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 Katie Curtis whose consistently impressive performances over various cycling disciplines have earned her a place on the Olympic Development Plan (ODP). She tells SheCycles of her biggest achievements to date.
Where and when did you start cycling competitively and how did you get into it?
My neighbour Alan Davis was taking his sons to Maindy in Cardiff. I started with Maindy Flyers and found it hard as I was small. But I could always sprint.
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?
Olympics, Worlds and Commonwealth Games. But I am not putting any pressure on myself just yet. Just see how it goes for now.
Who has been your idol in the Cycling world- who do you admire or who
inspires you to train?
Nicole, Janet Birkmyre, and the rest of the Cardiff Gang (having up to 100 people to train with on a sunday morning is great fun).
How intense is training at the moment and who is structuring your training?
Training is not intense but it is hard. The hours I do vary. I box on a Monday, self defence is good and it's very hard.
Darren Tudor (National's ODP coach) is my coach now. I still work with Courtney (Welsh Coach) but everything comes from Darren. Darren gives the programme to Courtney, and me and Courtney do what Darren puts in place.
Are you purely focusing on the track now or do you race in other disciplines, i.e. road or MTB?
I do road and TT's. I have done MTB, MTB down hill, Cross, Hill Climbing and in 2000 I was a member of the Winning British Team at the Cycle Speedway National Championships.
What's been your biggest achievement so far with your cycling?
Getting on the ODP. No doubt.
What's the best thing and the worst thing about all the hard training?
There is no worst thing. Once you are fit it's not so hard. It's a great life.
How were you approached to ride this year's Revolution?
Dan Hunt asked if we would like to ride the ladies race's and we were selected to ride the Stars of the Future by the WCU.
What has been the highlight of this year for you, what's been most
exciting and which race have you enjoyed most?
OPD and winning the National Scratch. I had left off a lot of training for my GCSE's. With 10 days to go I was creeping. I peaked just in time.
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?
We were told to go out and do a job in the Devil and show what we can do and then to race each other in the other two. It was great to do the Stars of the Future and all the ladies as well. But it's just like a track league. We get 5 races in the league and with the rollers in between you don't stop. You don't get fit sitting down!
What's your favourite track event? Have you set your sights on
specialising in a particular event, e.g. sprint, points?
I like them all bar the pursuit. I like doing the sprints but as I have gone down the endurance road am not competitive in the match sprint any more. I did get a bronze this year at the Nationals but the girls who specialise are getting too quick for me (Anna Blythe is on another level). I think my favourite event is the Scratch and I always enjoy a Devil.
Who's your biggest rival?
In the Revolution it's Alex and Lucy. Lucy is flying at the mo. But it's what we win collectively (we split the winnings) that counts. Any Welsh win will do.
Do you find it hard to juggle training with all your school work?
No, not really. Darren is really switched on when it comes to understanding other demands on my time.
And finally, what's the secret behind the success of the Welsh girls?
Well for me it's been Courtney and more recently the ODP programme. Having a (Newport) Velodrome on the door step and the support of the WCU helps a lot.
