Q&A: Charlie Abraham (Lee Valley Youth Junior Cycling Team)

An awesome insight into a top junior rider Charlie Abraham (Lee Valley Youth Junior Cycling Team), how he began racing, his challenges and his goals for 2024

Q&A: Charlie Abraham (Lee Valley Youth Junior Cycling Team)

Q: How did you get started in cycling?
Charlie: My Dad and Grandparents raced so cycling was always around me growing up. I started racing age 12 for the Charlotteville Club based in Guildford Surrey. I rode track and circuit at local venues, Reading Track and Hillingdon. I had a love for it straight away and just enjoyed the thrill of racing in general.

Q: What were those early years like?
Charlie: Great fun until the Pandemic hit – I really struggled during Covid. I finished my first year as an U14 with a great result at the final National Circuit series in 2019 and trained hard over the winter but ended up with no ‘real’ racing outside some good results on BC’s Zwift racing program. All my goals as a final year U14 racer were wiped out – the same for everyone though.

I lost a bit of motivation entering the 2021 season when a start to racing was suddenly announced following an end to Lockdown #2. I soon built up some fitness though and gained enough good results to be selected for The National School of Racing British Cycling Team for 2022.

Q: How did you find that final year of Under 16 – it seems there is a lot of pressure these days on that season before you go into the junior ranks?
Charlie: Definitely. Unfortunately, winter 2021 was a proper nightmare – I crashed in training and broke my collarbone in November and then then tore a muscle in my back racing on the track in February. I had some big goals for 2022 but spent more time in physio and rehab than training for over four months. I pushed on but could not ‘catch up’ what I had missed and even though I got a National Omnium round win and rode well in National Track finals, my goal of a place on the BC Junior Academy didn’t happen.

Q: Why did you join the Lee Valley Junior Team?
Charlie: I knew a couple of riders there already and the team has good experience racing overseas. I had a try out in a Belgian kermess in the autumn, loved it and got a result. It has just continued from there really.

Q: What was it like moving to racing on the open road?
Charlie: It was a change for sure, you go from smashing it round tight little circuits for an hour, to having to race with your head a lot more – with the increase in the number of riders and the terrain being more challenging. I climb well and with a good sprint too, so once I gained the experience of what it was like to race as a junior, I coped quite well. We did some trips overseas including some UCI races for experience. I had top 10 finishes in rounds of the National Junior Road Series, and we went to the Junior Tour of Ireland where I got a 5th place on the final stage. I ended up racing in France, Belgium, Holland, and Ireland during the year.

Q: What has your best result of last year?
Charlie: The win in Belgium at the Grand Prix Frank de Sy in April. There was an international field as there often is for these races – lots of Europeans but also a South American team that base themselves for the summer there. There was a break of six that kicked off at about half distance, we worked well and never looked like getting caught – I closed out the win sprinting in quite a few lengths clear.

Q: What support have you had for you racing?
Charlie: My parents and clubs obviously, especially Bob and Julie Griffiths at LVYCC have shown lots of faith in me. I also have great support from a professional local mechanic and bike shop – James at The Spokesman in the Surrey Hills. I did some work experience there last year and got on well with James and Damon – they always get the bikes ready for the big races.

Q: What is the favourite race you have ridden so far?
Charlie: The Tour of Ireland no doubt. It’s not a UCI race but is still very prestigious and the longest international Junior Stage Race in the world. There have been some big winners there in the past that have gone on to the World Tour. It also has a great sense of fun to it – we all stay at the same hotel all week, and everyone mixes in and supports each other.

Q: Do you have a coach?
Charlie: Yes – Max Steadman at Duchy has coached me over the winter and into the season this year. He is very hands on and has lots of experience in high level racing – we work well together.

Q: How has 2024 started for you?
Charlie: Really well so far – I seem to have hit the ground running. I had a great ride at the Jock Wadley (7th) in a top-class field and then went on to the Ster van Limburg UCI stage race in Belgium with some of the best juniors in the world, including some National teams. I was right up there on the two toughest stages – would have been even better but I had some bad luck with a slow puncture and then a mechanical coming into both finishes.

Q: What are your goals for this year and beyond?
Charlie: I need to finish my A-Levels with some good grades to begin with! Then continue to build on last year’s results and get some top 10 finishes in any UCI races, continue to perform well here in the National Junior Series as well as specifically the Tour of Wales and Tour of Ireland. The goal for me at the end of this year is a place in a top U23 development team for 2025.

 

 

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