get across and blow! The group stayed away, and I saw my self at the front coming onto the last lap, I kept around 4^th wheel and lost 1 place in the sprint so I ended up 25^th in my 1^st UCI Road race of the Year.

Sun 23-3-2008 Ichtegem UCI 1.2 Elite/U23 Road Race 120km

Arriving at the race early today, we drove around the course, I noticed the cobbled corner and a real long hill and down hill. I was looking forward to the race.

I got ready and in race kit, pumped up my tyres slapped on the leg oil then down came the Snow. It was a blizzard! I couldn’t believe it I was freezing, for the 1st time in my racing career I had to race in leg warmers, arm warmers and a gilet! The race started really fast again, attacks going all the time but nothing staying. About 4 laps in to the 7.9km course a big group got away followed by another group and I got stuck in the bunch.
We were holding the 2nd break at around a minute gap, going up the long drag my training partner from the UK attacked and got a gap, I saw him tiring and no one was chasing so I attacked over the top of him, getting a gap. I chased hard for at least 10minutes until I was on the back of the 2nd break. I sat at the back for 2 laps recovering and then started to do my turns.

We were working well, as the race went on we I was getting colder and colder! I couldn’t change gear as my fingers were so cold. Finally 1 lap to go.. Coming up the drag I was sitting at the back where I could see every one and over the top of the hill we had 150metres to go, with all the spectators shouting for there fellow countrymen and the Brits were shouting for me. I attacked, going down the block and not seeing any one come by me. I had done it, I won the sprint for 14th.
I got 14th in my 2nd Elite road race which was UCI Ranked J

Not a bad weekend racing.

Surrey League 1-2 Cat Road Race 16/03/2008

An afternoon start sounded good as it was meant to rain up until 12 and then be overcast but it wasn’t to be...it rained all day! Using my clincher wheels with Continental Force & Attack tyres on I was feeling confident of a good race.

The race started with a mile of neutralised road until we were on the circuit. A steady start saw the bunch strolling around until people stated to pick up the pace. I chose to start in my rain cape as it was a long race and wanted to avoid getting cold and wet too early!
After 6 miles I found myself on the left gutter and a group of 9 attacking down the right. I was unable to respond but then neither did anyone else. When I got out to the right I made an attack to try to get across but it seemed all eyes were on me, I was just chased down and sat behind so I had no choice but to sit and wait! Frustrating - I had good legs and I could see the gap getting bigger and bigger! The gap was 1:45, I saw the bunch tiring and decided to attack but was chased down again, I then waited for a minute and went again, no one responded-Result! I sat at a pace I could maintain and caught a rider from the break, he sat behind me to recover. I then swung off to get a rest and he shook his head and said he was tired! Great, just what I needed-Not!

I worked hard for 10miles and he sat behind coming through occasionally for the downhill sections, I wasn’t making any great time. The bunch was coming back to me and the rider said he was to wait for the bunch! I decided to try again going on my own. A rider from the bunch saw me and come across working with me. A lap later we was joined by 2 more riders and we worked well to get away from the bunch and to get closer to the break! 1 by 1 the break was splitting, we caught 5 of the break and they sat with us and also worked.

4 left up the road and a lap to go. I did my shares for the last 6 miles and sat on as it was a short steep uphill and then 150yards to the finish. At the bottom of the hill I was 3rd wheel. I moved up and just before the top of the hill I attacked and went for the line. I got a 20yard gap and......got 5th. If only I had gone with the break!