williamgilbank

The Emperor of Tielt

It was number 51, he asked if I knew why?

End of Season – Post Nationals

It feels along way away now but way back on Saturday 20th August we headed over to the National Youth Omnium Championships in Derby. Over the season, riders had taken part in local omniums, where their best two results countedtowards their omnium ranking, and the top 24 riders took part in the final. Because IContinue reading “End of Season – Post Nationals”

National Track Championships

So here it was, at last, what I had been working towards all year, my ‘Gold Race’ for the season.

Choosing a Junior Team

“I had to think about the future, decide what mattered and make decisions”.

Under Pressure

“Under pressure, one of the most important things I have to remember to do is breathe”. Curtis Strange – Golfer It may seem a bit odd to be quoting a US Open Golf champion from the 1980’s in my cycling blog, but when I had an idea to write this month, I browsed the web forContinue reading “Under Pressure”

In Flanders Fields the poppies grow…

It was strange wandering around the white headstones of the war graves in Zandvoorde. Quiet, eerie and unnerving. We were deep in the World War I territory and there were reminders of this everywhere. The day before we had ridden the Kemmelberg, which I found out was a strategic battleground in the First World War. The ridge having beenContinue reading “In Flanders Fields the poppies grow…”

Youth Tour of Scotland

I learnt a lot about myself.

If…

‘If you can meet with Triumph and Disaster, and treat them just the same, … you’ll be a Man, my son!’ What a week … Saturday March 5th: The first stage of the ‘Deux Jours de Cyclopark’ was a 30 minute, fast-paced race. This stage could help determine the standings for the rest of theContinue reading “If…”

Introducing…

My plan for this segment and some future segments, along similar lines, is to interview some of the people around me in cycling, those I race with, and those who support me. Hopefully this will give you an insight into my life and allow you a degree of entertainment. These interviews will be in twoContinue reading “Introducing…”

Icebreakers, my first proper race of 2022

On Saturday 22nd January my Dad and I undertook the seven-and-a-half-hour (in total) journey to the National Velodrome of Wales in Newport to race the first round of the Icebreakers Series. I was slightly nervous, as this was my first proper race in a ‘national U16’ field this year. Riders had travelled from the farContinue reading “Icebreakers, my first proper race of 2022”