Is the first time you have had support from the Dave Rayner Fund?
Yes
What is your cycling history ?
I started riding cyclo-cross at the age of seven in my local league, I worked myself through the cyclo-cross ranks become league and regional champion as well as medalling twice at National Championships as an under 14 and 16. I rode for the East Midlands in all disciplines and twice rode at the UK School Games winning gold in the point’s race and being part of the team that won the national inter-regional track championships. Increasingly I was riding road as part of John Barclay’s team in Belgium, as a junior I won Kuurne-Brussels-Kuurne and Het Nieuwsblad. Back home riding for Mark Barry’s Haribo team I won Tour of the Mendips and the Junior Cicle Classic. I rode for GB at the Peace Race where I held the King of the Mountains jersey and at the end of the 2014 season I finished 16th at the World Junior Road Race Championships. I’ve always enjoyed riding in Europe; I find the style of racing is more to my liking and have had some of my best races abroad.
What team are you joining in 2015? Tell us a bit about your team.
I’m joining Lotto Soudal U23 previously known as Lotto Belisol. Previous British riders have included Adam Blythe and Dan McLay so I know I have a lot to live up to. The team is based around Turnhout in the west of Belgium and is a massive set up including the Pro Tour Team and a women’s team. The U23 team alone has 26 riders.
Have they a website we can link to?
What is your race programme looking like?
Still putting together with my DS but it is looking good with a good mixture of races all over Europe
Are you going on a training camp with the team?
We’re off to Spain on the 5th Feb, got the programme through and it looks an amazing but tough couple of weeks.
When are you heading out to Europe/USA?
Saturday 31st Jan
Twitter handle and any blogs or website links:
Twitter : @JamesthingyShaw
Instagram : Jamesshaw96