HOME TOWN: Stratford-upon-Avon

RIDING STYLE: Puncheur

BIO

My cycling journey has been a little bit different to most. I’ve always watched the Tour de France and followed the racing, but my own sporting life was all about eventing and showjumping horses. Bikes didn’t feature. It wasn’t until I was 33 that I took cycling up. I needed an alternative to running for cross-training and my dad suggested a bike. I’d not even touched a bike for about 15 years but gave it a go, and from the first ride I was hooked. Bikes gradually took over from horses and here I am! In my second season of racing (2023), I was riding for the Saint Piran 0503 development squad and after getting some good results, I was given the opportunity to move up to the elite team. I absolutely loved stepping up to racing the National Series and lining up with the best in the UK, the atmosphere at these races is incredible. Away from the bike, I’m the Communications Manager for an engineering consultancy which is part of one of the UK’s biggest construction groups. Between that and racing I’m kept pretty busy, but in my free time I enjoy yoga, reading and I’m a Saracens rugby fan. Although cycling trips to the mountains with my boyfriend are my absolute favourite thing - the mountains are my happy place.

NOTABLE CAREER MOMENTS

4 th Scottish National Road Championships 2023

17 th Duncan Murray Wines British Team Cup 2023

19 th Banbury Star British Team Cup 2022

17 th Halesowen British Team Cup 2022

34 th Dudley Grand Prix 2023

CYCLING ASPIRATIONS

I’m still pretty new to racing so have a lot to learn about race craft. I hope to be able to continue to learn and develop as a rider to become a good and competitive elite level racer, proving you can do this as a thirty-something year old! Overall, I just love the sport and racing so hope to be able to continue competing at this level, and beyond even, for as long as possible. I really enjoy riding in a team and being able to help my teammates achieve their goals makes me happy.

IMPACT OF SAINT PIRAN

Being given the opportunity and the platform to race at national level in a team with such a good set-up is incredible. Doesn’t matter how old or young you are, or how experienced or inexperienced, there’s always someone you can learn from in the team. It’s this which will hopefully make us the best racers we can be. This is what made me jump at the chance to join the team and I can’t wait to see how we progress as a team over the season.

FOLLOW ME ON SOCIAL MEDIA

Instagram: @ailsa_mclagan