Wales starts the journey to Glasgow 2014 in Colombia

Published: 11 October 2012
Photos: IJC Photography - Andrew Orchid

Welsh Cycling head coach Darren Tudor has started the journey to the 2014 Commonwealth Games, by taking a youthful track team to Colombia for the first round of the 2012/2013 UCI Track World Cup.

Team SWI Welsh Cycling aims to prepare Welsh cyclists for competition at Glasgow 2014. By taking athletes to world class events, they will gain valuable experience in their quest to win medals at the Commonwealth games.

Four riders will compete at round 1 of the Track Cycling World Cup. Elinor Barker, Amy Roberts, Ciara Horne and Jon Mould will compete in Cali. For Barker and Roberts, the Track World Cup series marks the beginning of their careers as senior competitive cyclists; where previously they have both had success at junior level internationally. Barker and Roberts will join Ciara Horne to compete in the Women’s Team Pursuit.

“Cali is all about the learning process and understanding the race as a team. We are not expecting to return with medals; it isn’t about the final finish position, but how we get there and what the team learn throughout the race. In the Team Pursuit, if we do a sub 3:28, that would be a great result for us. However, Mexico is the big focus this year and Cali is the first stop of the season.”

Jon Mould is able to use Cali as an opportunity to compete in the Omnium. Previously on the British Cycling Olympic Academy, Mould has been able to travel to Beijing World Cups, competing in endurance events. With mixed results on the road in 2012, Jon can now focus on the winter track season with Team SWI Welsh Cycling. In Cali, he is able to expand and experience the Omnium at international level.

“Jon’s strengths are in the field events, Points and Scratch races where he can read the race and use his track skills to gain Omnium points. For Jon again this track season is about learning and developing as a rider. Two years ago he joined Wales in Delhi for the 2010 Commonwealth games. Since then he has grown as a rider, the experience of track world cups before Glasgow 2014 will only benefit him as a rider. We will start by aiming for top 8 positions, and take it from there.”

For Elinor Barker, stepping up to senior level will bring new challenges. 2012 has been a busy year for the young rider, competing at the European and World Junior Track Championships and claiming the World Junior Road Time Trial title last month. She will now face new competition and longer race distances.

“The Track World Cups will bring a new challenge for Elinor, which she will embrace. There are longer race distances at senior level, which means Elinor will have to adjust her race technique and learn new tactics as a senior cyclist. Taking these younger riders to Track World Cups so early on in their career enables them to develop and learn to prepare them for international competition, with Glasgow 2014 being the main aim for Team SWI Welsh Cycling. Elinor has been going well this year; hopefully she can surprise a few people this season.”   

The first round of the UCI Track World Cup series will be contested from October 11 - 13 in Cali, Colombia.

Keep up to date with Team SWI Welsh Cycling throughout their 2012/13 Track World Cup campaign