Tom's Olympic Dream
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12th November 2007
A TEENAGE Cumbrian racing cyclist is on course for the 2012 London Olympics after landing a national title.
A coach with the Carlisle-based Border City Wheelers believes Tom Walker, 16, has the potential to reach the top of the sport. That could ultimately see the 16-year-old following in the tyre tracks of British gold medal winners such as Jason Queally and Chris Hoy.
Bob McLean, who has trained talented local youngsters for 20 years, said: “Tom knows how to train and is prepared to put in the hard work needed to succeed. “He is also a very level-headed lad who has the full support of his family and British Cycling, the governing body of the sport in this country. “In my view he has the potential to reach the very top in cycling – but it will be tough to win Olympic gold because the competition now is greater than it has even been.”
Tom, who is a sixth-former at Brampton’s William Howard school, has been a member of the British Cycling Olympic Talent Team for more than a year. And he provided proof of his talent this summer by becoming National Road Series champion – effectively showing himself to be the best rider of his age in the country.
His father Paul said: “Tom got off to a sticky start because he had never been road racing before. But he went on to win races in Preston, Sunderland and Bristol. “It is a nine-race series and the points system is a bit more complicated than Formula One motor racing. But Tom has just been confirmed as champion. He’s thrilled. “He’s been with the Border City Wheelers since he was eight or nine and cycling is his passion now. He wants to get as far in the sport as he possibly can.” Tom now travels from his home in Holme Close, Scotby, to the Manchester velodrome each week for specialist training with other members of the talent team. He also trains locally with the Border City Wheelers and spends his weekends pedalling around the north Cumbrian countryside with club colleagues.