Criterium September 2014 | Page 21

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Helen Wyman who acts as the team mentor and also happens to be 2x European & 8x British cyclo-cross champion also commented:

When I was 14 years old we met a guy from the local cycling club, Kings Lynn CC and he suggested to go along. They were really friendly and my brother decided he wanted to race. At the time, I idolised him so had to do everything he did so I started racing too.

From there it kind of grew. The first time I truly got inspired to become a pro was when I went to my

first World Cup cyclo-cross in Zolder, Belgium. I was at uni at the time studying physiotherapy. I had got 4th in my first National series race and the national team manager took me for experience. Suddenly I had stepped into this world I didn’t even know existed. There were 20,000 people watching me in a bike racing with loads of people asking for my autograph. It was a completely different world and something I really wanted to be part of. It still makes me smile today when young women come ask for an autograph because it reminds of that race when I was just 18 years old.

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