Elinor’s silver lining!

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Following in the footsteps of Wales’ Olympic gold medalist Nicole Cooke is no mean feat, but 17 year-old cyclist Elinor Barker is giving it a good go. And after making her presence on podiums around the world quite a habit in recent months, she could well be on the right track.

Sarah Mogford caught up with her at the Wales National Velodrome, Newport to find out just what it takes to follow your dreams in the world of cycling.

You could be forgiven for thinking that your average 17 year-old would be reluctant to jump straight back into training after a jam-packed summer of riding and just a short break from the bike, but for Elinor ‘normality isn’t all it’s cracked up to be’.

“When I have time I can be a normal teenager, but I don’t feel like I’m missing out on a lot really. I’ve just had a break; I had three weeks off the bike and it didn’t seem like anyone really did anything! It was lovely to catch up with friends but other than that it was quite boring!”

For someone whose day to day life involves a constant juggle between studying for her A Levels and training it’s no wonder that slowing down comes as a bit of a shock to the system.

“I’ve had to fit in training around my school work during the week and then use the weekends for longer rides. It’s quite hard but I’ve just got to time plan really well. I’m doing A Levels in biology, English literature, maths and PE and have to study five days a week. Luckily my teachers have been quite supportive this year; saying I’m not at school because I’m at the Commonwealth Youth Games sounds a lot better than saying I was training!”

And talking of training, just what commitment is involved in cycling for your country?

“I probably spend about two or three hours a day on a bike during the week. Weekends are slightly different, anything between three and six hours really. I use the Wales National Velodrome once or twice a week and also my turbo trainer at home as well.”

The last six months have certainly seen Elinor’s dedication to her training pay off; creeping onto the scene to sneak medals in nearly all her major competitions. It’s quite a list.

 With a silver medal in the Time Trial at the European Junior Championships in July, Elinor started the summer as she meant to go on. August saw her crowned the National Junior Pursuit Champion before she represented Wales at the Commonwealth Youth Games in September, bringing back two silver and two bronze medals with her. She then travelled straight to Denmark for the World Championships where she claimed the first medal for GB coming second in the Junior Time Trial.

But out of all of those achievements, which one gave her the most satisfaction?

“Being at the World Championships, the whole experience from start to finish, would have to be my highlight. It was just surreal, I kept thinking ‘am I really here with all these famous people?’

“Our plane was delayed so we were late getting off and we were joking about saying ‘imagine if it was someone like Bradley Wiggins waiting for us’ and then we got to the bus and he was actually there waiting for us! I didn’t recognise him at first because it was quite dark and I looked again and was like ‘oh my god!’”

 And promisingly, a fair chunk of those ‘famous people’ happen to be Welsh.

 “It was really inspiring to see Geraint [Thomas] do so well, and everyone was really nice. Nicole Cooke was there and we went for a ride with the pros one day; she was chatting to me saying how many Welsh riders there are and that she knows where everybody has come from; that was really nice.”

 If the similarities between Cooke’s early career and the steps that Elinor is taking are anything to go by she stands in good stead to reach the top.

 “I’ve followed Nicole’s footsteps really. We both started out at Maindy Flyers and went on to ride at Cardiff Ajax and we’ve both ridden for the Lifeforce team, so I’m following her path and hopefully will continue to do so.”

With the London 2012 Olympics coming around too soon for young Elinor, her sights are already set on 2014 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

“The Youth Games was a really good experience. It was great to mix with the other sports in that environment. Everyone was really friendly and interested in each other’s sports.

“I definitely didn’t expect to come away with as many medals as I did. I thought Australia would take a lot of them but I was really proud of how well Wales did. My family were really proud as well, they couldn’t be there but they were cheering me on at home.

“I’d love to go to the senior Games in 2014; it would be a fantastic experience. I just need to keep training hard. There’s nothing for a while now but I’m hoping to be selected for competitions in the New Year and then the race season starts in March.”

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