We sat down for a quick chat with Elliot Rowe who is currently riding for the J’s Cycles supported Fensham Howes-MAS Design junior race team, following the news he will be stepping up to the Visma Lease a Bike development team next year.
So Elliot, how did you get started with road cycling?
My Dad used to race a lot of TTs and my Mum raced Road and TT in the Olympics in Atlanta in 1996 so I had always been around bikes from a young age. I started riding for fun and competed in my first race at the age of 5 or 6 with one of my close friends. This then resulted in me joining a local club a few years after and spending time riding around cones in carparks learning the basics and having fun.
What achievement are you most proud of so far?
Winning the U23 Gent 6 Day on the Track with Will Salter last winter was probably one of the achievements I’m most proud of. I think this is due to the event’s history and I was proud of the way Will and I rode together as a team.
Do you have any tips for people getting into cycling?
I think the biggest thing for people just getting into cycling is to just enjoy yourself. Enjoy getting outside and exploring on your bike. There’s no need to start thinking about numbers and no need to compare yourself to others.
Talk us through your hardest day on the bike?
To be honest it’s actually probably the most recent race I took part in. North West National Series race last weekend was a hard day on the bike. A day I struggled through and was glad to get finished. It turns out there was some bad illness brewing and I’m currently at home in bed trying to recover from it. Unfortunately it resulted in me missing Saarland Nations Cup with GB this week.
Where’s your favourite place to ride?
I really enjoy riding at home where I live in the countryside of North East of Scotland. The roads are usually pretty quiet and there’s a good variety of terrain. On my longer rides I can get up into the Cairngorm National Park and I really enjoy the views and roads up there. I also really enjoyed Girona when we visited on our team camp earlier this year.
What have you learnt whilst riding for Fensham Howes – MAS Design?
I have been given some amazing opportunities this season to be able to race in the top Junior Races. This has resulted in me learning and gaining experience from each trip and helping me develop as a rider. I’ve also learned how important it is to have a good support team around you. Without the support around us we wouldn’t be able to get to the races ready to perform.
What does it mean to you stepping up to jumbo lease a bike Development team?
Even 2 years ago I wouldn’t have imagined that I would be in the place where I am now. I’m really proud to be joining Visma Lease a Bike Development Team for the next 2 seasons. I look forward to being able to learn from some of the best in the world and developing as much as I can both on and off the bike.
Thanks and good luck Elliot!
