Colston Crawford talks to Sam Lowe who admits that life with the British Cycling Academy can be “like a cocoon”.
Lowe, who rode for Hargroves Cycles in 2012,  is in his first year in the system masterminded by Dave Brailsford which has become a production line for champions. ​He turned 19 last week but there was not much time for celebrating as he got stuck into training – and more training – at Manchester. He is also just back from a character-building two-week training camp in Australia which included several races.
Warm weather training? The phrase was taken to its extreme when Lowe and fellow Under-23 Academy members Simon Yates, Alistair Slater and Chris Latham found themselves racing in temperatures of up to 46C – that’s 118F in old money – in the Herald Sun Tour, in Victoria, Australia’s longest-established stage race.
But there are no complaints from Lowe. This is what he wants to do. Already in the GB development squad, he was targeting a place in the Under-23 Academy through the summer, after completing his sixth form studies at Chellaston School.
Winning the British Junior Road Race title in May, over a hilly 69 miles in the Brecon Beacons, certainly did his chances no harm. In Brailsford’s system, you have to stay on the pace to stay in the academy – but Lowe is well up for the challenge as he adjusts to his new routine.
“The lifestyle in Manchester is quite full-on to begin with and takes a while getting used to,” said Lowe. “We’re based in the academy flats in Fallowfield and, suddenly, you’re being independent in terms of having to do all your own cooking and washing as well as all the training. But once you get into the routine and start to cope with the increase in training better, it becomes much easier.”
Updating on his son’s progress this week, Lowe’s dad, Dave, admitted: “I don’t see much of him these days!” And Lowe junior added: “It can seem like we go into a cocoon, as we are often just training at the track in Manchester and on the road up there.”
“I’ve been on the academy since October and, usually, riders spend three years on it, so I have a lot of time to go, unless I choose to move elsewhere – which isn’t what I plan for.”
At the moment, it is looking like the road, more than the track, which will become Lowe’s specialisation. “So far since joining the academy, it’s mainly consisted of preparing for upcoming races, which were on the track to begin with,” said Lowe. “However, I wasn’t able to get into the team pursuit squad, so I’m now looking towards the road season.”
“My summer will consist of road races with a few track races such as the national track championships at the end of the year. I’ll be looking to get selected for a number of international races as part of the Under 23 squad, which will be all across Europe, but I won’t find out about them until the weeks approaching the races.”
Racing in Australia was certainly an experience. In the Herald Sun Tour, a full-scale senior race, Lowe had to retire on the second day after getting caught up in a couple of crashes in the peloton. However, other events after that went better.
Lowe finished 11th overall and the first of the four GB academy riders in the Victoria Road Race Championship. Then the four Britons all finished in the top 20 in the Victoria Criterium Championships, successfully setting up teammate Chris Latham to win the race.
Lowe is, to all intents and purposes, now a full-time cyclist and he is relishing the experience. “I’ve really enjoyed just being able to concentrate on riding my bike without having to worry about education any more,” he added.
“Staying up in Manchester, I’m really being able to make the most of what the academy has to offer and British Cycling’s support.”
Link: Original story by Colston here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Sponsor Feature: Food at CHS Ciclismo (Spain)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclocross Series 2
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #3
- HC Result: Sid Valley CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Chelmer CC GP Des Gentlemen
- HC Result: BEC CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Rd 3
- CX Result: North West Cyclocross League 4
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships 2024
- CX Result: SWCX 3 (Devon)
- HC Result: Lancashire Road Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League 3
- CX Result: Central CycloCross League 5
- CX Result: Houghton Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bolsover And District CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Catford CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Western CX Round 4 (Upton Cheyney)
- CX Result: CXNE League 2024 Rd 4
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo Cross League Rd 2
- HC Result: Severn RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League Round 5
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 5 (Southampton)
- HC Result: Tickhill Velo Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Yorkshire Points CX League 2
- HC Result: East Sussex CA Hill Climb
- HC Result: Huddersfield Star Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Beachy Head Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Rutland CC Hill Climb (Mam Nick)
- CX Result: Central CX League 4
- CX Result: South West CX League 2
- HC Result: Drighlington Bicycle Club Hill Climb
- Sponsored Feature: Renting your own private retreat in Spain
- HC Result: Welsh CA Hill Climb Champs
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- BMCR Result: Chairman’s Race (Oct 6)
- HC Result: Fibrax Wrexham RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo-cross League 2
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses
- EVENTS: Portmore Classic (29th of September, Dorset)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024