Best of Memories: Caitlin Peters

In this good news series, we also hear from riders at the beginning of their cycling career and one of those is Caitlin Peters (Weston-Homes Torelli Assure) who was Champion of Champions (junior) in time trialling in 2019 – Cailtlin tells us what her best memories are.

Best of Memories: Caitlin Peters

In this series, we hear from riders at the beginning of their cycling career and one of those is Caitlin Peters (Weston-Homes Torelli Assure) who was Champion of Champions (junior) in time trialling in 2019 – Cailtlin tells us what her best memories are as she looks forward to racing again in 2020.

Caitlin writes … One of the best memories I have of riding my bike is when I went to ride the 2019 Etape Du Tour with Dame Sarah Storey, Chanel Mason and the Skoda DSI Academy girls. We rode the complete distance of stage 20 which included the Col de Roseland & well-known Val Thorens climb.

I knew before starting, that it was going to be mentally & physically challenging not just because of the distance (174 km total) but because it was my first time riding at altitude, 4,500m elevation, average temperature of 34°c (bonus was the tan lines were looking sharp after) and a very long day in the saddle (6+ hours). A lot for a seventeen year old to have to consider.

Having said all of that, the ride was truly epic! We all went at our own pace, maybe seeing one another at a food station. The scenery we took in was amazing, descents were long and fast, the atmosphere just grew and grew the further we rode! I remember some of the local residents hosing us down in an attempt to cool us off! As we approached the Val Thorens climb, I knew it was about to get really tough but I had fuelled and hydrated well before hand.

The feeling was incredible as I rode past the other participants and they cheered me on, making every pedal stroke that one bit easier. The sense of achievement as I reached the crest of the climb was like nothing I had felt before! Looking back down the mountain from the top of the ski resort gave one of the best views. I will be forever grateful for being given the opportunity to ride such a spectacular event!

One of the most adrenaline releasing races I can remember to date would have to be my first ever Tour Series round. From a young age I can remember being “a part” of the Tour Series because back in 2010 I was a team mascot for the Pendragon team (Portsmouth round) and in 2016 I race the women’s support race (again Portsmouth round).

So, in 2019 round 1 in Redditch, to finally be taking part in the elite women’s race was awesome! Chucking it down with rain meant I was a bit apprehensive but I just couldn’t wait to get racing around the testing circuit. The race started fast, not helped by the fact I started at the back row, and it was just a matter of hanging in there for the first 20 minutes.

I don’t think my heart rate has been higher since!! The whole atmosphere of the event was mental- so many people cheering for you from the barrier, bright lights, horns as the primes commenced and so much more! I was super pleased with how I rode finishing a strong 10th and getting my first ever elite women’s top 10! I think the main reason I may remember this race is down to the pain I suffered but it was so worth it! I went on to race the Salisbury and Brooklands rounds that year.

My thanks to Caitlin for those brilliant memories. Stay safe and take care …