SUPPORTED TALENT

Pedal Potential are delighted to support these talented young stars.  All of their achievements are as a result of true dedication and hard work - we have just helped them on their way to realise their ambitions to succeed in their chosen sport.

Struan Bennet I am an 18-year-old Junior triathlete in the Triathlon Scotland Next Generation Squad. I train at the National Performance Centre in Stirling where I am also studying Sport and Exercise Science. After a disappointing year in 2022 I've been working hard to remedy my weaknesses so I can come back fitter faster and stronger. With my new training set up I have everything I need to smash all my goals and make 2023 my best so far.

George Wood I’m a 20-year-old cyclist from Sheffield studying for a degree in Physics and racing for Cycling Sheffield. Mid-season I will be looking to move to France and join a team there to be full time. Last year I had some good results that I hope to build on substantially this year. The team has a few foreign races in the first half of the season that I will be looking to get results in and of course big domestic races such as Lincoln GP and CiCLE classic. I like the hillier races and don’t mind a sprint finish from a reduced bunch so a hard race with a good number of longer climbs is ideal for me and why racing in France would suit.

Alexandre Robin I am a Youth B triathlete in the Triathlon Scotland Next Generation squad, and a member of Giffnock North AAC, and City of Glasgow ST. After winning the British super series in 2021 I unfortunately fractured a vertebra and was out for most of 2022, but came back to win the last British super series race of the year. At the end of 2022 I also picked up a second place at the UK school games, and a third in the relay, adding to my relay gold from 2021. This year I’m aiming to qualify for the European Youth Championships and the Youth Commonwealth games to gain experience at a higher level, and also podium at the British Super Series.

William Gilbank I am a 17-year-old Road and Track cyclist riding for Lee Valley Junior Team and on the GBR programme. In 2022 I was successful in attaining 3rd in the national points ranking.  On the Track I became the London Youth Track League champion, gained silver in the National Points race and set the fastest youth time (1:07:10) in the Kilo. I racked up 48 wins in circuit and track races over the year, with 2 wins in Belgium.  I am a sprinter/rouleur, and a fan of tough racing on the cobbles and flat stages. I am looking forward to more races on the continent with my Junior Team and in the British National Series and National Track Champs.

Josh Geary I am a 17-year-old triathlete representing the North West and the England Next Generation Squad. My aim for the 2023 season is to step onto the international stage, through European Cup events, and race at the top end in British Super Series races. I hope to gain even more experience and improve my consistency in training. I also hope to gain some good results in my individual disciplines, such as on the track for Chorley ATC.

Amelia Southall I am 18 years old, a first year under 23 cyclist for AWOL women’s cycling team. I would describe myself as an adrenaline junky, as I thrive off going really fast! Last season, I developed my experiences racing in my first UCI nation cup races, as well as gaining results to be proud of in the national road series! I believe the experiences I gained from last year, helped me to produce a greater knowledge with tactics when working as a team. This season I want to further enhance my experiences in races abroad, compete in more track races and improve my previous results. I can’t wait to get the 2023 season started!

Nathan Hardy I am a first year under 23, predominantly racing on the road and track for PB Performance, alongside my studies at Loughborough University in Natural Sciences. I aim to use this year to build experience in National races at the senior level and focus on The Tour Series, which is the most exciting Elite crit series the UK has to offer. I am a punchy rider and look forward to the longer, tougher parcours that senior racing brings and to further my palmares in the grass track discipline too, focusing on the 8k national championship in July.

Oliver Conway I am a 17-year-old triathlete competing in this year’s Junior Super Series national races. I am based in Oxford and a member of South Central Triathlon Academy as well the England Next Generation (ENG) squad. Last season I podiumed in several national and international races such as in the ETU Cup Bled, and the Youth European Championships in the mixed relay team. This year I am aiming for a consistent and successful season, in which I hope to qualify for the Junior European Championships and further podiums at ETU cup races.

Innes McDonald I am a second year u16 XC mountain bike and cyclocross racer based in Edinburgh, Scotland.  I won the British National Cyclocross Championship in 2023 as well as finishing second in the National Trophy Series and top of the national rankings. This year I am delighted to be riding for the new Scotia Offroad Racing Team (SORT). My goals in the upcoming XC season are the National Championships, the European Championships, and the XC national series. Next CX season I am looking forward to racing UCI levels races abroad for the first time and the National Championships in Falkirk.

Jack Reed I am 18 years old and come from the island of Guernsey. The 2023 season will be my first as a under 23 and also my first full race season in France. I will be racing for the Division National 2 team Velo Sport Valletais which is based just outside of Nantes. After finishing my A levels in June of 2022 I spent the rest of the season living out in Brittany learning the ropes to the tough racing scene. For 2023 I hope to grow as a rider and make my way through the higher ranks of cycling and try to achieve my dream of one day becoming a professional cyclist.

Rafe Cushway I’m 15 and about to start my first year in the U17 category. I’ve lived in Brittany, France since I was 18 months old and I ride for Véloce Vannetais. Last year I got 17 podiums including 5 wins of which my favourite was the Trophée Centre Morbihan, won in a bunch sprint. I also added 3 track jerseys and 1 road jersey to my collection. My big objective this year is to ride the series of races called the Trophy Madiot (FDJ Marc Madiot), this attracts the best U17 riders in France and from neighbouring countries.

Dexter Leeming-Sykes I am a 19-year-old second year U23 based in North Yorkshire riding for Wold Top The Edge RT. In 2022 I had some promising results as a first year U23 including wins at Regional As and Town Centre Crits. My focus for 2023 will be the National Road Series and UCI International races, mainly in France and Belgium and believe I will adapt well to the longer harder races. I aim to build on last season’s experience and achievements and I’m looking forward to making the most of the opportunities in 2023.

Evelyn Field I am a 16-year-old first year junior and will be riding on the road, track and in time trials in 2023 for my new team JRC-Interflon. Over the past few years in the Youth Category I have gained lots of experience competing in the National Circuit & Youth Tour Series riding for my local club Liverpool Century. I am really excited to make the step up to Junior racing with JRC and be part of a nine strong all girls team. I know that the racing this season isn’t going to be easy, but I am going into it with a positive mindset and a willingness to learn from the older riders on the team and everyone else around me.

Alex Bosley I’m 20 and race for French team CC Plancoët. I was a relative late comer to the sport at 15, but I quickly got top national results as a youth. My junior years were unfortunate due to Covid, only doing 2 races as a first year, and a very messy disrupted second year. My years as an U23 rider have not been easy, with team places falling through, difficult sacrifices due to finances, and going the wrong way about training most importantly. Now I am going into my third year u23 with the best build up yet, where things have been going consistently right the last few months, and I have progressed in leaps and bounds.

Cormac Nisbet I am a second-year Junior cyclist racing for Zappi Junior Race Team domestically and across Europe. Having learnt loads last year, I’m excited to show off my legs on the continent this season. As a climber and time-triallist I’m particularly excited by the summer block of racing in Spain and obviously looking to challenge for GC at the Junior Tour of Wales. Most importantly I’m looking to ‘do things differently’ in order to achieve success, have a laugh with my teammates and give a sporting career the best shot that I can.

Alex Franks As a 17 year old, second year junior I am really excited to have joined Cannibal B Victorious and I look forward to racing throughout Europe in 2023.  My season has started strong at my first Spring Classic Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne,  where I bridged to the leading group to come in 13th. Looking back 2022 was a season marked with some great results but also some injury with GCSEs thrown in! The highlight however, came back in France with 2nd in the TT and an overall win at the 3 stage Boucles d’Oise.  It was a great achievement and spurred me on to throw myself into winter training.

Finn Dunton The 2023 season is my first year as an Under 23 rider, racing for Project 51. I am excited for this year as I am riding full time with no other commitments such as school un-like previous years which is great. This means the cycling is my sole focus so I am very much looking forward to what this brings results wise this year. My racing this year will be between the UK and Belgium which should be great fun and help me learn and develop as a rider as well as attaining consistent good results throughout the races that I compete in. These races are going to be a mixture of stage races and typical one day races.

Xavier Teece-Round I am an 18-year-old Road cyclist in my 2nd year as a Junior. Now based in Manchester I am a proud Welshman, having been born and raised in Aberystwyth. This year, I will be racing for the trainSharp Junior Team in the UK and Saxun-Extrusax-Primoti in Spain. I am looking to perform at a high level in the UK and in UCI races on the continent. My main aims for the year are the Welsh National Championships in June as I have come a close on previous occasions and I’m excited to be racing in the Junior Tour of Basque Country in Spain. I’m a tenacious, hardworking rider and strong Time Trialler.

Angus Stoneham I’m a second-year British junior racing for Zappi race team. I enjoy road racing especially climbing and time trialing. In 2022 I won a stage of tour of the Mendips and I was RTTC junior national closed-circuit TT champion. I also competed in 2 UCI stage races, collecting 8th on the Queen stage of GP Ruebliland and 8th on Acht Van Bladel TT stage. My plans for 2023 are to win some national and UCI races to qualify and perform at the 2023 world championships in Glasgow. I’ve had a good winter of training and I’m excited to start the season.