Thanks to the national cycling revolution and the success of riders like Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, it is now possible for young British bike riders to dare to dream big. Tao Geoghegan-Hart, a 19-year-old cyclist from Hackney, is one of the talented new breed chasing the fantasy coveted by every Strava-obsessed commuter: to make a living as a successful pro cyclist.
After securing an attention-grabbing 3rd place finish in the prestigious Junior Paris-Roubaix race in 2013, Geoghegan-Hart made the transition to the senior ranks last year with the American-based Bissell Development Team. In his debut season he finished 15th in the senior Tour of Britain – just 90 seconds behind Sir Bradley Wiggins – and also came third in the Under-23 version of Liege-Bastogne-Liege and 10th in the Tour de l’Avenir (regarded as the junior version of the Tour de France).
Ahead of his second season in the senior ranks, Geoghegan-Hart talks to Telegraph Men about the joys, pains and surprises of life as a teenage pro cyclist.
Amateur cyclists must think you’re living the dream by chasing a career as a professional cyclist. Is it more daunting than it seems?
“It isn’t necessarily ‘the dream’ but it is undoubtedly my dream. Without a doubt, I love it. There are many days when it’s tough, daunting and crazy but it’s all a part of that dream and I love it.”
“I’m the first to admit I can be a terrible friend to them because I am home a maximum of one month a year, and those visits are sporadic at best. Plus I’m reluctant to go out other than on the odd occasion in October which is our ‘off-season.’ But they all support me and have got more and more involved in following races as my short career so far has developed.
“It’s nice because the bigger the races you do, the easier it gets for people to follow you. My grandmas, best mates, parents and siblings are my biggest supporters, along with my amazing and incredibly talented girlfriend.”
What is the most surprising thing you have discovered so far about racing and training with the pros?
“The guys who try the most don’t always go fastest come race day. It is just as easy to do too much as too little in this game. It’s all about correct application and timing.”
Have you noticed the step up in standards after moving from the juniors to the seniors?
“Of course, there is a huge step up. Races go from a maximum of 130 kilometres (in the juniors) to over 230 kilometres in the seniors. Not to mention the standard of the racing itself – you go from competing within a two-year age bracket to facing the absolute best riders in the world.
“On the start line at the 2014 Tour of Britain, there was Mark Cavendish, a former World Champion, as well as Sir Bradley Wiggins and Michael Kwiatkowski who a few weeks later were crowned World Time Trial Champion and World Road Race Champion respectively. You don’t come across much tougher competition than that.”
Do you get good support from the well-known British riders in the pro peloton?
“I’m very lucky to be able to call both Mark (Cavendish) and Alex (Dowsett) close friends. There is definitely a great sense of community in cycling and it is fun to be ‘one of the Brits’ when racing abroad at international races.
“Specifically Cav and Dowsett have always been there for any guidance and advice I have needed in the last few years. They’ve been very generous in allowing me to lean on them from time to time and I feel incredibly lucky to have been able to.”
How did you find your first year in the senior ranks last season?
“In my first year as a pro I encountered some – I know it’s a massive cliché - huge ups and downs. I had some results and rides that I was proud of, but also a really bad injury and of course some rides which I felt could have gone better. In hindsight it was a great year of learning and I experienced some amazing races. It is also a year I am motivated to build upon in 2015.”
Tao Geoghegan-Hart in 2014 (PIC: Casey B. Gibson)
Was it straightforward enough to get a contract?
“My team isn’t 100pc a ‘pro team’ because we operate on the continental level of cycling – that’s the third tier, generally for development and smaller domestic teams. However we ride huge pro races such as the Tours of California, Utah and Colorado.
“The squad is made up solely of under-23 riders, therefore we all share a lot in common and the team dynamic is notoriously strong. We have a great boss - or ‘Directeur Sportif’ as we say in cycling - in Axel Merckx (son of five-time Tour de France champion Eddy) and he always manages to bring a great group together.
“It is a lot of fun but also very serious when the time is right.”
What do you hope to achieve in 2015?
“A successful 2015 season would see my continued improvement overall as a rider, along with hitting targets at some specific races. If I can look back and see a marked improvement, hopefully no injuries, and some real good consistency throughout the year, I will be more than happy.”
What’s the best thing you have learned from one of your teammates?
“Ryan Eastman, a Californian teammate who had been in the squad for four years but recently hung up his wheels to attend university, showed me a lot about being a good person. He is one of the best I’ve met: selfless and as interesting as anyone I’ve come across. Maybe he was ultimately too multidimensional for elite sport. I don’t know. It sure can be a streamlined lifestyle.”
Where will you be based this year?
“I recently moved in to a long-term apartment with my girlfriend in Girona, Catalonia, which is a few hundred kilometres north of Barcelona. The city is one that I lived in over last winter and I am very happy to call it my home. I will also spend some periods in America during the season for select races and training periods. I enjoy travelling and discovering new roads; although I am very happy to have a permanent base in Spain, it is always fun to explore.”
What does a typical training day involve at this stage of the season?
“Lots of bike riding, stretching and other exercises. Along with a good long sleep and healthy grub. In the winter I have been doing 3-6 hour rides most days, with ever-increasing specific efforts and intervals the closer the season approaches. It’s a good job.”
Do you already know which types of races and stages you will excel in or are you still learning about yourself?
“I’m not hugely interested in pigeon-holing myself as a rider. I’d much rather try my hand at everything and get stuck in - whether that be up the climbs, on the cobbles, or in lead-outs for sprinters. One thing for sure is that I really enjoy long, hard and difficult races. That is when, so far, it seems to suit me.”
Cycling is a competitive sport but are you confident you can make it to the top?
“Whilst I would never describe myself as confident of making it to the top, I am confident in my ability to commit to my training, work hard and ultimately suffer for the cause. Whether that combination transpires to be enough, remains to be seen.”
Follow @TaoGeoghegan and read more at http://taogeogheganhart.blogspot.co.uk