After a long and rough year 2024, how do you feel battling with the stars of the UCI Track Champions League?
Considering the year I've had, to be honest, it feels like an honor just to be here. It's nice that the organisation recognizes the challenges I've faced with Epstein-Barr, not really racing since the Euros in February, and essentially living like a civilian, not being able to walk up a hill. To be back performing at top level is probably something I took for granted, especially last year. So, to be back racing again against the guys I was tussling with to come second overall last year, feels pretty amazing. It makes me appreciate it a lot more than I did.
How hard has Epstein Barr affected you?
In December 2023, I came back from the Rotterdam Six Day with a bit of a rash on my shoulder, and then I got sick over Christmas. I went to the Euros and, somehow, managed to come second in the Elimination. After that, I headed to Australia, where we won the team pursuit, which was amazing. But a week after returning, it was the national champs, and by then my body had completely shut down. We were 10 seconds slower than we had been in Adelaide, and I got dropped. I had some blood tests done, and that’s when they found out I had Epstein-Barr virus.
To be honest, it got even worse from there. I spent most days just sleeping, and my family was really supportive, even though I must’ve been terrible company. I was thinking about the Olympics, trying to focus on that, but then I saw that slipping away. I thought maybe I could come back for Worlds, but we made the decision not to go there. It would’ve been like jumping in the deep end. Thankfully, I’ve been able to ease my way back, and now I can’t wait to race in London.
How much of a mental challenge has it been?
To be honest, I’m usually very upbeat, and most people would probably say I’ve got ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder) or something like that. So, it was really strange to see myself so down.
The term depression gets used a lot, but I probably was quite depressed, and my family was worried about me. Not super bad, but I just wasn’t myself. As a cyclist, a lot of your value comes from racing and winning, and that's sort of been drummed into me from a young age.
In a way, Epstein-Barr gave me the chance to step back from cycling and realise there’s a lot more to life than just riding in circles.
Someone like Mark Cavendish has shared his experience with Epstein Barr and with depression. Have you found some inspiration to help you?
Definitely. I did all the research I could on how to get better. Sadly, there's no miracle cure yet. I watched Mark Cavendish's documentary on Netflix quite a few times and the guy is a massive inspiration. I thought, well, if he can make a comeback from that, then I certainly can too. And hopefully I'm well on my way. I want to win in London, and I want to win every time I ride my bike, but it's already a win to be here.
Last year you won one of the races in London. What do you think you can do now with the kind of shape that you've been able to recover?
In Saint-Quentin-en-Yvelines, I came second last in the Scratch race, something that’s never happened to me before. By the time I got to Apeldoorn, I figured, well, it can’t get worse than last week. I managed to string together pretty much top five in every race and now I’m sitting 4th overall. Last year I gradually warmed up and eventually I got to my best in London, with the energy of the home crowd. I don't think it'll get any better than that. Plus, I’ve got a baby due the week after London, so I might even be a dad by then. Exciting times ahead!
We heard there's a story around the name of your coming baby...
We're going to name him Tommy, after my uncle, who passed away when I was 14. In his will, he left me about £5,000, which bought my first race bike—something I couldn’t have afforded at the time. That bike really kick-started my career, giving me the chance to chase results and eventually get on a team. Now, I’ve become a UCI World Champion, so in many ways, I owe a big part of my journey to my Uncle Tom.
We also learned recently about the closure of UCI Continental Team Saint Piran, with which you raced on the road. What are your perspectives now?
It’s a real shame because the guys at Saint Piran have good hearts and want the best for British cyclists. They definitely don’t deserve it. Now, I’m left without a team, which is adding to the stress. As it stands, six Team GB riders are without a road program for next year. It would be great to see some support, whether from INEOS or another sponsor.
We’re working on restarting a Continental Team and seeking funding, but we have a very limited amount of time to do that. If that doesn’t come through, I’ll be looking for a team where I can secure a strong road calendar and continue developing.
What are your main ambitions now?
My long-term goal is to become an Olympic Champion in Los Angeles, but in the short term, I want to win UCI World titles and really establish myself in team pursuit. I also want to make a mark on the road— I really want to kick on. The year I won the Worlds [2023], I also won a UCI road race [Stage 3 of the Ronde de l’Oise]. I was in talks with some top teams at the end of the year, but sadly, it didn’t work out.
I see myself as a world-class lead-out man, like Michael Morkov, who’s a huge inspiration to me. I believe I have the ability to perform on the road, drawing on the engine I’ve built and the speed I’ve developed from the track—skills you can’t easily learn anywhere else. Riders like Mark Cavendish have proven that. So, hopefully, I can follow in their footsteps and, most importantly, find happiness along the way.
