The Raleigh Future Stars competition is running throughout the Revolution series at Manchester Velodrome and brings the UK's most talented young riders head to head on the track.
Over the next few weeks we'll bring you interviews with some of the most promising young cycling talent in Britain and ask them just what it takes to be a 'Future Star'.
This week we speak to the leader of this year's Future Stars Girls competition, Lucy Richards. At just 16, Lucy has already achieved a silver medal second only to World Sprint Champion, Victoria Pendleton, at this year's National Track Championships. She has also performed outstandingly throughout the 2005 National Senior Women's Track Omnium series.
We caught up with this talented young rider after Revolution 9 to talk training, the stresses of schoolwork and The London Olympics.
Where and when did you start cycling competitively and how did you get into it?
I started cycling at the age of 9 at Maindy cycle track and thoroughly enjoyed it. My first cycling club was the Maindy Flyers and we went to many races up and down the country.
Where do you see yourself in the next few years? What are your ambitions
in cycling- Are you setting your sights on the London Olympics in years to
come?
I hope to have a successful 2006 season and hopefully I'll get on the
Olympic Development Programme next year. I would like to be at the London Olympics.
Who has been your idol in the Cycling world- who do you admire or who
inspires you to train?
One of my idols is obviously Welshwoman Nicole Cooke but my other idol was Leontien Zijlaard van Moorsel, I think that they are/were some the greatest female cyclists.
How intense is training at the moment and who is structuring your training?
I currently do a mixture of hard track sessions and steady mountain bike rides, just enough hours to maintain base fitness. I go to boxing sessions every Monday. I'm coached by Courtney Rowe. The WCU have always been supportive and I'm getting to know Julian Winn, the new Welsh National coach, as well as Stuart MacDonald who's the current Welsh junior and Talent Team coach.
Are you purely focusing on the track now or do you race in other disciplines, i.e. road or MTB?
I've raced every discipline from road to MTB, track to cycle speedway, although I have had my biggest success on the Track.
What's been your biggest achievement so far with your cycling?
Probably getting a silver medal at this year's Women's National Track Champs in the Kieran behind Victoria Pendleton.
What's the best thing and the worst thing about all the hard training?
Going in to a race, such as a National Championship, knowing that you've
trained hard and you're at your best and you come out of the race winning,
that has to be the best thing about all the hard work. There aren't any
downsides to training hard.
How were you approached to ride this years Revolution?
We went to Revolution as part of the Wales Youth Development Team. We were also lucky that my coach Courtney Rowe took a team to represent my club, Cardiff Ajax, and with other members of Wales Talent Team riding there was a strong Welsh presence.
What has been the highlight of this year for you, what's been most
exciting and which race have you enjoyed most?
Either winning the Under 16 girls scratch or points race in the National Youth Track Champs this year or my silver medal in the Kieran at the Senior Track Champs. I just really
enjoy racing.
Was this year's Revolution the first you've ridden? If so, tell us a bit
about your first 'Revolution' experience, was it what you expected?
Yes, it was my first Revolution, I didn't really know what to expect so I just
went there to have fun and have a good night's racing, I certainly didn't
expect to do so well. The atmosphere in there - from the crowd - just makes
it so different to any other type of racing I've ever done, the crowd really
get behind you and support you. It is some the best racing I've ever done.
What's your favourite track event? Have you set your sights on
specialising in a particular event, e.g. sprint, points?
I don't have a favourite track event; I just roll my bike to line and take it as it comes.
Who's your biggest rival?
As I'm still an U16 there aren't really any rivals, one week I race against the men at track league, the next week I'm racing against the women. I just take it as it comes.
Do you find it hard to juggle training with all your school work?
My training is well structured. I get 2 or 3 complete rest days a week and these days are dedicated mainly to my school work.
And finally, what's the secret behind the success of the Welsh girls?
My success is due to our coach - Courtney Rowe who coaches the Cardiff Ajax girls. The other girls are well looked after by the Wales Talent Team.
